holiday issue fa shion wa shington | w inter 2009
city brights
Present Sense From Georgetown to Old Town, D.C.’s haute zones boast chic holiday gifts
Party fashions get an urban edge from sharp tuxedos, glamorous gowns and sparkling accessories
Some Wear in Time Keeping old clothing past its wear-by date? Maybe you’re holding on to memories, too
A PUBLICATION OF
contents
FA SH ION WA SH I NGTON | w inter 2009 | 3
Night Lines
One-shouldered cocktail frocks, sharp-cut tuxedos and subtly sparkling accessories bring a downtown chic to after-five events
Lush Life Jewelers go buggy for the brooch, Barneys helps guys suit up more sleekly and a new tome shows how even your nest can be well dressed
viktoria arrives at the jefferson hotel in a 1965 Bentley wearing an Oscar de la Renta dress ($3,290, Saks Fifth Avenue, 5555 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-657-9000), Salvatore Ferragamo clutch ($1,590, Neiman Marcus, Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202-966-9700), diamond earrings ($17,500), a diamond ring ($9,500) and diamond bracelets ($16,500 to $41,500, all, Boone & Sons, 5550 The Hills Plaza, Chevy Chase; 301-657-2144).
Style Setter Ms. Lepore (as in designer Nanette) goes to Washington to crusade for New York’s Garment District and check in on her ultra-feminine Chevy Chase boutique
Haute Topic Are 1980s prom dresses or Carter-era T-shirts making your closet resemble a time capsule? You might be holding on to memories in addition to your cast-off clothes
Obsessed by Dress Our what-to-wear wizard uncovers pretty bulge-busters, local spas to make you go ahhhhh and quick, hip fashion fixes for schlumpy dudes
Giving Spree City sidewalks, busy sidewalks from Old Town to Georgetown bustle with haute holiday gifts, from arty, partyready purses and designer shades to a scooter that’ll make kids go vroom
Scene Stealers Hanging with street-style blogger the Sartorialist at the FW birthday bash; lunching with Shiseido execs and Ali Wentworth at the Textile Museum
Hollywood for The Holidays? in every bond movie, the heroine eventually fashion washington
slinks into something more glamorous. That’s probably because, in both reel and real life, party clothes signal
publisher Jenny Abramson
you’re ready to let loose. Turner Classic Movies even
general manager Julie Gunderson
just listed its 15 fave fashion films, including many with
editorial director Dan Caccavaro
decked-out stars like 1932’s “Letty Lynton” (Joan Crawford, left) and 1977’s “Saturday Night Fever” (John Tra-
editor
volta, center). Me? I’m partial to 1961’s “Breakfast at Tif-
Jennifer Barger design director
fany’s” (right). Audrey Hepburn’s pearls and little black
Scott McCarthy
dress inspire many of my get-ups for nights at Ken Cen or
Art Director
drinks in Old Town. Designers also channeled cinematic
Alyce Jones
chic for the holidays, rolling out one-shouldered gowns,
senior editor
Betsy Lowther
sequined minis and, for leading men, updated Cary Grant
Winter party wear steals a scene or two from flicks.
tuxes. Our cover story shows off such ready-for-their-close-up styles at two starry D.C. institutions: the rehabbed Jefferson hotel and the W Hotel, until recently the Hotel Washington. Besides things you’ll want to wear, we also spotlight merch you’ll want to buy for everyone on your gift list, from gothic-cool necklaces from a Georgetown gallery to snuggly, eco-friendly stuffed toys at an Alexandria emporium. (And, ahem, I hope someone puts the diamond watch from Tiffany’s Chevy Chase store in my stocking.) We also chat with designer Nanette Lepore, who came to the Hill to fight
for New York’s fashion industry. Finally, we recap fall’s hippest parties, including FW’s one-year anniversary bash, which drew “Real Housewives” and really slick locals in everything from velvet dinner
editorial assistant
Ashley Joy Parker staff photographer
Marge Ely contributing Photographers
Dakota Fine, Lawrence Luk contributing writer
Alexa Yablonski
Advertising account managers
Anne Cynamon, Sheila Daw, Diane DuBois Boutique Account Manager
Gayle Pegg Administrative assistant
Linda Baquet Advertising graphic design
Amanda Crisp, Willie Joyner Advertising production
Jackie Ellis, Kristin Kato, Kiara Kerwin, Tara Shlimowitz
jackets to fur vests. Seeing such a well-dressed bunch in my city was the best present possible. jennifer ba rger, editor, fashion washington
movie photos, left to right: ap photo/ Metropolitan Museum of Art; ap photo/ ho; Ap photo
advertising: (202) 334-5228, 5224, 5226
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FA SH ION WA SH I NGTON | w inter 2009 | 5
the season’s hip happenings and hot items
the pin is mighty on trend
The last heyday of the brooch? The 1960s, when mod ladies who lunched planted them on the wide necklines of nipped-waist frocks and sorority pledges popped them on cardigans. Now the fashionescenti is pinning on the glitz again, influenced by boldface broochers like First Lady Michelle Obama, who wears vintage Hattie Carnegie sparklers and au courant Moschino starbursts at her collar and waist. “The brooch is such a wearable, versatile piece,” says designer Iradj Moini, whose gem-laden offerings include a beetle studded with rubies and turquoise (shown, $1,150, Tabandeh, Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202-244-0777). “Pin it to an evening dress, but it works just as well on a day jacket — or, if you’re adventurous, on a handbag, hat or in your hair.” Other sources: Van Cleef & Arpels (5454 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-654-5449), whose new California Reverie collection includes diamondloaded palm trees and Annie Creamcheese (3729 M St. NW; 202-298-5555), which boasts upscale vintage versions.
