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and she became the hero of her own fairy tale

Posted on March 5, 2010
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I went to an advance screening of Alice and Wonderland last night and it’s all I can think about today. I may need to see it several more times. As you’d expect from Tim Burton, everything is just a little bit off – at times outrageously so, as it should be. And just when you think it’s getting a bit too box-office (explosion/chase scenes, girl-power cliches), some camera angle or line throws it back into fantastical delirium. The clothes, notably Alice’s wardrobe, are gorgeous – there’s a long blue gown with straps criss-crossing it (above), an unfinished-looking red dress with a tulle skirt, and a long pajama jacket with pants and sandals…somehow both costume and ready-to-wear at once. I’ve read a review or two suggesting that the clothes look “too runway” for this story, but I think they fit perfectly into Burton’s imagining of Alice as she teeters on the precipice of adulthood, learning love and instinct over fear, trusting the internal and exploring the external, and discovering the distance between impossibility and possibility. If fashion is fantasy, then these clothes are ideal for the film (and don’t we all want the fairy tale?). In keeping with Burton’s vision – the story is an interpretation – an expansion, if you will…they remind us of an Alice we knew, or thought we knew – before.

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Poppy Mouth.

Posted on March 4, 2010
Filed Under Events, Everything Else | Leave a Comment

One of my favorite makeup looks of late is a bold, poppy-bright lip. It looks so feminine and glamorous, but is actually very easy to do, since it looks best with a near-naked face. So many of us reach for lip gloss that we forget the impact a bold lip can have. Try it tomorrow morning, and take note of how much more you are noticed (shades on my list-to-try: MAC Ruby Woo, Estee Lauder Cherry Ice, Chanel Gabrielle…anyone have a favorite?).

There is something so womanly and self-possessed about a woman applying her lipstick. To that point: observe Vanessa Paradis, the face of Chanel’s lipstick line, Rouge Coco, singing and whistling What a Day for a Daydream, engaging in the semi-private ritual in the “behind-the-scenes” campaign video, far better than the final edited version.

I got a sneak peek at the video during a preview for the Neiman Marcus Beauty Event, going on through Sunday (awesome free gifts w/a minimum purchase – so definitely go if you buy any sort of nice makeup and need to re-stock)

I’m positively smitten with Vanessa at the moment: her overall French sex-kittenishness, her comments about her relationship with Johhny Depp, the Joe Le Taxi video (omg!) and especially this video, which is making me want an old barn and a kitty.

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Spring Shopping Announcements

Posted on February 19, 2010
Filed Under Events, Shopping Events & News | 1 Comment

I’m not making it up – the birds are chirping in the morning, which means Spring is on its way. Accordingly, event calendars are starting to fill. Check out some great style events coming up, and stay tuned for a Spring fashion event hosted by yours truly….

The District Sample Sale is back – tix went on sale to past shoppers at 10 am. That means that those who attended in the past are snapping up tix right now….so I’m blowing the cover off of that in case you want to buy yours before the to-the-public date of next Tuesday (VIP tix are always the first to go). If you’ve never been, it’s really fun – great shopping but also a fantastic party. And as always, the charity is fantastic: City Dance Ensemble’s Early Arts program. Dance taught me, among other things, so much about respecting and loving my body, so I’m thrilled that they’ll be supported. As for the shopping, I’ll be sure to post some tips & guidelines for doing the DSS right next week. Buy tickets EARLY here.

Betsy Lowther of FW/Express and awesome blog Fashion Is Spinach is hosting two great parties next week. Get your photo taken for Lucky’s Style Spotter feature on Thursday (RSVP here), and then shop Betsy’s personal collection of vintage clothes and accessories at sweet prices ($20 for a great vintage dress? yes, please!) at Proper Topper Georgetown.

I’ve been meaning to check out the shamelessly girly-sounding Bras & Brunch event that takes place once a month at Sylene (plus, love the retro bullet bra on the invite there). Invite on Facebook here, or call (301) 654-4200 or RSVP here.

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La Parisienne/La Washingtonienne

Posted on January 28, 2010
Filed Under Events, Only in Washington | 1 Comment

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, La Parisienne, 1874. Oil on canvas. National Museum of Wales;Miss Gwendoline E. Davies Bequest, 1951 (nmwa 2495). Courtesy American Federation of Arts.

In living color in Director Paul Greenhalgh’s office.

This week has been busy and semi sleepless but so, so inspiring. Though I work every day at an art gallery, I spend most of my time at my computer. I’ve been writing about/thinking about this show for months, but seeing the work and walking through the exhibition with the curator this week, I am just so re-energized and re-inspired. On Saturday Turner to Cezanne opens, and will be on view through April 25.

