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Dear Intern

Posted on July 20, 2010
Filed Under Interviews, Only in Washington | 2 Comments

I kick off “Intern Fashion Week” on the Washington Post’s Campus Overload blog with some rules of thumb for our city’s interns. I’m pretty proud of the “cardigans, not Kardashians” bit. Look out for advice from other bloggers throughout the week.

Our intern at work sounds like Gina from Empire Records, so naturally I told her she needs to sing Sugar High at some point this summer. Such a great song (the real version, kids…), to turn up and flail around to while in your car or in your room getting dressed.

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Walker Rules.

Posted on May 6, 2009
Filed Under Interviews, Men, On The Street | 9 Comments

Walker Lamond, one of my favorite stylish local gents, is my Sidewalk Style subject this week. I think I first saw Walker at the Jete Society’s “Dance Party” in 2008 – pretty sure I took his photo and never posted it, for one reason or another. I then saw him again at the Sartorialist opening at Adamson Gallery, and then included him in the big “Great Hair” spread I had in Washingtonian magazine a while back. So I guess you could say that I’ve been following Walker, and his style, for a while now.

Walker’s style is basically original prep. No shapeless khakis with embroidered animals or sack-style navy jackets to be found. His is a carefully considered yet unfussy blend of labels both old and new, all with a decidedly 50s-retro look. The unfussy part is what I find particularly attractive about the look – think beachside walks in white jeans rolled up to mid-calf, an old white oxford shirt worn like second skin. Totally classic, just like the advice he doles out on his blog (and soon, book!), Rules For My Unborn Son.

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Devi Kroell on Keeping it Real.

Posted on April 7, 2009
Filed Under Interviews, Women | 2 Comments

Last week at the Hu’s Wear opening, I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with the designer Devi Kroell, who is enviably elegant and composed while remaining totally normal and approachable. We’d like her to say “Lanvin” over and over again, in her lovely accent, perhaps in place of fairytales before bedtime (can we bring those back, please?!). Pieces from her sumptuous Spring 2009 collection are available in the city exclusively at the just-opened store.

Tell us about this amazing spring collection.
DK: I presented it in September [in New York, at Milk Studios]. We did a presentation in basically, an architectural landscape, inspired by the work of Donald Judd. We wanted people to be able to walk around. We had twenty-five girls, all standing on different sculptures. My pieces were inspired by architecture, shapes, sculptures…I was interested in volume. Everything about it was to be very modern, the colors were kept muted. We didn’t want to go overboard with color. The direction of the spring collection was very much about following what I did with accessories, which was very puristic shapes.

The fabrics are incredible.
DK: There was a lot of research that I did with various mills in order to get the textures. [Gesturing to the silk shirt she was wearing] The silk gets woven in a certain way that after it’s done weaving, the threads are kept very long and you have to take one of these long sabers – is that what you call it? – to cut off the strands.

Made in the States?
DK: Everything is sewn in the garment district. It’s important now, to support our economy.

So…about that.
DK: Especially now, when all the stores are closing, rumors have it that fifty percent of all the factories are going to close by the end of the year. Designers are reducing their orders. It is really a pity.

Why essentially launch yourself as a ready-to-wear designer, now?
DK: It was a good time for me. When I started handbags, there was a gap in the market and I felt that all the needs weren’t being addressed. I felt the same thing again now. Yes of course not the best time with this economy, but, we do have buyers, people do buy our clothes, and I think we’re growing. It’s really more of a personal choice. I needed to do this in order to be able to grow in all the other areas we started – with the handbags and shoes – it was part of my personal evolution of where I wanted to be as a designer. Now more than ever, it’s relevant to have great design and great quality because people really are looking for that. In a way, the recession is good because a lot of unnecessary things will disappear…it makes room for better design and people will focus attention again on really important things.

What about lower-priced design at stores like H&M and Target?
DK: I think it’s really good. Not everyone can afford the high price points and I think it’s important to have everyone be able to afford, even if it’s a knockoff. I take it [knockoffs] as a compliment I have to say. I was given the opportunity a few years back to do the Target collection – the bags retailed for $30. Yes they were plastic and yes it wasn’t the same, but we were so happy to be able to do that. We could touch a different customer.