hip designer
Cutting Edgy British designer Roland Mouret’s architectural dresses win raves from both A-listers (Demi Moore, Reese Witherspoon) and design devotees. But getting your hands on one of his strikingly simple, dramatically sculptural sheaths used to require a trip to London — or at least Manhattan. This season, NoVa boutique Carol Mitchell (Tysons Galleria, McLean; 703-506-8963) joins a handful of U.S. outposts (including venerated spots like Maxfield’s in L.A. and Jeffrey in New York) handpicked to carry the line. The first shipments of the fall collection, which includes a zip-front coat (at left, $2,995) and textured wool dress (at right, $1,650), were near sell-outs. “His clothes have instant appeal because they’re pretty but not overly complicated,” says Mitchell. “The beauty comes in the details of the shape and seaming.”
new line
Platform Statement Unlike bathing suits that’ll make you look 20 pounds thinner or un-frumpy nude panty hose, comfortable-yet-chic heels aren’t a sartorial myth. Spurred by her own diabetes-related foot problems, Dana Davis created an eponymous line of slinky flats, disco-glam wedges and platform peep toes (shown,$425) that both pack a style wallop and contain foot- and back-pampering orthotics. Sleek textures — weathered metallic leather, plush pony skin — mix with unusual color combos (magenta and purple, gray and wine) on footwear fit for nights on the town, not at the bingo parlor. Find them at Betsy Fisher (1224 connecticut ave. nw; 202-785-1975) and Simply Soles (1438 park road nw, 202232-0072) or online (danadavis.com). “I wanted to wear cute things, and traditional comfort brands weren’t cutting it,” says Davis. “Beautiful shoes shouldn’t mean you have keep a second pair in your bag to walk in.”
st yle shif t
The Natty Trust book LUST
Nest Dressed If you adored the brocade gowns Carolina Herrera trotted down the runway for fall, should you reupholster the sofa in a similar showy silk? Runway fashions — or just that favorite Ralph Lauren jacket in your closest — can inspire some of the most livable, stylish rooms, claims interior designer Annette Tatum in her new book, “The Well-Dressed Home” ($35, clarkson potter). The tome uses lush photographs and lively text to reveal spaces worthy of a spot on the bestdressed list: a mid-century cool kitchen outfitted with chairs as brightly striped as a Paul Smith tie, a pink-on-pink bedroom packed with linens that seem onepart Parisian vintage dress, two-parts Anna Sui frock. “Fashion is daring and bold,” says Tatum. “Bringing a little bit of that into your home, even if it’s just a powder room decked in turquoise and gold wallpaper, can make your interiors pop.”
On the top floor of the Chevy Chase Barneys Co-op (5471 Wisconsin Ave.; 301-634-4061), a buff , blue male mannequin in a Band of Outsiders suit ($2,015) lassoes a tape measure around another, lessdressed dummy’s waist. It’s a sign of a shift toward sharper, citified men’s tailoring at the uptown branch of the downtown-cool store. New suiting brands range from Savile Rowgone-rad Stockholm house Filippa K (shown, pants $198, jacket $398)to the aforementioned BoO. Also crisp enough for a Hill office, but stylish enough for a Penn Quarter lounge: Co-op’s own Italian-made line and Rag & Bone’s herringbone jacket ($775).
