Men and Women of Substance and Style by Washington Life Magazine

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SUBSTANCE & STYLE POWER COUPLES

Norah O’Donnell & Geoff Tracy >> Rima & Salem Al-Sabah Marla & Barry Beck

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ashington has long been called the world capital of substance, and the power couples and individuals on the following pages illustrate just that. On the global level, they’re assisting with the plight of refugees, while on the national stage they’re making policy, strengthening communities and asking the tough questions of policy makers. And they’re doing it in style.

POWER COUPLE

KUWAITI AMBASSADOR SALEM AL-SABAH AND SHEIKHA RIMA AL-SABAH

heikh Salem Al-Sabah has been the Kuwaiti ambassador to Washington since 2001 and his wife, philanthropist and former journalist Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah, was recently appointed goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency. The fashionable couple is a fixture on the Washington social scene and invitations to their dinners are among the most-coveted in the nation’s capital. >> H E SHEIKH SALEM AL-SABAH YOU HAVE BECOME PART OF THE DIPLOMATIC AND SOCIAL FABRIC OF OUR CAPITAL HAS WASHINGTON BECOME A SURROGATE HOME FOR YOU? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT HOME? I feel extremely lucky and privileged to have been able to serve my country in Washington for the past 14 years. Washington is indeed my surrogate home. Rima and I have raised our children here, and we have already seen three of them go off to college. We have also forged life-long friendships with many Washingtonians and have accumulated everlasting memories in this wonderful city. The U.S. in general and Washington in particular, will always occupy a very special place in our hearts. Kuwait is, of course, my home and I do miss it, especially my family and friends, but what I have missed most this past chilly winter is Kuwait’s warm weather.

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WHAT IS KUWAIT’S ROLE IN TRYING TO ACHIEVE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO SYRIA AND IRAQ? Kuwait has always been at the forefront of efforts aimed at propagating a climate of peace and stability in the Middle East. Our region is currently facing a clear and present danger at the hands of terrorists who are trying to hijack our region and religion. It is for this reason that Kuwait was one of the first countries to join the global coalition against what is referred to as ISIL. Kuwait is currently the logistical hub for most of the coalition’s military operations taking place in Syria and Iraq. The headquarters of Operation Inherent Resolve (the name given to the military operation against ISIL) is currently located in Kuwait. Kuwait is also committed to fighting ISIL’s message and funding. Kuwait recently hosted a conference aimed

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SUBSTANCE AND STYLE at de-legitimizing ISIL’s perverted message, and we are closely working with the U.S. Department of theTreasury, among others, to cut off ISIL’s funding. Kuwait is also deeply moved by the plight of those directly affected by the tyranny that looms over their daily lives; thus Kuwait has pioneered the global humanitarian efforts by hosting two international humanitarian aid pledging conferences directed to the Syrian people, with a total pledged amount of $3.9 billion. The third pledging conference for Syrian refugees, will be held next month in Kuwait, as a further reiteration of our commitment to alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people. WHAT DO YOU VIEW AS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT HERE? On a professional level, I believe I was successful in forging a closer relationship and understanding between the U.S. and Kuwait. I took up my post in Washington prior to the tragic event of Sept. 11, 2001, and since then many developments have taken place, in which Kuwait and the U.S. have worked closely together for the common good. On a social level, I think my wife and I were able to bring attention and funding to many causes that we hold dear to our hearts, ranging from helping women and children to saving the environment. On a personal level, I think my greatest achievements are the lifelong friendships that I developed with many people here in Washington. WHAT ARE SOME MISCONCEPTIONS THAT EVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS OR THEIR STAFF HAVE SOMETIMES MADE ABOUT KUWAIT AND THE MIDDLE EAST? I think that U.S. elected officials and their staff are well-informed about the Middle East, but throughout my tenure in Washington, I have come across two misconceptions that I believe are prevalent in public opinion. The first misconception is the belief that all Arab countries are alike, which is, of course, not true. There are 22 Arab countries that differ from one another, and in certain instances, to a great degree. The second misconception that I’ve come across is the belief that religious fundamentalists are the majority in the Arab and Muslim worlds, which is also erroneous. A recent poll I read put the number of religious fundamentalists in the wider Muslim world at about 7 percent. So let’s not forget about the other 93 percent of Muslims that are just like you and me. WHAT DO AMERICANS NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT ISIL? Americans should know that ISIL is not representative of Islam or Muslims. ISIL’s actions and brutality go against the teachings of Islam where the messages of peace, tolerance and compassion are fundamental pillars. One of our basic teachings in the Holy Koran is that: “he who has killed an innocent soul ... is as if he has killed all of mankind.” ISIL is violating this fundamental teaching on a daily basis. Thirdly, ISIL was able to invent itself and grab large parcels of territory in both Syria and