How has the economy changed the way you design? How does the retailer opinion influence, or not influence, you?
DK: I have been keeping an eye on price points. For example, I try not to choose fabrics that are too expensive that will make the garment too expensive, or I try to choose leathers that are reasonable for handbags and shoes. So that affects how I design. But what I do not do is…I try not to listen too much about what other people think you should do, what they think is going to sell. Because in the past, Ive learned my lesson. A lot of retailers have told me, you know, ‘you should do that, because it will sell, people look for that’ and so forth. And there’s always a lag of time, between the time somebody tells you what is selling and the time your product actually hits the market. By the time it comes out, these people, who are not visionaries, told you something a few months back, and then it comes out and it’s just not relevant anymore. I came out with some product in the past where I didn’t feel that it was my soul, and I didn’t really love the product, but I did it because I was told that this is what I should be doing. So it kind of took me away from what I’m really about and what my things really are about. It’s really a fine line to walk, and I’m not ready to do that again.

Wow. That must be really hard – to do that balance.
DK: I’m not ready to give up what I’m really about to please the retailers. Because at the end of the day, if it’s not really you and you can’t stand behind it, then you know, there’s no relevance to it. The funny this is, once you do that, that’s what sells. People want the passion. People can see that this is something special, something that they haven’t seen yet. Because you try to do something special.

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PB Interviews: Diana Minshall @Dascha

Posted on February 13, 2009
Filed Under Interviews | 3 Comments

Did this interview weeks ago…figure now’s the time to post! This is a long one, but trust me, worth the read. Happy Valentine’s Day inspiration!

{Diana at the store with a mini feather whip: “Sometimes when I get bored at work, I snuggle with it.”}

My first encounter with Diana Minshall was as this perky, preppy salesgirl who worked at the equally preppy and perky Sherman Pickey (hi, Ethan and Lindsey!). Fast-forward a year or so, and she emails to let me know about Dascha, the “boudoir boutique” where she’s working on a quiet street in Georgetown. I went in and basically had my mind blown. She and the (awesome) owners Ann and Analena talk about sex in the most refreshingly open and honest way. Take, for example, the day I walked in to check out their lingerie selection. In walks Diana’s male friend W, a regular fixture on the Georgetown social scene (I won’t say his full name in case that’s embarrassing) with a gaggle of girls. He’s asking her questions in a kind of boasting way, and she launches into this explanation of vibrators and then starts talking about water-based lubricant versus silicone-based lubricants. He asks, “can I go upstairs and try one out?” Without missing a beat, she says, “I can give you a sample to take home.”

At this point, I’m like, slack-jawed impressed with her and hiding behind a display of vibrating rubber duckies. Read on to find out how Georgetown just got a lot more interesting.

Tell me about working at Dascha. Must be different from Sherman Pickey! It is challenging every single day in a way that I have never been challenged before. Every day is different from the one before, and there is always something more that I can learn from each experience whether it be about retail, the sex toy or lingerie industry, communicating with others, or my own feelings about sex and relationships. The job is incredibly unique in the sense that it deals with something that is so important in our lives, yet so personal and private. I have had to become as knowledgeable as possible about all of the merchandise and products we carry so that I can offer the best suggestions to the customers depending on their individual situations. Since sex is such a taboo topic, our customers feel very relieved that they can feel comfortable coming into Dascha and talking to us about one of the most private aspects of their lives. We are part saleswomen, part sexperts, part therapists! There is nothing more rewarding than knowing that you have truly helped someone and made them feel better about themselves. This is the first time in my life that I have had a job where I get up every morning before work and genuinely look forward to what the day will hold.

Working at Dascha is obviously a huge change from working at Sherman Pickey, but so much of the basic job is the same. Thankfully, I had great bosses at Sherman Pickey that took the time to teach me how to merchandise well and deal with customers in a way that was professional and helpful. I can safely say that most of the retail knowledge I brought to Dascha came from my wonderful experience at Sherman Pickey.