obsessed by dress
FA SH ION WA SH I NGTON | w inter 2009 | 6
after a busy year, i’d love to gift my hard-working employees with spa treatments for the holidays. Any tips on prime pampering spots in D.C.? soooooo. If this whole “fashion advice columnist” thing
doesn’t work out, maybe I could come work for you? You’d thrill your lucky-duck staffers with any of the treatments at haute spa Bliss (W Hotel, 515 15th St. NW; 877-862-5477) — even just spending time in the Zen-like waiting room, munching bite-size brownies while bundled in a fluffy white robe, induces a mental deep breath. I also enjoy the massages at Hela Spa’s sleek, Scandinavian-chic spots (in Georgetown and Chevy Chase, see Helaspa.com), while Elizabeth Arden Red Door offers its standout Stress Melter massage ($220) at nine cushy outposts around the city and suburbs (see Reddoorspas.com). The newly revamped eco-spa Nusta (1129 20th St. NW; 202-530-5712) boasts a pristine downtown outpost and massages starting at just $65. And, for your more homebody-ish helpers, we’d suggest pairing a nice bottle of wine with La Mer’s new hydrating facial kit ($250 for six applications, Cremedelamer.com), a calming combination that we’d bet would help your team players wind down and say ahhhhh.
I need a little smoothing out under my party dresses, but I hate the way those spandex girdles look. We can’t think of waist-whittling undergarments without picturing poor Bridget Jones, who won the sympathy of women everywhere when she took home her dream guy only to have him discover her stomach-shaping granny panties. Fortunately for the rest of us, stretchy cinchers have made a giant leap forward in looks lately. Yummie Tummie is among the lines making shapewear seem sexy, with options like this midriff-slimming, lace-print strappy tank ($82, Urban Chic, 1626 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202-338-5398). And go-to line Spanx recently improved upon its standout styles with a hip “Haute Contour” collection (available at Saks Fifth Avenue, 5555 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-657-9000), with pretty camis, lacy, high-waisted underwear and a legitimately attractive version (we swear!) of the brand’s mid-thigh shaper.
style advice by betsy lowther
I’m a guy whose style could probably be best described as schlumpy. Any suggestions on how to ramp up my fashion factor — and fast? You and your unfortunate Redskins hoodie have come to the right place. We called on D.C. author (and dapper dresser) Walker Lamond — whose new book, “Rules for My Unborn Son” ($15, St. Martin’s), offers clever snippets of advice on how to live a more stylish life — to deliver a proper kick in the cargo pants. “A great place to start a wardobe transformation? Embrace the tailored, slim-cut shirt,” says Lamond, who favors the crisp white version found at J. Crew. “And recheck your sizes. Men tend to wear clothes that are way too big for them, with overly baggy consequences.” Lamond also suggests tossing out your pile of striped ties and paring down to a single navy knit necktie (he likes Brooks Brothers’ under-the-radar University line for their hip, narrower styles), which will go with everything from a slick suit to jeans. The book is loaded with such throwback ideas. “Take inspiration from the era when men had fewer fashion choices,” he urges. “It served as a wonderful quality control.” have a style dilemma or a query about how to wear something? e-mail our sartorial expert at advice@fashionwashington.com. for live answers, join our chat at noon on nov. 20 at fashionwashington.com/winterchat.html.
spa photo: istock
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downwith
FA SH ION WA SH I NGTON | w inter 2009 | 8
style setter
What’s happening to the Garment District?
There’s been a big movement with Garment District landlords losing their leases. And Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration would like to take away the special zoning for factories in the neighborhood, and in replacement give us one 270,000-square-foot building. How does the Garment District help designers as it stands now?
Designers can still go to small factories in New York to get clothing cut, fit and finished. It allows designers like me to tightly monitor quality, and it also allows smaller, newer designers to get started in the business for very little money. If our garment center gets annihilated, young designers will have to be in Los Angeles or get a big, giant bowl of money behind them so they can produce in China. You opened a boutique here a little over a year ago. Is D.C. a good town for your designs?
I think there’s a customer here who needs professional clothing, but wants more fun with her style. Women in D.C. live really full lives and have to go out a lot, like from work to dinner. We provide the kind of clothing women need if they don’t have a lot of downtime. What inspired your fall and winter lines?
I wanted to be in touch with a bohemian feel, yet also get back to things like paisleys, which feel traditional and classic. We did a cute little sheath dress in paisley, which everyone is loving. And I also did a lot of bias cuts, which referenced the 1930s.