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Iraq because of the following two developments: (1) the Syrian civil war and (2) sectarian divisions within the region. As such, the prerequisite to ISIL’s defeat is to end the civil war in Syria and to mend sectarian divisions in the region. ISIL will be defeated, but the two prerequisites I mentioned, are paramount to their defeat. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE? DO YOU HAVE FAVORITE ARTICLES OF CLOTHING OR DESIGNERS? WHAT DO YOU FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE WEARING? Being in a suit all day (and sometimes late into the night) Monday through Friday, I have to say that my favorite article of clothing is jeans … Diesel jeans, to be specific. For me, nothing beats jeans with a polo or a shirt in summer and a turtleneck sweater in winter. Leather jackets are another favorite article of clothing for me … They are a must in winter with jeans. But do not get me wrong, I also enjoy wearing a well-tailored suit with a crisp shirt and a dark blue tie. I would describe my personal style as a well-suited rebel with a cause. SHEIKHA RIMA AL-SABAH YOU’VE BEEN NAMED A GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY UNHCR WHY IS THE PLIGHT OF REFUGEES SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? It’s an honor to become a goodwill ambassador for UNHCR. I care deeply about refugees and others who have been forced from their homes because of war and persecution. With more than 51 million people affected, the world has not seen such massive displacement since the end of World War II. These numbers are overwhelming. It’s important to remember that each statistical number is a human being – a mother, father or a child. The plight of women and children especially breaks my heart. If I put myself in a refugee mother’s shoes, it is impossible for me to not get involved. YOU JOIN THE RANKS OF WELL-KNOWN UNHCR GOODWILL AMBASSADORS SUCH AS ANGELINA JOLIE AS A PHILANTHROPIST AND THE SPOUSE OF A PROMINENT DIPLOMAT HOW CAN YOU FURTHER THE CAUSE OF HELPING REFUGEES? The U.S. government and the American people have an admirable and long-standing commitment to help the world’s most vulnerable people. We need continued and broad public support to keep refugees safe, provide life-saving assistance - food, water and shelter - and to enable them to engage in livelihoods and pursue their education until they can safely return home or start a new life in a new country. I hope to do my part to encourage others to take action. To learn more about how to get involved, please visit www.UNrefugees.org.

