Make a Statement.

Posted on August 6, 2008
Filed Under Shopping Events & News | Leave a Comment

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I was taken by Jesse's tough-but-pretty pieces in April of last year, and now REALM is back with a "couture" line. Each piece is one of a kind, so you'll be on top of an essential fall trend in a way that's truly yours.

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Mi Chiamo Eka: Photos from Last Night

Posted on August 6, 2008
Filed Under Around Town, Men, Shopping Events & News | Leave a Comment

I was at K Street last night for the launch of Ebong Eka’s Mi Chiamo Eka line. I wore white linen dress pants and my forties-style floral blouse and it felt perfect for the weather. A lot of women were in black dresses and a lot of makeup and major heel – a very typical (but still attractive, really) look for the clubs and lounges along the K Street corridor. I was just surprised, I guess, by how different my outfit was from most every other woman there. A few exceptions: Washington Life’s Krista Bullion, who looked delicately lovely in an off-the-shoulder floral dress and another woman in a long teal number from Bebe (now I’m mad that I didn’t snap their photos!). I also realized how rare it is that I get really really dressed up.

With true fashion-world flair, the show started a good 30 minutes or more late…

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On the left is Dominique Alexander of City Style Interiors, who donated $1000 to the show's beneficiary, Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund.

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K Street Kate and PR maven Lindley Thornburg (in a smokin' hot Herve)

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Cool necklace (dice!). She bought it at Anthroplogie.

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Christopher Calvin in a casually dressed-up look I tend to always like on men: jeans with white shirt, dark vest and dark blazer.

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Dog Days Sales This Weekend

Posted on August 1, 2008
Filed Under Shopping Events & News | Leave a Comment

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When it gets unbearably gross and humid here in DC, I know it's time for two events in the city to take place: Screen on the Green and the annual Midcity Dog Days Sale (full list of stores here). The sale always coincides with the DC tax-free holiday (no tax on purchases under $100 or less), so it's an awesome time to go shopping, especially if you're the kind of organized person who shops year-round for holiday gifts.

My top stops go something like this:
Muleh (1831 14th) for 60% off on Phillip Lim, Rozae Nichols, and Vivienne Westwood and 30% off their cool Ango lamps

Pop (1803 14th) for discounts on already-affordable casual dresses, t-shirts, bags & jackets. They're closing permanently after this weekend ):

Junction (1510 U) for vintage

RCKNDY (1515 U) for up to 80% off floor-model furniture and decorative accessories. Aaaand Millennium (1528 U) and Miss Pixie's (1626 14th) and Goodwood (1428 U)....I love cool furniture and weird old knicknacks.

Redeem (1734 14th) at the end of the afternoon for a strong drink (Wasmund's is a sponsor) and their trunk show for cult New York line Barking Irons. Designer-brother duo Michael & Daniel Casarella are rolling into town with their Fall 2008 collection and their very cool (I'm gonna describe it as "badass pirate") Shines jewelry. The event is from 5:30 til about 8:30.

All in all, it's a great time to stoll around and discover the neighborhood (don't forget Lettie Gooch boutique on 9th Street!).

And since I'm never one to plan a day of shopping without considering where I'll eat, lemme tell you my top food-related stops:
Jin (2017 14th) for what are the BEST WINGS EVER, people. No one ever seems to be in that place, but their wings are insane.

Either after or before you get some of those wings, drop by the 14th & U Street Farmer's Market and buy some heirloom tomatoes. I seriously had a food epiphany when I tried these last year for the first time. Sliced and layered with toasted bread rubbed with garlic, torn basil from my "garden," pepper & olive oil, they are a revelation. Plus, summer peaches and for the first time, Dolcezza will be there with what sounds like some ridiculously amazing flavors: lemon opal basil, lemon ricotta cardamom, sour cherry and a ton more.

Happy weekend!
xo
Rachel

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Girls (& Boys) on Film: The Frustrations Music Video

Posted on August 1, 2008
Filed Under Events, Only in Washington | Leave a Comment

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I became friends with Kristen Soltis, vocalist for the local rock-ska group The Frustrations, after she started emailing me about cool concerts around town, including her band's. I think she is a total badass: during the day she has one of those buttoned-up DC jobs, and then at night she's the red-dress wearing (dear Katy Perry: Kristen WAY had that dress first) smoky-voiced chanteuse at locales including Velvet lounge and Rock & Roll Hotel.

Kristen seems to really enjoy dressing up for shows, and I think that's the element of rockstardom that I am truly and utterly interested in. I love that putting on a good show is all about the entertaining the crap out of yourself and your audience, and that often that means outrageous, wild clothing and a matching attitude (Who you are on stage should NOT look like who you are at your office, she says).

So this Saturday (TOMORROW), The Frustrations invite you all to dress up like the rockstars you know you are to be a part of their music video, which they'll be filming at The Rookery. Come and shake those buttons off, Washington!

Come to Rookery (25th & Pennsylvania, NW) at 5 pm dressed like you're going to a rock concert
Ham it up for the camera
Go grab dinner
Come back at 10 pm for a rock and roll!

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