What are top sellers? There are items that we are constantly selling out of and having to reorder, namely the We-Vibe and certain Lelo toys. The We-Vibe is an unbelievable creation, so it’s no wonder we can hardly keep it on the shelves- it’s the 2008 sex toy of the year, and the only toy designed to be worn during intercourse. It’s shaped like a little, curvy “U”, with two motors on either side. It’s completely rechargeable, water resistant, and made of really high end medical grade silicone. For years, sex toy designers and scientists have been trying in vain to make a hands free toy that provides G-spot and clitoral stimulation during intercourse without interfering in the process, and these guys just absolutely knocked it out of the park with the We-Vibe. As for the Lelo toys, our best sellers have been the Gigi, and the Iris. Lelo is a Swedish based company that sells some of the highest end toys on the market. They are all made of high grade medical silicone and plastic, they’re all rechargeable, and all crafted with the best motors in the industry. Most of them are made in feminine colors, and have very non threatening, unintimidating designs. The Gigi’s great because it can be used for external, clitoral stimulation, but it has a nub on the end that is great for G-spot stimulation as well. In addition, it makes a perfect anal toy. It’s very versatile, and you get a lot of bang for your buck (pun intended)! The Iris is another great toy that we can barely keeps on the shelves- it’s a little like the Rabbit in the way that it’s shaped, except that it’s rechargeable and has a few different design components that really enhance the overall experience and hit all the right spots.

You’re always preaching about lubricants. Most of our new customers are shocked to find out that there is a whole other world beyond KY and Astroglide. It’s incredibly difficult to describe how much better these lubricants are without experiencing them, but suffice to say almost all of our customers end up purchasing one as soon as they put a drop on their finger. It’s like realizing you could be driving a Maserati after driving a Honda for your entire life. For not that much of a price difference! In addition, most people don’t realize the differences between all of the various types of lubricants and what they’re optimally used for. Once they figure it out, they don’t usually go back to run of the mill, sticky, tacky lubricant.

Also, toy cleaner is one of the most underrated products out there- I sometimes feel like a pushy salesperson when I sell a toy and recommend that the customer also purchase x, y, and z to go with it, but toy cleaner is one of those things I will always strongly suggest. Even if the customer ends up not purchasing a whole thing of cleaner, we give them a sample so that they at least have some. If you invest in something that is going inside your body, it’s important to take care of it and use a cleaning product that is designed for that purpose. Soap and water is not!

Your favorites products? There are so many cool things in the store, so it would be really hard to pick out my favorites. But, we do have this great little lipstick vibrator that charges in your computer’s USB port. Great for the gal or guy on the go! As far as sex toy technology goes, I think that’s really cool.

Who are your customers? What do you wish more women would do to enhance their sexual experience? Our clients are typically people that are eager to learn and better their sex lives, be it with a partner or by themselves. I wish that more women would read the guide books. They are incredibly helpful in terms of exploring your body and figuring out what works for you and how to figure that out. It’s very important to know and be comfortable with what you like before you can do it well with a partner. Getting to know your body well is totally underrated but necessary. Also, the the importance of safe sex. We stock a wealth of products and try to encourage people to protect themselves and their partners. We even ordered these amazing condoms from Japan that are super thin but super strong, so it doesn’t feel like anything. And we have cute little compacts that you can hide condoms in so they’re not just floating around your purse at night.

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Project Beltway is Famous

Posted on January 8, 2009
Filed Under Interviews, Only in Washington | 1 Comment

The fine folks over at FamousDC featured me the other day. I think I like my answers very much...

I'm going to Etete for dinner tonight! I love that place. Maybe pistachio ice cream for dessert...

{above: My mom very graciously passed down some cool Bruno Magli sandals to me recently. We found them together in a vintage store in Florida. Need to get over to American Valet to replace the bottoms of the tres adorable wooden cone heels...}

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Lights, Camera.

Posted on November 25, 2008
Filed Under Interviews, On The Street, Women | 2 Comments

I'm more than a little bit obsessed with the badass style of my Sidewalk Style subject this week.

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Project Beltway Interviews: Katherine Kennedy

Posted on December 22, 2007
Filed Under Interviews, Women | 27 Comments

Last weekend outside of Cafe Milano – Katherine in a rare pant-wearing moment.

Katherine Kennedy was in town last weekend from London. In typical it-girl fashion, she was posing at a party at The Park in a navy blue satin dress mere hours after landing, looking just as – if not more – glamorous than the other girls who’d had hours to prepare. You might be wondering who Katherine Kennedy is. I heard of Katherine before I ever came to know her. You might call her a socialite, whatever that means in Washington. She’s regularly asked to host charity events and she shows up frequently in the party pages of local mags like Capitol File and was asked recently to be the “socialite columnist” for Verse Magazine.