I invite people who may be new to Washington and to government, so that they can meet others in the diplomatic and social community. When we have a seated event I always follow the rules of protocol. Most people in government positions, both American and foreign, know their rank. It would be discourteous to seat them in a way that didn’t conform to their official position. TELL US ABOUT YOUR LIFE AS A JOURNALIST I had just graduated from college and was living in Beirut, working as a journalist covering the Lebanese Civil War. It was a challenging time, but I learned a lot about how the world works and how people think. It not only taught me how to talk to people, but also how to listen. How to get people to open up and be comfortable enough with me to allow me to get the facts and to tell their story. It also taught me empathy. These are all valuable lessons that have prepared me for my role with the United Nations as I raise awareness for the plight of refugees, and in effect, tell their stories. IF YOU COULD SIT AT A DINNER BESIDE ANYONE LIVING OR DEAD WHOM WOULD IT BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM? I would love to sit with Eleanor Roosevelt and ask her what she would make of the world today, and how to best address the issue of refugees, particularly the plight of women and girls. Her esteemed work with the United Nations on human rights, as well as her activism on behalf of women’s rights, are awe-inspiring. THERE IS AN ART TO CONVERSATION AT A DINNER PARTY ONE SHOULD GIVE EQUAL TIME TO THE PERSON ON BOTH SIDES ARE THERE TOPICS ONE SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM? I do not restrain myself from any topics of conversation with a guest, but I will take care in how I couch a question that may concern a controversial issue. WHAT ARE SOME FAUX PAS IN ENTERTAINING THAT ARE COMMONLY MADE? To me the worst faux pas is to sit at a dinner at which all of the highest-ranking guests are placed at one table with the host, and the rest of the guests are gathered together with little thought as to how they’re seated. It’s disrespectful to the other guests and shows a lack of knowledge of protocol in a city where many people know it well, and will notice the slight.

YOUR WARDROBE IS ENVIABLE AND YOUR SENSE OF STYLE IMPECCABLE HOW DOES CLOTHING EXPRESS WHO YOU ARE? DO YOU FIND YOU DRESS DIFFERENTLY IN WASHINGTON THAN IN OTHER CITIES? I dress more conservatively in Washington because everyone dresses more TELL US ABOUT THE REFUGEE SITUATION IN SYRIA AND LEBANON conservatively here. I prefer dresses and heels for dinners and other evening events, WHAT SHOULD AMERICANS KNOW ABOUT THE REFUGEES? and more casual clothing for daytime. Clothes are less important here; people are When conflict erupted in Syria just four years ago, no one could imagine that the concerned with serious issues and how they look is simply less of a priority than violence would continue and result in such massive displacement. There are now in Paris or Los Angeles. more than 3.8 million Syrians who have fled their country because of the war and they now account for nearly one in four of the 13 million refugees worldwide WHAT ARE YOUR STAPLE WARDROBE ITEMS AND WHO ARE YOUR GObeing assisted. The countries surrounding Syria -- Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey - TO DESIGNERS FOR BOTH DAY AND EVENING ATTIRE? - are generously hosting most of the refugees and they also need support to cope My go-to outfit on any given day is a great pair of jeans and a white shirt. For with the crisis. Most refugees are women and children, and they face specific evening, I like anything by Emilio Pucci and fitted dresses by Victoria Beckham and risks, such as discrimination, violence, and exploitation. With support, refugee Roland Mouret. My shoes of choice are almost always Jimmy Choo and Christian women can improve their own lives and the lives of their children, families and Louboutin. And of course, what woman doesn’t love a Birkin bag? communities. And educating kids and keeping them safe will help ensure that an entire generation of youngsters does not lose hope for the future and will be able SHEIKA RIMA AL-SABAH’S BLOUSE AND PANTS to safely return to their homeland one day to rebuild their nation. by Emilio Pucci and shoes by Christian Dior. SHEIK SALEM AL-SABAH’S TURTLENECK by Ermenegildo YOU HOST A-LIST EVENTS THAT INCLUDE DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS Zegna, blazer by Canali, jeans by Diesel and shoes by Tod’s AND PEOPLE FROM NATIONS THAT DON’T GET ALONG HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO INVITE AND WHERE TO SEAT THEM?

