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The Love Campaign

Posted on February 2, 2010
Filed Under Only in Washington, Shopping Events & News | 1 Comment

Ohhhh Valentine’s Day. If you’re dating someone it can be awesome (emphasis on the ‘can’), if you’re not it can be awkward. All of the hubbub and smug couples walking around can make you feel lonely even if you honestly don’t care the other 364 days of the year. I think it’s too bad that the only idea of love that anyone seems to celebrate – or feel pressured to celebrate – on Valentine’s Day is romantic love, when love and its attendant expressions (appreciation, discovery, joy, contentment, friendship) can be found in so many aspects of life and interaction, and are in fact the essential building blocks with which to build romantic connection. Before I continue blathering on in this post about the meaning of love (which I totally have figured out, natch), I’ll end by saying that Valentine’s Day should be a time to celebrate love in all of its many iterations, overt and covert, obvious and mysterious. I welcome a time when both Valentine’s Day and our country think more inclusively about love.

For that reason, and because Alex and Chloe consistently churn out democratically priced, cheeky-cool accessories, I put forth a very worthwhile item that embraces love in all sorts of lovely forms: the Alex and Chloe Heart Necklace, designed exclusively for the Human Rights Campaign (past collabs include Marc Jacobs, Heatherette and Michael Kors). Cool design that will look great with everything from tees to girlie spring dresses, and all of the proceeds from the necklace, tee and hoodie support the HRC mission of establishing fundamental civil rights for everyone. Now that’s love.

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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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Haiti Needs Us Now.

Posted on January 15, 2010
Filed Under Only in Washington | 1 Comment

The breeziness of my last post aside, I hope that every one of you reading this has taken some time to reflect on what has happened in Haiti. It is devastating. We all woke up this morning to news and images of mass graves, amputations done with no medicine. We’re in a critical window of time where people are trapped under debris and buildings, still alive but barely hanging on. I hope you’ve all donated; I have.

Washington is a wonderfully connected and caring city. Everyone seems to be mobilizing. A few selections below that I’ll try to update; first, a prayer service at the city’s most beautiful place of worship. Just in, from the communications representative at the National Cathedral —

Dear colleagues:

Washington National Cathedral offers a major prayer service for the people of Haiti this Sunday, January 17, at 6 pm. CNN plans to feature live coverage.

At the time of my writing, service participants include:
• The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, offering a sermon;
• Bishop of Washington John Bryson Chane, offering the invocation;
• Auxiliary Bishop of Washington Barry C. Knestout, representing the Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl, archbishop of Washington;
• Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III, offering the welcome; and
• His Excellency Raymond Joseph, Haitian ambassador to the U.S.
The service will feature prayers from interfaith representatives and a Haitian folksong sung by countertenor Jean-Luc Princivil. More details will be forthcoming. Updates will also be posted on the Cathedral’s Web site, www.nationalcathedral.org.

We are grateful for your assistance in spreading the word. All are welcome, and the service will also be Webcast live from the Cathedral’s homepage.

Additionally, L’Rai Arthur-Mensah, of The Essence of Style will host along with others a benefit after-work “happy hour” (that feels weird to write here) Tuesday, Jan. 19 at Recess Lounge (727 15th Street NW) from 5:30-9, located in the White House Corridor on 15th St. She writes:

ALL (100%) proceeds will go towards helping two non profits organizations. Recess has been gracious enough to make a monetary donation from the sale of each drink purchased during the evening. We will solicit funds and supplies in a free will donation (suggested amount $20). The money will be donated to both a large relief organization and a smaller grassroots organization to channel fund to the aid on both the macro and micro levels. Yele Haiti (www.yele.org) is a non-profit 501(3) founded by Wyclef Jean that provides relief efforts in Haiti. Partners In Health (www.pih.org), an organization working to bring modern medical care to poor communities in nine countries around the world and has a significant presence in Haiti at this time. Also, we will have guest speakers including representatives from diplomatic government entities, humanitarian agencies, scholars and family members of people in Haiti now.

And I’m getting word that Latin Concepts, the restaurant group responsible for an eclectic mix of restaurants and lounges in Washington, will be integrating fundraising into its sales mix all next week, at all of their restaurants:

Monday, January 18 through Friday January 22, 7-8 p.m. daily, 10% of ALL food and beverage purchases at Maté, Guarapo, Gazuza, Chi Cha, Ceviche, Kitchen and Gin & Tonic will be contributed to support Doctors Without Borders and their hard work to aid the Haitian community.

I hope everyone will do what they can.
R

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Not a Plastic Bag.