Preservation Road Nanette Lepore visits the capital to defend New York’s Garment District and to check in on her local boutique on a recent friday on capitol hill, Manhattan designer Nanette Lepore took the podium in a Rayburn House Office Building reception room. In her sparkling mini-dress, platform shoes and statement necklaces, she created a glam contrast to the chilly marble columns — and the stern-looking statue of Sam Rayburn (the late Speaker of the House) lodged in the wall above. She may not have sported a serious suit like the long-dead lawmaker watching over her, but the femmeclothing queen meant business: She was in town to talk to Hill types and fashion pros about her quest to save New York’s Garment District. We chatted with her about how development threatens this Big Apple landmark — and why she thinks D.C. is morphing into a capital of chic. jennifer barger above: nanette lepore in her local store (5449 Wisconsin Ave., chevy chase; 301-657-1515).
Red Door Spas - Fashion Wash:Layout 1
Photo by l awrence luk
10/13/09
4:59 PM
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Chevy Chase 5225 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington, DC 20015 202.362.9890 Willard InterContinental 1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20004 202.942.2700 Tysons Corner 8075 Leesburg Pike Vienna, VA 22182 703.448.8388 Pentagon Row 1101 South Joyce Street Arlington, VA 22202 703.373.5888 4210 Fairfax Corner West Ave Fairfax, VA 22030 703.968.2922 11838 Spectrum Center Drive Reston, VA 20190 703.467.8488
866.RED.DOOR reddoorspas.com
Which of your designs sell well in D.C.?
They’re crying for color in this store. I was a little surprised about that — we thought people would want neutrals or suit-y things in drabber colors. But I think women are responding to bright pieces. You do color so well. Why do women like it?
I think color makes them feel good. Wearing it, they look more awake and happier. Also, people notice you when you walk into a room wearing color. It’s funny for me, because I’m more into neutrals. Yet I hate to put on head-to-toe black. I think it’s a cop-out. You’ve got an 11-year-old daughter. What’s it like watching her develop her own style?
It’s really fun. She has an edgier eye than I do. She accused me of stealing her style for fall because we showed tights with shorts. Last year, that was her look!
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FA SH ION WA SH I NGTON | W INTER 2009 | 11
holiday gifts
1
Buys in the Hoods HITTING A MEGA-MALL to finish a mega yuletide present list makes sense in a way. (A zillion stores! No parking meters!) But D.C.’s neighborhoods boast walkable blocks with eclectic stores, historic charm and holiday atmosphere that goes beyond shopping-mall Santas. “Storekeepers decorate their windows, and you just find more unusual things,” says Rachel Cothran, who blogs about local style at Projectbeltway.com. “There’s a welcoming vibe.” Here’s a trio of zones loaded with gifts both chic and charming. ALEX A YAB LONSKI
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Georgetown 3
Pop into shops along the cobblestone streets and you’ll uncover as many fashion-forward finds as buttoned-up merch. “Georgetown has the full flavor of Washington,” says Marlene Hu Aldaba of Hu’s Shoes (see below). “There’s something for everyone, from tees at American Apparel to demi-couture dresses at Hu’s Wear.”
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1. Alexandra Bahlmann’s delicate web of oxidized silver, citrine, garnet and rhodolite dazzles whether it’s worn with jeans or a ballgown ($3,840, Jewelers’werk, 3319 Cady’s Alley NW; 202-337-3319). 2. Carnations get the royal treatment in a blooming topiary, which opens gradually and lasts for two weeks. The Revere bowl can be monogrammed for an extra charge ($95, Gore Dean Home, Georgetown Park, 3222 M St. NW; 202-625-9199). 3. Give your guy an updated, uptown version of that English professor staple, the elbow patch sweater, from Monaco Cashmere Collection ($245, Sherman Pickey, 1647 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202-333-4212). 4. We couldn’t think of a more glam place to stash one’s BlackBerry and favorite shade of Chanel Rouge Allure than Devi Kroell’s ashwood and rhodoid clutch ($1,390, Hu’s Shoes, 3005 M St. NW; 202-3420202). 5. Teroforma’s Whisky Lovers set presents a pair of slinky, mouth-blown tumblers and six soapstones that ingeniously chill your dram of choice without watering it down ($70, Proper Topper, 3213 P St. NW; 202-333-6200).
