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Pastels and Madras and Whales, Oh My!

Posted on May 15, 2008
Filed Under Around Town, Events, Men, Women | 19 Comments

Here’s one for the smart-move file: preptastic clothing company Vineyard Vines has moved into the old Wet Seal in Georgetown, still Washington’s premier destination for the embroidered-whale set. The owners were on hand at an opening party last night and the Smith Point crew showed up in their Gold-Cup best (including hats!). The Bachelor Andy Baldwin was there munching on sushi and cupcakes and getting eyed by the women in the room, while guys and girls (mostly the guys, natch) rocked whale foam hats.

The only misstep? A mother-and-daughter pair who came to exchange an item they’d purchased earlier in the day and were not allowed in. “It’s for her graduation though, we can’t come back tomorrow.” Sorry, ya can’t come in. “We won’t eat or drink anything!” No dice.

The good life I guess, but only for those invited!

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The Aspirational Shopper

Posted on May 14, 2008
Filed Under Everything Else, Men, On The Street, Women | 6 Comments

These two looked totally smashing walking down the sidewalk together on Sunday. I was standing outside of Ruff n Ready with Kellie Crawford, who I’m sad to say is moving home to Detroit to help with an illness in the family. I’ll miss her laugh and the gorgeous clothes & handbags she carried at On Lokation.

I adore poking through secondhand stores, particularly ones like Ruff n Ready where you really have to dig to find your treasure. I like to go in and daydream about what I’d do with giant metal letters or old lamps or three foot-tall robot toys from the eighties (wish I’d gotten a photo…seriously, they were great). I’m also a big fan of well-priced Miss Pixie’s, which recently moved from Adams Morgan to a bigger space just down the street on 14th.

Usually I just look, but occasionally I’ll buy something and bring it home, with of course exactly NOWHERE to put it. This drives my roommates crazy since we’re not exactly decorating our dream home. I’m realizing that I VERY often do this with clothes too – I’ll fall for some really over-the-top vintage skirt that doesn’t fit my life or existing wardrobe in the slightest…but….someday, right?!

I fell hard for these mounted antlers at the entrance to the store. But for $157 (every price in the store ends in 7!)…I just couldn’t do it.

These enamel pots have character. I love the pure white and black trim.

This would make for a handsome planter. The handle adds a functional element that makes it pleasantly unfussy.

I adore these little busts and busts in general. Good Wood on U Street, another favorite used-furniture place, often sells the larger ones. They’d be great for displaying jewelry!

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Fashion-Chat-Friday!

Posted on May 13, 2008
Filed Under Only in Washington, Shopping Events & News | Leave a Comment

This Friday at 3:00 Betsy of Fashion is Spinach and I will be hosting a fashion chat at Washingtonian.com! This is your opportunity to pick our brains about anything and everything fashion-related. Ask us where we’ve been shopping lately, get tips on pulling outfits together in the morning, and find out what fashion retailers we’ve been bookmarking (for quick access once we win the lottery of course).

A top stop for me is Topshop (curses to the exchange rate though) — today, I love these pink suede (read: usually very comfortable) flats.

Basically, you can ask, “soooo, what are you wearing?” and we won’t think you’re being obnoxious. I think we’d like that very much, in fact.

So please join us Friday for what amounts to pretty much the perfect Friday afternoon activity. See you then!

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Now Open: Profile

Posted on May 9, 2008
Filed Under Men, Shopping Events & News, Women | 5 Comments

There’s a new boutique on (my!) block: Profile. It’s in a townhouse space 11th Street at the corner of U, and has nightspot liv and Bohemian Caverns as neighbors. Tala Rassi, above, owns the store along with her partner Kourosh Chitfaz and has her own line of swimwear, casual clothing, and a “couture” line, which will soon be carried in the store. Rassi is young and smart as a whip, and the racks of colorful, feminine clothes make it clear that Rassi knows what’s up. Long story short, I want a LOT of what I saw.

Rassi says what’s there now is about 20 percent of what she’ll carry, so I hope that won’t overcrowd things, because the store seemed nicely stocked already. She also plans to bring in lines like Valentino and Cavalli, which is definitely not being done elsewhere in the neighborhood. It’ll be interesting to see how that works. Other labels currently include Corey Lynn Calter, Custo Barcelona and the John Varvatos-for-Converse line for both men and women.

The party on Sunday featured a big platter of potato salad spelling out “Profile,” which I thought was funny, cupcakes, and plenty of alcoholic drinks – which Rassi plans to always keep on hand for customers.

Cool cowboy statue in the middle of the men’s section. Lots of Brazilian designers on offer for men, but I liked the well-made casual stuff from John Varvatos for Converse the best.

A gorgeous silk dress from Australian designer Heidi Merrick for (gulp!) $517. Don’t worry though, that was the priciest thing I saw…

Don’t you love her big hair?!

A colorful silk shirtdress from Meghan Los Angeles.

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I Want One.

Posted on May 8, 2008
Filed Under Shopping Events & News | 1 Comment

Do you think people will line up?!

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Sidewalk Style: Deniz Sarhaddi

Posted on May 8, 2008
Filed Under Around Town, Women | Leave a Comment

Click on over to my post for Washingtonian this week. I took her picture on Sunday at the opening celebration of a new boutique on U Street (men’s and women’s!). Stay tuned for more on that…

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At Bilal at the 9:30 Club

Posted on May 7, 2008
Filed Under Around Town, Women | 1 Comment

This girl completely changed my mind about wearing shorts.

I simply do not find them flattering on me nor do I like the weird bunchiness they seem to create, but she wore them in such an elegant and flattering way that I must say I’m officially on the lookout for fitted black shorts to wear with wedges, summer tops and jackets. I hope you can see her well enough – I learned to bring my teeny camera there after my big Nikon got confiscated at a show.

Anyway, when I stopped her I peered in for a close look and as it turns out, they were biker shorts! Visions of shiny purple material filled my head, but then I realized why this works, especially in black or some other solid neutral: they add zero bulk which keeps the silhouette slim and smooth, and whatever you wear up top (which should be loose of course) brings the eye up, which is always flattering.

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