Posted on January 13, 2010
Filed Under Only in Washington | 5 Comments

In addition to other beginning-of-year-planning and resolving (yoga!), I’ve been thinking some about the direction I’d like to take the blog. Clearly, PB is not the street-style site it used to be (you can see that over at my Washingtonian column though), and the categories over there on the right are seriously not cutting it. Mainly I’ve been feeling limited by the strictly-fashion stuff, since my interests are really varied – food, art, music and, more and more recently, interior design (love Design Sponge’s “Living In” posts).

So just a heads-up that I’m planning to make the blog more stream-of-conscious, more inspiration-driven, more me in this new year. Your comments and ideas highly encouraged. It really makes my day when I hear what yall are thinking about and into.

Right now, I have to share a Washington Post news item that caught my eye today: the impressive but shady handbag collection of Harriette Walters, built using the $50 million in taxpayer dollars she famously stole, is up for sale, at prices that appear lower than what they’d be on ebay. The auction is loaded with enough Chanel, Louis and Cartier to make your pretty head spin.

The irony of this sale happening as we’re all getting used to the new bag tax is sort of awesome, and if you’re into labels you should start bidding now: according to MIT (via New York mag’s The Cut), (fake) plastic bags won’t satisfy you anyway.

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Allison Parris Trunk Show Tomorrow

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

Allison’s clothes are perfect. The kind of clothes that solve problems in your wardrobe and therefore, seemingly solve problems in your life. They’re actually eco-friendly too. The Spring line is somewhat vintage, forties-inspired (LOVE the cardigan-with-tulle-skirt outfit here). Join the lovely & fun Allison and her equally lovely & fun biz partner Marissa tomorrow eve for an intimate trunk show party. See you there?

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Cool + Creative

Posted on December 10, 2009
Filed Under Around Town, Events, Only in Washington | Leave a Comment

Last week I attended the “Cool Creative Christmas” party at the residence of Danish Ambassador Friis Arne Peterson. The house itself is filled with incredible mid-century modern design – including some gorgeous oversize lighting fixtures you can see here. But for the party, the already fabulous residence was completely transformed into a fairytale-inspired winter wonderland – and green, to boot – at the hands of students from the Danish School of Design and our very own Corcoran College of Art + Design. It was amazingly gorgeous and even more amazing to think of the months and months of work that went into making the thousands of lush paper flowers (from, among other things, coffee filters!), wreaths, floating lights, and more. Just like a fashion show, hours and hours are put in to create a brief moment of pure, indulgent fantasy. Speaking of fashion – each of the students, above, was a total fashion plate in her own right. Look at all of the amazing headgear! Inspiring, inspiring, inspiring….This photo above + more here.

And if you want a piece of emerging-art-talent for yourself (or for someone else…it is that time of year, isn’t it?), don’t miss the Corcoran College of Art +Design’s Off the Walls Sale starting TODAY (til 9 p.m. tonight, perfect for after work) through the weekend.

Guests were treated to a lavish buffet of incredible Swedish dishes prepared by Chef Trina Hahnemann (including some insanely amazing and crispy pork rind…yes). I left with a copy of her cookbook, which I devoured (in the figurative sense) snuggled up on the couch Saturday, when I woke up to that first snowy, winter day. It’s more like a coffee-table book than a standard cookbook in that the photographs are stunningly beautiful and, like the recipes that accompany them, evoke the pleasures of each season. The winter images were particularly meditative.

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eBay launches a magazine – and comes to Washington

Posted on November 19, 2009
Filed Under Around Town, Events, On The Street, Only in Washington | Leave a Comment

eBay recently launched a new style/culture/shopping Web site (check out the NYT article here) – The Inside Source – the idea being a fun editorial online mag that sources the cool stuff on eBay so you don’t have to. I’m proud to have represented Washington through a street-style set.

I teamed up with McLean over at Deacon Does DC, who shared 10 great picks for holiday shopping and fun in the District (can’t wait to check out #8!).

It’s all a part of eBay’s Mobile Boutique Tour, taking place TODAY AND TOMORROW inside Union Station, offering a unique virtual shopping experience for everything you’ll be looking to buy this holiday season – for yourself or for others on your list. Shopping stations will showcase the most coveted items on eBay, so you can find top items purchase right on the spot. I only recently began shopping on eBay – and it’s very rapidly becoming a problem – so I’m loving the site, chock-full of great fashiony articles, like this one on pairing tough and feminine items, and especially this piece on ideas for an “antiquarian Thanksgiving” through the words of one of my very favorite bloggers, Hollister Hovey.

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