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Chevy Chase
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Chevy Chase’s Wisconsin Avenue offers up the luxuries of Fifth Avenue — sans the Rockefeller Center hordes. With names like Jimmy Choo and Cartier lining both sides of the block, it truly amounts to a boulevard of dreams. Duck into any store to score a special something to make holiday ’09 memorable — and luxe. 1. A bag that really will be chic forever: Yves Saint Laurent’s black nappa leather hobo with braid detail ($1,795, Saks Jandel, 5510 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-652-2250). 2. Made by a former Vogue editor, worn by the current first lady, Prova vintage-silk scarves amount to the ”It Girl” present of the season ($395, Barneys Co-op, 5471 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-634-4061). 3. Let Junior zoomzoom around your hardwood floors with the zippy U-roll indoor scooter ($175, Giggle, 5330 Western Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-664-6407; Giggle. com). 4. Not all guys can rock the wraparound, but most will look fly in Dolce & Gabbana’s take on aviator shades ($300, Ilori, 5330 Western Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-656-1703). 5. What to wear with your LBD? How about a little black watch? Diminutive but dazzling, this one shows off diamonds, 18K white gold and a skinny black satin strap ($12,600, Tiffany & Co., 5481 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-657-8777).
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Old Town Alexandria
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Here, jewel box-sized boutiques roll out a warm welcome and showcase everything from artisanal cheese to “Mad Men”-era barware. “Old Town has a small-town feel, but with more cachet,” says Amy Rutherford of Red Barn Mercantile (see below). Many shops stay open until 8 p.m. on Dec. 17, so you can browse and take in the holiday lights on King Street.
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PHOTOS BY MARGE ELY
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1. Serve up retro style (or a couple of well-mixed Manhattans) on a vintage 1960s Couroc tray made of inlaid resin ($85, The Hour, 1015 King St., Alexandria; 703-224-4687). 2. This oxidized sterling and diamond cuff with a hammered finish mixes downtown street style with Park Avenue posh ($1,750, Mystique, 211 The Strand, Alexandria; 703-836-1401). 3. Curious Georges show up everywhere, but Cate & Levi’s stuffed monkeys (and frogs and bunnies) are one-of-a-kind creations handmade from reclaimed wool ($100, Pink & Brown, 1212 King St., Alexandria; 703684-1050). 4. John Robshaw’s Alizarin hand-painted throw pillow adds a pop of red — plus a touch of the exotic — to club chairs or sleigh beds ($68, Red Barn Mercantile, 113 S. Columbus St., Alexandria; 703838-0355). 5. Perfect your lounge act in buttery-soft, metal-flecked leather babouches crafted in Morocco ($150, Chinoiserie, 1024 King St., Alexandria; 703-838-0520). 6. A bolder alternative to goat cheese, this organic, artisanal aged ricotta with a natural black rind is tangy, creamy and great served with fruit preserves ($29 per lb., La Fromagerie, 1222 King St., Alexandria; 703-879-2467).
haute topic
FA SH ION WA SH I NGTON | W INTER 2009 | 12
Our lives are reflected in our clothes. You open your closet, and the past can come rushing back.�
The Way We Wore
AT A RECENT ESTATE SALE in Alexandria, unimpressed by a living room cluttered with dusty books and chipped china, I climbed the teetering stairs of the Cape Cod cottage seeking other treasures. There, in the walk-in attic, a dozen clothing racks held a fashion time capsule of sorts: 1940s taffeta ball gowns, a striped 1950s raincoat that smacked of Doris Day, garishly pretty lamĂŠ cocktail frocks from the LBJ era. It seemed as if a real clotheshorse (and pack rat) had moved on to the great dressing room in the sky. I pulled out the raincoat, which smelled faintly of lavender, laying it over my arm before heading downstairs. Any woman who has held on to her Reagan-era prom dress or 1970s hippie wedding gown knows that jettisoning clothing past its wear-by date takes a Zen-like purging instinct — and the ability to separate the memories from the Manolos. “We recall clothing because something happened to us when we had it on, or we wished something had happened to us,â€? says writer Nora Ephron, whose new play, “Love, Loss, and What I Woreâ€? (now playing off-Broadway) delves into how our clothes trigger emotional responses — and flashbacks — whether we mothball them or not. “Our lives are reflected in our clothes. You open your closet, and the past can come rushing back,â€? says Tara Luizzi, a D.C. personal shopper who cops to squirreling away her wedding dress and a vintage 1950s eyelet gown she wore to a friend’s nuptials in Chicago. “I think people keep things because they’ve got some memory of wearing them, and seeing them again makes them feel good.â€? For some women, these garment-artifacts commemorate not just events, but also people. “I save dresses that I bought with my late mother,â€? says Arlington medical sales pro Mariel Tillett, 42. “It’s not so much nostalgia for the parties, but recalling shopping with my mother.â€?