The night this article came out in the City Paper, I went out to Clarendon Ballroom for a concert with “KK” and a few others, and it was the first time I’d ever seen her in jeans, much less a pair of pants. Since I didn’t really know her all that well yet, the article put me in the position of anthropological observer (which I love as you might know, and why I love Angela’s articles on people in DC). She is overwhelmingly good-natured — the girl making sure no other girl was lost as we moved through the crowd — with a magnetic persona and a kind of social mojo that is pretty fascinating to be around.

Katherine and I caught up last weekend over drinks. Read on for her favorite thing to wear on a plane, what she thinks of being dubbed a “socialite,” and why she thinks brunettes might have more fun.

Tell us a little about yourself: where you went to school, how you ended up in Washington and then London, what you wanna be when you grow up.
I’m from Los Altos Hills, California – grew up a Cisco kid in the Silicon Valley. Went to college at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles (graduated in 2005) then got my masters in business and technology from Georgetown in 2007. I’m studying ecommerce at the London School of Economics hoping to get my phd. Peruse.com started as a class project for an ecommerce course at Georgetown. When I grow up I want to have a talk show using the media as a platform to promote people who “do good” (non-profits, etc – similar to Oprah’s Angel Network). I also want to start a charity for MEN. I was diagnosed with MEN 1 and sporadic carcinoid syndrome when I was 15 in 2000. Its kind of funny it’s called men – the root of ALL of my problems! I owe a lot my ambition and success to the illness as it gave me the chance to live as if I were dying and seize every moment (thus graduating high school and college each a year early, selling a company, traveling the world, etc). I want to start a charity that gives teens who are faced with serious illness a chance to live their dreams in fast forward. I am also selling my jewelry designs at We One You Two, with the proceeds going to the start-up of my foundation.

Favorite thing in your closet and why?
I am absolutely obsessed with my black Burberry trench. I truly believe that you can invest in
fashion, and it is probably my best investment yet. Always classic and appropriate in just about every setting, combining fashion and function… Plus, if you’re wearing a nice coat it doesn’t matter what you have on underneath!

Ice skating on the Mall in her Burberry trench.

What do you think of being dubbed a “socialite”?
I think the term socialite is pretty hilarious, showing that I have come along way since the times when I would wear orange Umbro shorts that went down past my knees sticking out two inches beyond my plaid school uniform. I admit I have been a little overexposed even for my own liking, but have been blessed as I have been given the opportunity to promote many good causes- including fashion based ones like being a face for Fashion Fights Poverty, a model in Fashion For Paws, and a board member of Suited For Change and Menzfit. I’m not exactly sure how I got dubbed a socialite, being that I came to DC with academic ambitions at 20 years old and never made a sex tape a la Paris Hilton, but as long as I can use my name to help the numerous good causes in the District, I am okay with whatever they will call it.

How would you describe your style? Any signatures or style quirks?
I hope my style is portrayed as a hybrid of classic elegance and eclectic charm. I tend to disregard what is hot this season but mix in some runway ideas into each season’s wardrobe. I wear pearls every single day- something atypical hailing from California – but I try to wear funky, imperfect ones, never the traditional round 16-inch strands.

You’ve gone from CA to DC to London. How has your style changed or evolved depending on where you’ve lived?
I believe that every person’s fashion sense is a work in progress. In California I was obsessed with Juicy Sweats and Uggs. When I moved to DC I realized it may not be so appropriate for a twentysomething to have the word “Juicy” inscribed upon her bottom so I opted for more classic pieces and learned to dress to fit my body, not the trend of the moment. Living in London has given me the courage to be a bit edgier with those classic pieces, trying out different cuts and accessories.

Half of the time I look around London wondering if the hobo look was in, and the rest of the time I’m awestruck and staring at girls who can pull off tights with shorts without looking like my mom in the ’80s. Washington is really conservative so it’s quite a trip seeing Londoners walking around in huge bell bottoms, furs, and elf-toed boots. The eclectic mix in such an internationally savvy city means there’s the good, the bad, and the ugly…but has definitely made me envious!

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