A central works in the show is Renoir’s commanding portrait, La Parisienne. Renoir painted her at a time when Europe was changing rapidly due to industrialization, and with it a new, undefined, increasingly modern world. The title itself is of note, because while he was painting a portrait of an actual person – she was a very young, relatively unknown actress – he was painting her as a representation of the modern urban woman. She’s at the height of fashion in her blue dress, the dye having become more available due to innovation, and she’s both shy and bold at the same time. I’m thrilled that she’s here in Washington, at a time when the city feels so alive with change and cultural, creative energy.

She’s hung slightly low in gallery on purpose, so that you can look right at her as she meets your gaze. I adore her so much that she inspired my outfit yesterday – a silk taffeta dress with a built-in crinoline that I wore with some vintage underthings, including hold-up stockings. Which are seriously fun to wear (more on that later). So yes, another reason I love my job: I can wear a party dress to work if I feel like it!

UPDATE: Check out an awesome front-page Style review of the show in Saturday’s Post….shameless plugs going on here, sorry!

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Art & Affordability

Posted on January 20, 2010
Filed Under Around Town, Events | 2 Comments

Kevin Williams, Many Hearts

As I mentioned before, I’m having near-constant home decor fantasies, despite the fact that I have NO cash to allocate to it and no business buying “major” furniture for a rental property I share with others. That being said, artwork is one of the few things that makes sense to invest in now, since it takes up so little space and can lead multiple and fantastically different lives in different spaces.

So I’m loving the art sale and beauty event being held tomorrow from 5:30-7:30 at WVSA’s ARTiculate Gallery. They hold an open house “Third Thursday” every month, where art from those participating in their art outreach programs is shown and sold. Tomorrow’s (free) event will unveil artwork focused on art + beauty, and guests will have the opportunity to not tour their event spaces (art galleries seem to be the coolest event spaces these days), but purchase affordable art and get free makeovers and samples from event partner LIERAC Paris. Prices generally fall between $100-$300, and a percentage goes directly to the artist. Or for the same cost, you can commission a custom piece.

The works for this show will be unveiled tomorrow, but these are some of my favorites – love the lively (local!) street scenes and energy of the hearts. These found-art style paintings would add a lot of personality to a room, especially mixed in with other inexpensive finds or juxtaposed with modern decor.

Derek Holloman, Florida Avenue

Michael Tutson, Green Couch with Large Dog

Jamal Williams, Untitled

Also, love the local art-of-the-month concept called Project Dispatch (hat tip to DCist). Every month, a new surprise!

Brad Ulreich, Friction Powered

Corcoran alum! Chandi Kelley, The Storm (think of how great this could look arranged with actual books…)

Speaking of art (and the Corcoran), preparing for opening our next show has kept me really busy…generally I’ve got less time to blog now than I ever did. That’s why I’m trying to keep things fun and low-stress around here. So I’m sorry if things get quiet on occasion, because I know that they will. And at some point I hope to overhaul the categories and figure out how to integrate a propah blogroll for all my wonderful blogosphere friends. Thank all of you for reading whatever random bits of inspiration land here, and for your ideas and comments!

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The Rhoda to Perfection.

Posted on December 15, 2009
Filed Under Around Town, Events, Women | 1 Comment

Last night I stopped in to the Capitol File holiday-issue party, which Hilary Rhoda attended as the issue’s cover girl and guest of honor. Just a few observations, in no particular order:

- The blonde is her mom. Yup.
- Hilary was wearing Stella McCartney. I knew you’d wanna know.
- Hilary is at once totally normal-looking and intimidatingly model-perfect. It’s sort of weird. Just when you’re like, okay, she is like kind of normal-skinny and girl-from-Maryland, you snap a photo like the up-close one above and realize again why she is the face if Estee Lauder. She…is…gorgeous.
- I want her eyebrows.
- I want her eyebrows.

Read an interview with Hilary Rhoda here, or check out the new Holiday 2009 issue in stores.

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Score Rodarte For Target a Week Early

Posted on December 10, 2009
Filed Under Events, Shopping Events & News | Leave a Comment

Target’s staging a holiday Target-To-Go walk-up shop in Georgetown this weekend, and while it takes more than a mass retailer launching an event in Washington to make me feel proud of DC’s coming-up-ness, I do think it’s pretty cool that this is only taking place here, in NYC, and San Francisco.

This means that city-dwellers who can’t stomach the idea of trekking into the traffic Bermuda triangle that is the 14th Street big-box store explosion can….umm, trekk to Georgetown via the series of convoluted public transport available. That’s okay though – you have to admit that Georgetown is fun for shopping and people-watching and eating cupcakes. Among the limited amount of items available for this Target-To-Go thing? Pieces from Rodarte for Target, one week ahead the store debut (12/20). Not all of the items will be there, but the (I’m sorry, scary) ribcage dress, black halter dress, and those super-cute belts all will be. If you get there early enough!

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