If disco shoes and 1980s prom gowns lurk in your closet, you may be holding on to more than clothing
Sometimes, the backward-looking raiments at the back of the armoire aren’t even yours. “I have a fur coat that belonged to my grandmother. She was a real fashion horse in the ’50s and ’60s,� says Rachel Coursey Holmes, 34, a freelance TV producer whose Tenleytown closets also contain a few of her grandmother’s cocktail frocks, including “a pink chiffon beaded number I used to wear to bonfire parties in the Hamptons. I’d think about her every time I put it on.� Like photos or stacks of old letters, such wearable mementos serve as physical reminders of our past selves and our ever-evolving style. “It’s part of that complicated, lifelong question, ‘Who am I, and who do I want people to think I am?,’� says Ephron. Still, hoarding every costume from the movie of your life isn’t healthy, Ms. Grey Gardens. Pulling on your own castoffs usually amounts to fusty nostalgia, not cool vintage. “Those 1980s jackets that made us look like linebackers won’t ever be back, at least not on people old enough to have worn them the first time,� says Ephron. Many old clothes, for reasons emotional or aesthetic, should go to Goodwill. “Do you really have storage space for your ex-boyfriend’s sweater collection?� asks Luizzi. Some pieces do get reincarnated ages after the original wearer chucks her party dress or hocks grandma’s stole. “Things come around again,� says Melody Fortier, author of “The Little Guide to Vintage Shopping� ($19, Quirk). “When people hold onto clothing as objects, particularly beautiful things, they often get a second life.� Like that ’50s overcoat, which I couldn’t bear to abandon in the estate-sale attic. For $15, a cashier put it in a bag for me. “I bet she really loved wearing this,� he said. En route to my own closet, I knew I would, too. JENNIFER BARGER
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Specializing in Couture Bridal Gowns Unique Mother of the Bride Gowns Bridesmaids Tuxedos
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Call for an Appointment 703 549 0387
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FA SH ION WA SH I NGTON | w inter 2009 | 13
night stars
retro accessories, sleek suits and sequined cocktail dresses shine at the season’s after-five celebrations photos by m a rge ely
dial ‘n’ for noirish: be an offscreen siren in a 3.1 Phillip Lim silk dress ($895, Muleh, 1831 14th St. NW; 202-667-3440), Christine A. Moore Millinery hat ($295, Proper Topper, 3213 P St. NW; 202-333-6200), diamond earrings ($13,000), diamond bracelet ($30,000) and a diamond flower cocktail ring ($2,200, all, Boone & Sons, 5550 The Hills Plaza, Chevy Chase; 301-657-2144).
• sty led by betsy lowther
FA SH ION WA SH I NGTON | w inter 2009 | 14
FA SH ION WA SH I NGTON | w inter 2009 | 15
show off landmark, late-night dazzle in the w Hotel’s rooftop POV bar with Mark & James’ sequined frock ($495, Hysteria, 125 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria; 703-548-1615) and Herve Van Der Straeten’s drop earrings in gold vermeil ($230, Keith Lipert Gallery). He looks coolly casual in Shipley & Halmos’ jacket ($595) and pants ($325), Theory shirt ($225), Rogan sweater ($310) and band of outsiders tie ($135, all, Lost Boys, 1033 31st St. NW; 202333-0093).
Cocktails in the W Hotel’s swank lobby lounge require something more daring than a little black dress. opt for Devi Kroell’s golden tuxedo jacket ($2,490) and wideleg pants ($1,590, both, Hu’s Wear, 2906 M St. NW; 202-3422020), worn with Christian Louboutin heels ($895, Neiman Marcus, Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202-9669700). The deep neckline sets off Clare DeRosa’s 14-strand faux pearl and bead necklace ($485) and Irene Lummertz’s Brazilian rock crystal earrings ($1,900, both, Keith Lipert Gallery, 2922 M St. NW; 202-625-0541), while a michael beaudry diamond ring ($47,730, Chas. Schwartz & Son, Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202-363-5432) adds glitz.