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PHOTO JOHN PAUL FILO/CBS © CBS BROADCASTING INC

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POWER COUPLE

NORAH O’DONNELL AND GEOFF TRACY N

orah O’Donnell is co-anchor of “CBS This Morning,” which recently posted its best ratings in 21 years. Geoff Tracy is a restaurateur whose popular Chef Geoff franchise continues to expand -- the latest outpost at Dulles Airport. Although the couple, who met as freshmen at Georgetown University, jets between Washington and New York, where Norah is based, and D.C., where Geoff manages his restaurant empire and the two maintain a home, Geoff says he is 100 percent focused on Washington. “It’s where I feel most at home,” he says >> WHY DO YOU THINK “CBS THIS MORNING” IS DOING SO WELL AND WILL YOU TAKE SOME OF THE CREDIT? O’Donnell: I believe that our show has had success for two major reasons: one, we focus on the news, plain and simple – we like to say “The news is back in the morning,” and we mean it. The second reason is that Gayle [King], Charlie [Rose] and I are great friends. We don’t just play television – what you see on screen is the same as what you see off. I feel incredibly blessed that I get to work with some of the finest people I have ever met each and every day. WHICH INTERVIEW OR STORY IN YOUR CAREER ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF AND/OR HAS HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU? O’Donnell: The story that has impacted me the most was my interview with Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot and nearly killed by the Taliban. You hear her story – but meeting her in real life, she had such a strong, courageous presence about her. Following the attack, she received constant death threats and even relocated to England for her own protection. I asked her, “Weren’t you afraid?,” and she told me, “I may be afraid of ghosts and dragons, but I’m not afraid of the Taliban. Why should I be afraid of someone who is afraid of me already?” WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES AND GREATEST REWARDS THAT COME FROM THE BOTH OF YOU HAVING SUCH PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS? O’Donnell: Journalism is a great career - an opportunity to have a front-row seat to history. I pinch myself sometimes thinking that I get paid to read five newspapers in the morning! I love finding out what’s happening around the world, or even the latest twist in a political campaign. It has been a lifelong goal of mine to report for “60 Minutes,” and I am deeply grateful that I’ve had that opportunity since joining CBS News.To me, the biggest challenges of the job are the early morning hours and the extensive travel schedule. Coordinating my schedule with Geoff ’s can cause a migraine, but we make it work. Our secret is several well-organized Google calendars! Tracy: The restaurant business is a tough and competitive industry, but I chose it because I truly love it. I get so much enjoyment and satisfaction out of the hospitality and creative aspects of it. When a night is humming and my staff and guests are happy, it makes me so proud of this little spot in the world that I created. HOW DO YOU SPLIT YOUR TIME BETWEEN NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON? Tracy: We travel between the two cities a lot. I was one of six passengers on a 5:00 a.m. Acela recently so that I could make it to the kids school for a Parents’ Day by 8:30 am. Norah has done the back and forth in the same day on the shuttle dozens of times, for both business and personal reasons. WHO ARE YOUR MENTORS? HOW HAVE THEY HELPED YOU? O’Donnell: Tim Russert. I started as a correspondent in the Washington, D.C. bureau of NBC News when I was just 25-years-old. I had been a print reporter for Roll Call newspaper, but I was still very inexperienced. Russert made sure I had assignments at the Pentagon, the White House and Capitol Hill. He was also very supportive when

