Snippets of an email chain currently ongoing between me, another fellow publicist in town, a top network reporter, and a journalist from a major daily newspaper:

…………”So some people are all upset about how FLOTUS goes Wu twice, right? I think that’s so lame…it sends a different message: You go with what you’re comfortable with and what makes you feel best. Kate Middleton picks the same few designers and styles, and it actually makes her look better because she knows what works.”

…………”I waited tables at the same place in college, and the owner used to say that wine is just old grape juice and that if you like something, drink it. Not that Jason Wu is old grape juice……”

………..I have to say, my initial reaction was “How could you not give another designer the same boost that you gave to Jason Wu??”

But ultimately, I came to the same conclusion. It’s your big night, go with what you know works! FLOTUS supports lots of fabulous designers everyday and did throughout inauguration. Pick a few designers that you love and wear them constantly. Everyone has a different fit model…I love Narcisco Rodriguez and I just have to accept that his fit model is my mortal enemy, and I can never wear his beautiful clothes without spending a small fortune on tailoring. Sniff sniff. It also makes stalking online sales much easier…which let’s be honest, is the only reason I can stuff my closet with designer duds. Thank you Vaunte and Vente Privee!”

…………”Many First Ladies before her were complete slaves to certain designers and very rarely ventured outside of their comfort zones. It’s only because Michelle has been so eccentric and exciting in her choices that we expect a new designer choice from her. But when she wears something twice, or chooses a designer twice, it shows her reasonable, steady nature–a key balance for her image, I’d think. Also, FLOTUS and her team ask designers for their best efforts and then they chose what she’ll wear. That’s often like what actresses/stylists will do for an important event like the Oscars. Other first ladies will say I want this type of sleeve, I will only wear these colors…Michelle treats the designer like an artist and doesn’t insert herself, which is notable.”

…………”I appreciated that she trusted her instincts. She liked it the best, so she wore it. In life and in love, wouldn’t we all like to be so wise?!”

I’ve never had breakfast at Tiffany’s, but I think lunch with Tiffany–at Blue Duck Tavern–probably takes the cake. A Tiffany Blue cake, to the specific.

Last Wednesday I attended an intimate luncheon to celebrate the legendary jeweler’s 175th year. The event involved many of my favorite things: pretty, sparkly jewelry, amazing food and wonderful company. I caught up with seatmates Sarah Schaffer (Capitol File) and Jennifer Barger (Express, FW) and got to know Tiffany Group Director Bryant Rice, who not only gave me a bit of insight about his day-to-day (basically, making sure lots of people are happy) but also gave me the lowdown on cult spirits brand Pappy Van Winkle and his own background as a jewelry maker. Nothing bonds folks quite like food, and so we ate a lot of it: plate after plate of beet salad, country pate, duck confit, truffle risotto, truffle-glazed scallops, and the most to-die-for stone-ground grits…to name just a few items on our custom menu.

We had our Tiffany and ate it too: after presenting each course, Chef Sebastien Archambault brought to the table the most delightfully girlie dessert: a chocolate cake made to look precisely like a Tiffany box. To top it off? A tall vase full of scoops of candy cane-flavored ice cream. In Tiffany Blue, natch.

Tiffany has an incredible history. I was once given a stack of gorgeous coffee-table books about the company and now I’m eager to go through them to learn more (for instance, did you know that Tiffany redesigned the Great Seal of the United States, found at the center of the dollar bill, in 1885?). Impressive is a somewhat recent expansion of the brand’s offerings, into handbags and small leather goods. I encourage all of you to wander into the store at The Collection at Chevy Chase just to see them, because each one is perfectly and thoughtfully made. The weight is perfect, the materials are sumptuous. Many are lined in, piped with, or just gloriously wear the Tiffany Blue shade in a manner so classic and surprising that it’s a wonder these goods took til 2010 to be introduced. Many of them are convertible in some way, whether a chain that removes to serve as a necklace or a tote that flips inside out, from daytime color to nighttime metallic. These are serious bags that have been made with care and attention to the customer’s needs. I covet them all.

Needless to say, I’m looking forward to watching Tiffany as it unveils more anniversary pieces this spring. Here’s to 175 more years!

**I also look forward to transitioning from a Blackberry to an iPhone in the new year….sorry for the subpar photos!

This week I caught up with Paula Mendoza, whose eponymous line of earthy-yet-glamorous jewelry has graced the pages of Vogue, O (Oprah) magazine, and D.C.-based publications including Washington Life and DC magazine (and here on PB, natch). I came across her work in 2008 at *Muleh, which still carries her line (the line is also carried at Tabandeh at Mazza Gallerie/Friendship Heights). The Colombian-born designer left DC for New York two years ago, and has since expanded her following from DC’s fashiony set to Isabella Rossellini and many others.

I thought I’d catch up with Paula to talk about her new line, “New York Icons,” and what makes someone iconic, anyway.

What makes someone an icon?
Timeless style, confidence, uniqueness

What inspires you?
People on the streets of NYC inspire me, they are so individual and unique, each person carries their own story in the way that they dress and it is so inspiring to watch it. This is a collection full of passion, and full of my own experience living here. I follow a couple of blogs: The Sartorialist, Garance Dore, Man Repeller, and All The Pretty Birds.

If you weren’t designing jewelry, what would you be doing?
Tricky question, because I love with all my heart what I do, and I can’t see myself doing anything else. I am very lucky and blessed actually.

Who are some of DC’s ‘icons’ and why? can you name one or two and describe what you’d make for them?
I think Robin Givhan always carries herself very well, she knows exactly what she likes and how to put it together. For her I would make something minimalist because I think she is very no-nonsense in her writing style.”