In decades gone by,
a black dress and string of pearls could carry a girl through the party season in Washington. But not only has the way this town celebrates the holidays changed dramatically — for starters, the swift decline of company soirees at stuffy Capitol Hill pubs — so has the dress-up dress code. This winter, nights on the town, whether they’re spent in the Continental-cool Jefferson hotel or the pop-arty W Hotel (both the sites of this shoot), call for a wardrobe that struts between uptown elegance and downtown edge. Invited to an embassy gala? Go for a white-tie tux and one of this year’s floor-sweeping, finely ruffled ball gowns. Off to a rollicking fete at a Logan Circle club? Step out in a slinky minidress, shimmering with sequins if possible, and have him try a slim suit, perhaps with a hip-again waistcoat. “The need for elegant evening gowns will never go away, but leggy little dresses have become just as necessary,” says Mark Badgley, who, with partner James Mischka, helms Badgley Mischka, known especially for its Cinderellaworthy confections. The duo — in response to women’s desire for a wider range of on-the-town options — has also just launched a new, lower-priced line of cocktail dresses, dubbed Mark & James. “We thought we were simply going to reach new customers who were looking for affordable party dresses, but it turns out our longtime couture clients want them too,” says Badgley. Perhaps, like D.C.’s hip hotels and the snazzy crowd that frequents them, Washington revelers are yearning for something a little different, a little dazzling — and decidedly not a dress that smacks of Christmas parties past. b e tsy low ther
Below, from left: cocktail rings add movie-star sparkle to fingers. Try Michael Weggenmann’s cognac and white diamond-dotted platinum band ($29,500), Gellner’s elegantly swirled Tahitian pearl and diamond ring ($5,500) or Margoni’s chunky lemon quartz option ($595, all, I. Gorman Jewelers, 1133 20th St. NW; 202-775-8544).
FA SH ION WA SH I NGTON | w inter 2009 | 16
a cascading chandelier in the jefferson hotel’s plume restaurant echoes the subtle shimmer of J. Mendel’s bejeweled violet silk gown ($5,280, Saks Jandel, 5510 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-652-2250) and drop earrings ($295, Neiman Marcus Chevy Chase). He looks sleek in a Z Zegna tuxedo ($1,495) and bow tie ($85, both, Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Store, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202363-2059) and a pointed-collar tuxedo shirt ($98, J. Press, 1801 L St. NW; 202-857-0120).
About the Cover Viktoria wears a Romona Keveza dress ($3,850, Neiman Marcus Chevy Chase) and Sergio Rossi gold crystal T-strap sandals ($2,590, Sergiorossi.com) with Hearts On Fire drop earrings ($5,500) and a Michael Beaudry diamond ring ($47,730, both, Chas. Schwartz & Son). Justin wears a tuxedo ($595), shirt ($98), scarf ($250) and onyx cuff links and studs ($130, all J. Press), with patent leather lace-up shoes ($980, Gucci, Fairfax Square, 8075 Leesburg Pike, Vienna; 703-506-6804) and a Vitaliano Pancaldi tie ($110) and cummerbund ($240, both, Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Store). Cover image and various photos were shot in the new W Hotel Washington D.C. (515 15th St. NW; 202661-2400), where glimpses of the building’s historic roots as the former Hotel Washington mix with mod decor (lipstick-red sofas, Versailles-meets-Vegas chandeliers). Additional photos were taken at recently reopened downtown hotel The Jefferson (1200 16th St. NW; 202-448-2300), where a two-year-long refurbishment recaptured the property’s neoclassical Beaux Arts swagger. shot on location, the jefferson hotel and W Hotel Washington D.C. special thanks to erik grazetti, brian and helene leimbach digital tech: jim osen styling assistant: alison peters photo assistants: dave buchanan, eric olson Hair and makeup: Kathy Aragon/T.H.E. Artist Agency models: viktoria, Wilhelmina Models; justin, T.h.E. artist agency
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FA SH ION WA SH I NGTON | W INTER 2009 | 18
scene stealers the best of who, what and wear at the capital’s poshest parties
FW Anniversary Party MASA 14, OCT. 19, 2009
SCOTT SCHUMAN gets more than 100,000 daily
hits on his street-style photo blog, Thesartorialist.com. But he was signing his new book (above, right), not wielding a camera, at FW’s one-year anniversary bash at new Logan Circle spot Masa 14. Had he been shooting, the glam crowd would’ve provided plenty of material. Some of the capital’s best-dressed gathered to nibble sushi and spicy shrimp, sip Emperor Vodka mojitos and groove to DJ Keenan. Among the guests: store owners like Relish’s Nancy Pearlstein, rumored “Real Housewives” Lynda Erkiletian and Mary Amons, and sibling environmentalists Alexandra and Philippe Cousteau (above, left), who received gifts from Tiffany & Co. as the winners of FW’s annual award for D.C.’s Most Fashionable.