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I had twins and was worried about how I was going to manage a busy schedule. Tracy: Tom Meyer, president of Clyde’s Restaurant Group, and Rich Rosenthal, Founder of Max Restaurant Group in Hartford have both been instrumental in getting me started in this industry. Not only did they give me my first opportunities, but they’ve unwittingly pushed me and led me in the right direction ever since. I was also very influenced by numerous chef instructors during my two years at the Culinary Institute of America WHY DO YOU THINK YOUR RESTAURANTS ARE SO SUCCESSFUL? AND HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO KEEP THE AUTHENTICITY AND CONSISTENCY WHEN YOU CAN’T ALWAYS BE THERE? Tracy: My motto from day one has been “Great Food, Libation, and Merriment.” I believe in chef-driven food and hospitality without pretension, and I want guests to feel comfortable coming to Chef Geoff ’s any day of the week. We have great people and excellent systems that empower our teams to take care of our guests. I learned long ago that it is possible to hire chefs and managers who are a lot more talented than I am. That makes growth possible. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE DISHES? WHAT SHOULD WE ABSOLUTELY ORDER NEXT TIME WE ARE IN ONE OF YOUR RESTAURANTS? Tracy: Sometimes I eat more than 10 meals a week at Chef Geoff ’s. In order to keep fit, I frequently select from the Simple and Healthy part of our menu. When I treat myself, I go for my top three - our handmade Wild Mushroom Ravioli, Madras Curry Chicken or Shrimp and Very Gouda Grits. I’m aslso a sucker for our Spicy Chicken Sausage, Bacon, Capicola, Broccoli and Fontina Pizza. WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO PIECES OF CLOTHING AND FAVORITE STORES? WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE DESIGNERS? O’Donnell: My style is practical and simple, but not boring. I wear mostly colorful dresses and suits with clean lines and very few patterns. Television is a visual medium, but I don’t want my clothes to be the focus or a distraction to the stories that I’m reporting. Saks is one of my favorite stores because they have the best customer service. They always call me when there’s a sale, and they’ll put clothes on hold for me. My favorite designers to wear on-air and off are Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, Escada and Teri Jon. Tracy: I like to keep things simple and versatile by sticking to monochromatic blacks and blues, but I’ll add small touches of color in my accessories - shoes, belt, socks, or pocket squares. Hugo Boss, Zegna, and Gucci suits and dress shirts fit me well. I’m also a huge fan of Bonobos and Vince. My friend Brian Vincent from Saks keeps me appropriately attired for the formal fundraisers in Washington and the hip streets of New York. Truthfully, I’m most comfortable in jeans – I wear them at work 99 percent of the time – a perk of being the boss. MS O’DONNELL’S DRESS Valentino from SAKS 5TH AVENUE MR TRACY’S SUIT Ermenegildo Zegna from SAKS 5th AVENUE WARDROBE James W. Swift STYLIST Fran Taylor MAKEUP Brandice Coletta HAIR Cheryl Porter

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POWER COUPLE

MARLA AND BARRY BECK M

arla and Barry Beck, co-founders of upscale beauty retailer Bluemercury, made headlines in February when they sold their company to Macy’s for a reported $210 million. The couple, who started their business in 1999 right here in Washington, – their flagship store is on M Street in Georgetown - also started the M-61 skincare line together and recently partnered with HSN to sell the popular products on the shopping channel. >>

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SALE OF BLUEMERCURY! WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE COMPANY FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS AND FOR THE TWO OF YOU? Marla Beck: We are incredibly excited about this next phase of our company’s growth. The great news is that we will still be the same company, offering the best beauty products in neighborhood stores with honest, expert advice. We will continue to be innovative and creative. With Macy’s as a partner, we’ll have access to more resources – they have a huge tech innovation lab in San Francisco where I can design mobile apps and technology experiences to enhance the purchase of cosmetics. We will also be able to grow nationally at a faster pace. I am still the CEO and Barry is still the COO of the company, and we will remain headquartered in Washington. YOU BUILT A COMPANY TOGETHER AND WORK SIDE BY SIDE HOW DO YOU SPLIT THE WORK? WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF STARTING A COMPANY WITH YOUR SPOUSE? WHAT ARE THE BEST PARTS? AND WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO OTHERS WHO DO SO? Barry Beck: We hold primary responsibility for different areas. Marla is the CEO and handles the parts of the company that touch the customer: how we merchandise the products, our company branding, field hiring and product development. I am the COO and am responsible for the overall daily operations of the company, from the finance function to real estate site selection and store design and development around the country. The challenge is making sure running the company doesn’t consume our lives, but the upside is we’re doing what we love and we’re doing it together, which makes every day rewarding. I feel some of the best businesses usually have two founders. It’s rare that one person has all the characteristics to build a great company.This has been a secret to Bluemercury’s success.This concept of a partnership Yin and Yang relationship has been a key source of so much gratifying personal and professional success for both of us. We complete each other. It’s funny, we never attend any meeting of consequence separately; we always go together because we each bring something unique to the table. WHAT IS YOUR GENERAL ADVICE TO ANYONE STARTING A COMPANY TODAY? Marla Beck: If you are passionate about what you are doing or selling, it is not work. My favorite thing, still, is to go into stores and ask our staff what are your favorite products, tell me your favorite tips and tricks around beauty. I also love asking: if there was a beauty product you could invent, what would it be? Barry Beck: I have a couple of recommendations for anyone starting a business. (1) Just do it; jump in and start your business. Many hopeful entrepreneurs suffer from analysis paralysis.They over analyze their business plan, rather than jumping in and getting started. I always tell entrepreneurs that after a year, they will throw their plans in the trash because even after just six months in business, everything will change. (2) Read my favorite book, “Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s” by Ray Kroc. The McDonalds story exemplifies how entrepreneurs are constantly required to examine, revamp and rework their businesses, starting over and over again; being forced to start and restart their enterprise and restructure for growth. I believe it is one of the most important entrepreneurship books ever written. DID YOU EVER IMAGINE THE COMPANY WOULD BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT IS? Marla Beck: I don’t think of success as a thing in and of itself. For me, everything is about being creative and innovative and changing an industry. When we started Bluemercury,

