Handbag Crush.

Posted on October 13, 2009
Filed Under Only in Washington, Shopping Events & News, Women | 2 Comments

A serendipitous path led me to Ralston, a new handbag line from DC-based Paige Ralston Fromer, who used to be on the Hill and at the RIAA. A friend who met her at a local restaurant told me about her, and soon I was lusting over several of the handbags online while she and I exchanged an email or two (and in full-on Web 2.0 obsession mode, I even googled her and looked her up on Facebook…and saw that we had a few friends in common). Then, one day when I happened to be in Bloomingdale’s in Chevy Chase, I was heading out the door when a bag caught my eye. I went over to admire it, and sure enough, it was Ralston, and there was Paige standing among them (on a white horse! Kidding.) Something drew me to the line, and fate led the way!

The Ralston “Cindy”

The Ralston “Raquel”

I’m crushing on two bags in particular: the Cindy (LOVE the studded details on the upturned sides of the bag. Ladylike and quietly subversive at once!) and the Raquel, which would be the perfect work-to-cocktails option. One’s fun and one’s serious. Can’t a girl have both? Which do yall like?

I’ll quickly add that she’s planned two trunk shows with Bloomingdale’s – November 14 in Chevy Chase and December 5 in Tyson’s Corner. But hands off my bag(s).

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Having a Talbots Moment

Posted on October 9, 2009
Filed Under Everything Else, Uncategorized, Women | 4 Comments

Loving Betsy Lowther’s style piece in today’s Express about once-stodgy brands that are now suddenly, and surprisingly, chic. Talbots in particular has really stepped it up, and I can’t believe I’m even typing that because of what my family now calls “a Talbots moment.” It refers to the time when I was shopping with my mom and sister Brenna a few years ago, and we stopped into Talbots because my sister Elizabeth had found a surprisingly cute dress there, so we’re thinking, ‘ok, let’s just see…’ we go in and oh man, it was a sea of awful: pleated chinos with embroidered lifesavers, scene-sweaters, droopy pastel knits. Before we knew it we were competing to find the most hideous thing (“Come look! It’s a sweater with a pearl necklace attached!” “Oh my God, a denim jumper with a Christmas theme! And it’s our lucky day…it’s on SALE!”) and soon enough, we were red-faced and laughing uncontrollably and unable to stop. And had to run out of there because the shop-ladies were giving us nasty looks.

From that moment on, uncontrollable laughing jags, clothing related or not, were referred to as having “a Talbots moment.”

So naturally, I’ve found myself with raised eyebrows on more than one occasion as of late, admiring an item in Lucky magazine, for example, only to then realize that it was Talbots. I’m so glad to see these companies putting out pretty, well-designed, classic and affordable clothes, and in particular I’m loving the longer, ladylike hemlines on these dresses (oh, and this belt and this classic, preppy jacket…). Looks like Talbots is having a moment of its own!

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Immortal Beloved

Posted on September 21, 2009
Filed Under Around Town, Men, Women | Leave a Comment

The salon Immortal Beloved celebrated its opening Saturday night in a converted warehouse/garage space on Church Street. Well-coifed/tattooed/dressed attendees munched cupcakes from old-school bakery Furin’s of Georgetown, drank white wine sprinkled with pomegranate seeds and beer chilling in sinks at the individual styling stations (so convenient, really…hair salon=ultimate smart party space…). Guests fell into two camps: current clients who gushed about the stylist techniques or curious guests who considered cheating on their own stylists for a hot, mussed fling.

Co-owner & man of the hour Kelly Gorsuch (formerly at Urban Style Lab) and Redeem’s Lori Parkerson, who contributed clothes for the site’s photo shoot.

Victoria Kurzweg, who modeled for the salon’s site, and Matty Taylor from the local band Tennis System.

flash…

…or no flash? Loved the hipster-poet look on the stylist from Salon Blu (center), and this woman’s embroidered tunic – her mother’s – was totally fantastic.

With Victoria Kurzweg, Jennifer Thornton and Lesley Benn.

Heaven looks like Lesley’s shoe closet. These are Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony. Bitchin.’

Adam from Marvin, who got a huge hug from me for wearing Carhartt overalls last weekend at my KEYA party.

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Around the Way Girls

Posted on September 3, 2009
Filed Under On The Street, Women | 4 Comments

Saw these girls waiting at the bus stop looking terribly sassy and cute. Hat tip to LL Cool J for the title.

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Summer of Love.

Posted on August 10, 2009
Filed Under Everything Else, Women | 2 Comments

Ahhhhhh, sand and surf. I read, I ate, I swam. Not one to disappoint, I even shopped. I feel like I need these vacations more and more as time goes by, and I’m determined to learn to hold on to that feeling of relaxed rejuvenation as much as I can in my “normal” life.

Today, in honor of the 40-year anniversary of Woodstock, beachiness, and all things gypset, I pulled out this dress that belonged to my mother (incidentally, I feel like I’ve seen quite a few 1969-goes-2009 versions of this dress recently…on Jessica Joffe and at the U Street boutique Lettie Gooch). I’m adding a champagne-colored silk sash at the waist (thanks, Betsy!) and tons of gold chains. Tonight I’m having my sister Rallie and her girl Tez over for dinner…I think I’ll serve angel food cake with whipped cream and strawberries. Mmmm…

Peace, love and the ocean,
Rachel

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In the name of love

Posted on June 15, 2009
Filed Under Events, Men, On The Street, Women | Leave a Comment

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Make that Splash.

Posted on June 3, 2009
Filed Under Around Town, Men, Women | 6 Comments

Saturday was: my vintage bathing suit, sunscreen, boys in skimpy swim trunks and girls in skimpier bikinis, pinatas, hoola-hooping, and ohmygoodness people, how did I just discover alcoholic sweet tea?! All of this happened at the BYT Summer Camp, which is going to be happening every Saturday at the Capitol Skyline. The Skyline is this cool retro building with tons of modern furniture inside….and a cheesy, crap-filled gift shop that’s totally at odds with the rest of the place but is weirdly comforting in the same way you might appreciate the old-school ways of pay phones and typewriters and um, paper Metro cards. Which I still use.

I snapped my Washingtonian Sidewalk Style subject at the pool. Check out the photo and interview here. Happy Summer, Washington!