What They Wore
Angie Goff WUSA-9 correspondent
Mauro Farinelli boutique owner
Heather Karpoff designer
Brian McDaniel blogger/student
Courtney Knapp economist
Lesley Benn lawyer
“D.C. is getting better and sexier every year,” said Philippe Cousteau, who sported a pinstriped suit. Perhaps it was FW’s stylish influence that inspired partygoers to prove his point with eclectic outfits, from sequined minis topped with blazers to, for men, skinny cuffed jeans and slick jackets. WUSA-9 correspondent Angie Goff showed chic chops in a snowy sheath cinched with a vintage belt. Boutique owner Mauro Farinelli proved that men know good style, too, rocking a pair of retro knickers. A SHLE Y JOY PARKER
Shiseido Luncheon THE TEXTILE MUSEUM, OCT. 19, 2009
FOR ONE AFTERNOON,
Kalorama channeled Tokyo chic at an elegant luncheon hosted by luxury Japanese beauty brand Shiseido for its new skincare line, Future Solution LX. An elite group of 30 D.C. style setters dined under a lantern-strung tent in the garden of the Textile Museum (2320 S St. NW; 202-667-0441) for the event, cohosted by Shiseido America CEO Heidi Manheimer and actress Ali Wentworth, a loyalist of the culty brand. (“I started with their eyelash curler and got hooked,” she said.) Afterward, guests were taken on a private tour of the museum’s modern Japanese fashion exhibit, which runs through April 11 and features iconic pieces from such designers as Issey Miyake.
What They Wore The crisp fall day had guests raiding their closets for swingy coats, sharp jackets and artful layers. Wentworth paired her Narciso Rodriguez zipper-back skirt with a Proenza Schouler blazer and Christian Louboutin boots. (Plenty of the season’s tall boots were spotted in the group, including Elizabeth Miller’s standout Martin Margiela pair.) Manheimer gave a nod to Japan’s fashion scene with a striking pendant by Kazuko. “I’ve been wearing it for 16 years,” she said. “That’s what I love about Japanese fashion — it really endures.” B E TSY LOW THER
Elizabeth Miller mom
Heidi Manheimer ceo, shiseido america
Ali Wentworth actress
Hayley Gordon Pivato artist
FW PART Y SCENE PHOTOS BY DAKOTA FINE; ALL OTHER PHOTOS BY MARGE ELY
What’s in Store
calendar of advertiser and editorial fashion selections
november 09
November 12 – Bloomers’ 1st Anniversary Party from 6-8 p.m. 924 King Street, Alexandria, Va. 571.312.0852 www.shopbloomers.com
has a fall/winter/holiday collection full of treasures: romantic riding hats, cozy cloches. 3213 P St. NW, Washington, D.C. 202.333.6200 www.propertopper.com November 17-24 – Tiffany & Co. presents the 2009-2010 Blue Book Collection, featuring the world’s most spectacular jewels. Fairfax Square 8045 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Va. 703.893.7700 www.tiffany.com
November 13-14 – Boone and Sons Annual Holiday Trunk Show - 10 designers, special pricing. 5550 The Hills Plaza, Chevy Chase, Md. 301.657.2144 www.booneandsons.com
November 20-21 – Proper Topper. Abigail GlaumLathbury’s exclusive trunk show. Chicago-based, eco/sustainable design, inventive, inspired. 3213 P St. NW, Washington, D.C. 202.333.6200 www.propertopper.com
November 14 – Proper Topper. Christine A. Moore Millinery Personal Appearance & Trunk Show from 12–4 p.m. Christine
November 21– Bellacara. Alchimie mini-facials and Sue Devitt
makeovers. 924 King St., Alexandria, Va. 703.299.9652 www.bellacara.com November 27 – Shop your favorite Old Town Boutique District store and save 10% off your entire purchase at any of the other 27 member stores. Visit www.oldtownboutiquedistrict. com for more information. December 3 – Treat. Annual Holiday Happy Hour, plus “pick your discount” from our holiday tree and save up to $50 on your purchase. 103 South Saint Asaph St., Alexandria, Va. 703.535.3294 www.shoptreat.com December 3 – Bellacara. Annual Holiday Party from 6-9 p.m. 924 King St., Alexandria, Va. 22314 703.299.9652
december 09 December 5 – Christmas Attic. David Strand signing event and trunk show 12-3 p.m. 125 S. Union St., Alexandria, Va. 703.548.2829 www.christmasattic.com December 12 – Christmas Attic. Joseph Walden signing event from1-4 p.m. 125 S. Union St., Alexandria, Va. 703.548.2829 www.christmasattic.com December 17 – Old Town Boutique District Shopping Night. All Old Town Boutique District stores plan to be open late to accommodate after-work and late-night shoppers. www.oldtownboutiquedistrict.com
You’re invited to our annual
Holiday Trunk Show & Sale ,,IFI,,!
Friday, November 13 from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday, November 14 from 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
10 Designers
t Special Pricing
CHEVY CHASE LOCATION 5550 THE HILLS PLAZA u Chevy Chase, MD 301-657-2144
www.booneandsons.com
marcjacobs
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