What about Michelle Obama?
Oh my God, Michelle Obama is a complete icon, she is absolutely stunning, and her style is, like I said, timeless and unique. I named my Michelle earrings for her.

I like that there’s some Beltway flair in the collection! What do you miss about DC?
My friends and Cork, the incredible little restaurant on 14th Street!

*Muleh opened a pop-up location in Georgetown, just in time for the holidays. Read more on Refinery29.

Recently Cameron Silver (of the ultimate vintage boutique Decades, as well as of a fabulous life one can follow on Twitter) came to the Corcoran and mentioned a new line of clothes by burlesque star Dita Von Teese (he’s selling it exclusively for now). Since then, I had been thinking about looking up the line for a post. And, then pie happened. So right as I was settling back in to my apartment tonight to write (back from the sticks, and after a good long walk to shake off the pie), I picked up the Sunday Times and there she was (that’ll teach me). Brilliant writing by Ruth La Ferla, epic verbal posing by Dita….a much-deserved portrait of one of my all-time time style inspirations.

I was a fan the moment I heard of her, then as the girlfriend of shock-rocker Marilyn Manson in the mid-2000s. She’s famous for retro performances, more playful than lascivious, including her delightfully frothy martini act.

One of the things I always find fascinating is how DVT manages to be photographed looking glamorous–like a 50s movie still, flawlessly done up, hair, nails, and pose (note the feet) just so. It struck me as odd that she’d have a line since her under-the-radar offstage life–a sort of look-but-can’t-know–is part of her appeal. I’m nervous about all of this planned product-development. Is there a way to go big and stay cult, genuine? Perhaps a woman so unapologetic, so exacting and in-control of her own glamour and self-presentation could make it work without succumbing to cheap, commercial ruin.

In advance, can we all be over the Kardashians now, please?

John Jannuzzi is an editor at Lucky, an authentic, side-splittingly funny Twitter-er and apparently a bit of an artist. While we were all stuffing ourselves with turkey, the site published a slideshow reimagining the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade full of balloons not of Disney characters but of beloved, iconic “fashion people.”

Brilliant.

I love product roundups and all, but it’s so satisfying to see this kind of post on a mag site.

Anna Della Russo, above, and below, designer Alber Elbaz and Lynn Yaeger.

Last weekend I celebrated my birthday (I’m still 27, isn’t that amazing?!) and celebrations involved some great people and places around town. On Friday, I had dinner at Izakaya Seki, the new little Japanese place a few steps off U Street.

Next we went to Bohemian Caverns to hear Jonathan Batiste play jazz. He’s a 26 year-old whiz from Louisiana, now in NY, who in addition to playing shows with all the greats all over the country, often plays with the Stay Human Band in the streets and in the subways. He’s an incredible musical storyteller. I felt lucky to be in the audience with a great, intimate crowd that included the Turkish Ambassador, who is, it turns out, an enormous fan.

The next night I went to the launch of Ulysses Room, the new art/retail/event loft and creative brainchild of Virginia Arrisueno of DENADA & her artist husband Kelly Towles along with creative duo Carla Cabrera and Marshall Johnson (of TPWP). I took home one of Virginia’s cozy, perfectly made scarves (thank you, Ulysses Room!)–in fact, I’m wearing it as I type from my mother’s ancient computer–and I plan to go back to the space for another one. They have the right slouch, weight and drape for both form and function–perfect for staying stylish in cooler weather. Just look at all of these beautiful Washingtonians:

After that, it was off to my co-birthday celebration with the lovely Shannon Cusello (if you get your hair cut at Immortal Beloved, as I do, you have seen her and her exquisite tiny-ness there). We drank a special “Scorpio Stingers” all night.

And now I’m home in lovely Lexington, Virginia hanging out with the trees and the sunshine and my parents and pies. Life is good.

{Ulysses Room images courtesy Marshall Johnson of The President Wears Prada)

I’ve fallen for the Norwegian Wood Fall/Winter 2012 collection, in its entirety. There’s a lot of great 70s-inspired knits and amazing use of texture and truly inspired layering going on. The designer, Angie Johnson, lists the influences: “paint-by-numbers, plastic covered couches, Olivia Hussey, Dazed & Confused, Gloria Steinem and fuzzy old photographs in old family albums.”

The line offers a few really fantastic lingerie pieces that I love, that look sexy without being I’m-trying-too-hard fussy (no, I don’t think ribcage straps are fussy…perhaps I’m weird). I have my eye on this flirty silk number and definitely this set:

We’re hosting our first weekend-long pop-up next weekend!

Us ladies of B+C will be at Studio 1469 (alley entrance off 15th Street NW, between Harvard Street and Columbia Road) on Saturday, October 20, and Sunday, October 21, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Come shop our inventory of fall/winter and discounted summer merch, boozy drinks, and even a little bake sale. We’ll spotlight our top pieces in specific dressing areas and offer top styling tricks n tips.

Saturday, 12-2: Cocktail and event dressing
Saturday, 3-5: Menswear
Sunday, 12-4: Workwear

See you there! RSVP on Facebook to stay in-the-know.

About three months ago, I found myself sweating profusely as I dodged traffic trying to traverse Dupont Circle. Sick of the heat, sick of the same color-blocked outfits with shiny nude pumps that marked spring and summer, it was time. For fall. Specifically, BLACK LEATHER. I soon scored leather skirt #1 (high-waisted, tassles!) on eBay; the second (buttery, A-line, TEN DOLLARS) I bought this weekend. The cashmere hear sweater is from Saks and will be added to my stockpile of stripes.

My fall strategy: eyeliner, black, leather, and an emphasis on Parisian je ne sais quoi a la Julia Restoin-Roitfeld.