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One More Post ‘fore I Go….*

Posted on January 30, 2009
Filed Under Around Town, Events | 1 Comment

Ach, I hate it when I have literally five minutes to post something before I have to run out of the door (in different clothes)! Anyway, I have had a busy week but have some fun posts brewing in my head for next week as always….

Before I go, I quick post because I can’t say no to charity and apparently, Katherine Kennedy (and who can? read my interview with her a while back here): a CD release event going on tomorrow at Smith Point to debut new song called “Try Me” that will appear on Blonde Charity Mafia. It was written by her boyfriend Billy Glading, who performs with the group Miles Midnight. The fashion angle to all of this is that Katherine is guest bartending, and her tips will go toward her fundraising goal for the upcoming Washington Humane Society event, Fashion For Paws.

Smith Point, tomorrow 9-11
$20, open bar + free CD

*who can guess the song I’m playing on…? Er, it’s not Miles Midnight.

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Reason #452 I need to learn how to sew

Posted on January 29, 2009
Filed Under Everything Else | 5 Comments

$295?!? FOR REAL, PEOPLE?

But I totally want one. le sigh.

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Neiman Marcus Spring Preview

Posted on January 28, 2009
Filed Under Around Town, Events, Women | 8 Comments

I attended the Spring trend preview at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie over inauguration weekend (great swag including Bobbi Brown makeup and the book InStyle Parties). Ladies-about-town Tina Alster, Sissy Yates and Mary Amons, above, were there, as was The Washington Post’s Janet Bennett Kelly, who brought her hubby along. Ali Wentworth (Sissy’s sis) hosted alongside InStyle’s Hal Rubenstein and Ken Downing, Fashion Director for Neiman Marcus.

Hal started the presentation off a bit oddly (“2008 sucked right?!”) – but no matter; the idea was right: to present clothes that uplift the spirits in the way Spring collections always do. In the dark and cold of winter, very little is more appealing than gorgeous floral prints, soft-looking, flouncy skirts, and the color hibiscus – all in shapes that celebrate and flatter the female figure. Meaning: no more shapeless, childish fit. These were clothes with a decidedly womanly look, several of which called to mind the Mad-Men fifties and sixties. Others, like two black, gray, and white dresses from Roland Mouret, served up a sharper slice of what it means to celebrate womanly curves. As Rubenstein pointed out, “you’re only as small as the narrowest circumference you’re wearing.” Other shopping pointers, ideas, and looks for Spring: go shopping with two pairs of shoes, treat the cardigan as the new jacket, layer beaded necklaces for a bold look, look for all shades of pink, the “sophisticated global” look, and adding subtle embellishment with metallic fabric in neutral tones.

Only a few looks were crowd displeasers: a short-dress-and-cardi look that played a bit too youthful against the others, and a Chanel number with beaded logos dripping off the sleeves. Not exactly subtle. Though having that much cash certainly wouldn’t suck, now would it, Hal?

Read more

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Color Story: Richard Nicoll & Sasha Obama

Posted on January 26, 2009
Filed Under Only in Washington | 3 Comments

Richard Nicoll's Spring 2009 RTW collection was the first thing that popped into my head on inauguration day when I glimpsed the impossibly cute ensembles worn by the First Daughters. His was one of my favorite collections for Spring, and the color-combination on little Sasha was just perfect. All around, I loved the way each of the Obama women wore bold colors during the inauguration day ceremonies (I'm so hungry for color!). Michelle's look was elegant and unapologetically bold and pretty. As I said in the CNN taping (which apparently did air, after all...now we're working on the digital evidence), Michelle Obama is the only First Lady I can recall where women see her on TV and think, "I wonder where she bought that?"

She looked glamorous and First-Lady appropriate, but the green accessories added a quirky, unique touch. I loved that. This is going to be a fantastic four years of fashion in Washington.

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The TV Star.

Posted on January 23, 2009
Filed Under Only in Washington | 4 Comments

Elizabeth on NBC, inauguration day 2009 from jma on Vimeo.

So, my big news last week was that I was interviewed, alongside Robin Givhan (!!) about Michelle Obama’s style for CNN’s The Situation Room. The piece was set to air pre-inauguration, but got delayed due to that surreal, and heroic, plane crash in New York. Now that we have Toledo and Wu and J.Crew to talk about, I have a feeling it’s been relegated to the editing-room floor. Who knows though, maybe they’ll insert a gem or two from me in something or another (I hope I had at least one gem to Robin’s eightythousand…she is intimidatingly well-spoken, not to mention smart as hell and funny). I’ll keep you posted.

So, I didn’t make my big television debut after all, but my sister Elizabeth did, on NBC News on Inauguration Day (in her gorgeous Karen Millen coat). None of us were shocked that Elizabeth was singled out – her eloquence is always tough to top in a speech or toast.

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Diane!

Posted on January 23, 2009
Filed Under Around Town, Only in Washington | 2 Comments

I'm catching up on some inauguration posts! Getting to be in the same room as Diane von Furstenberg on Sunday (and her goat coat...this is what I heard...) was certainly exciting. The event, a cocktail gathering at hostess Juleanna Glover's home in Kalorama, was held to raise the profile of Vital Voices, a pretty exceptional NGO that supports female leadership around the globe. Von Furstenberg is a member of the board, and when she was asked to speak, she spoke about her own mother's strength - her mother survived a concentration camp and weighed under 50 pounds when she was set free - and how women have always inspired her in her work (the proof's in this video for her Spring 2009 collection). She was gracious, funny, and well spoken. I'm sure that their event at The Kennedy Center on March 19 will be incredibly moving and well-attended.

A hearty thank-you to the neighbor down the street who unknowingly provided the shrubbery cover for the fur-lined boots I wore for the walk over (I slipped into my Cole Haan patent pumps before walking in). I will not be a slave for fashion.

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R-e-s-p-e-c-t the Hat(s).

Posted on January 22, 2009
Filed Under On The Street, Only in Washington, Women | 1 Comment

It was sparkly, it was big, it had a bow. Upon rushing into Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas' office in the Cannon House Office Building on Inauguration Day (I had tickets, they did me no good), the first thing I saw on the television there was The Hat.

Aretha rocked the hell out of that song, and she rocked the hell out of that awesomely ridiculous church hat. Of course, I've been a fan of statement church hats from the beginning of the blog. So now that everyone's all aboard the huge hat train, a review of the bold, sartorial excellence that's been a celebrated tradition in our city's churches for years:

Taken June 2007, near Metropolitan Church on Vermont Avenue Northwest.

Last February in Georgetown, at 26th & P Streets Northwest.

My favorite, taken July 2007.

Taken September 2007.

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