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90 percent of all prestige cosmetics were purchased at department stores. Now that number is 60 percent. We are always setting out to change and revolutionize an industry, a product, a way of doing things. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO START YOUR COMPANY IN WASHINGTON AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO REMAIN HERE? Marla Beck: Washington is home for us. Our family is here, our friends, and it’s a quick train ride to New York, so it’s worked for us. Barry and I met here, our first store was here, it is a creative and energetic city. WHAT WOULD YOUR CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BIGGEST CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS? Barry Beck: The capstone of my career is when we joined forces with Terry Lundgren, CEO of Macy’s Inc., a Fortune 100 company in their first acquisition in over a decade. Macy’s is one of the most prestigious and respected retailers in the entire world, and they have made a resounding statement that they intend to make Bluemercury their most important growth platform. This was an amazing feeling of validation and the confirmation and recognition of the value we have created. WHO ARE YOUR MENTORS? WHY? HOW HAVE THEY HELPED YOU? Marla Beck: Leonard Lauder has been a huge mentor over the years. His mother, Estee, was an entrepreneur and he saw her ups and downs and was able to take what she created to a global level. He is a visionary and has always given us amazing guidance. Barry Beck: My father, who always wanted me to go into business for myself. He was adamant that I do so, so I did. One of the earliest real conversations I can remember with my father was when he said to me,“I don’t care into which field of work you go, so long as you own it.” I thank him for that; it was probably the best advice I received. Additionally, my father was always a man of extreme honesty and integrity and a man of action. He had the opportunity to go into a family business, but chose the hard road and went into business for himself. He always said, “The most sincere form of sincerity is action.” That conversation set the stage for my serial entrepreneur career which has involved starting several different companies. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL STYLE WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE DESIGNERS AND WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO SHOP? Marla Beck: I love mixing high and low, always. I have Zara and J. Crew mixed with Prada and Carven and James Perse and Helmut Lang and Theory. I love new designers like Veronica Beard, Emerson Fry and Laveer. I love supporting entrepreneurs. I am uniform based. I wear dresses or pants plus silk blouses. Barry Beck: My favorite ties are Charvet and Brioni, both from Neiman Marcus in Chevy Chase,and pants by Ralph Lauren, who is doing amazing work with pants, jeans, and slacks. I also wear belts from John Lobb. I am also crazy for anything Brunello Cucinelli, including their sweaters and buck shoes in suede; I have them in both tan and blue suede. My favorite suit maker has always been Brioni and Kiton, but I have a few custom tailored suits that are quickly becoming go-tos.

MS BECK’S DRESS by A.L.C. MR BECK’S CUSTOM SUIT by Marcraft, shirt by Tom Ford, tie by Ferragamo

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REP. BARBARA COMSTOCK She’s been called too conservative by liberals and not conservative enough by members of her own party, but newly-elected Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock of Virginia, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates who helped pass legislation on human trafficking and battling Lyme Disease – two significant problems in our region, -- maintains labels don’t matter to her or her constituents. When she was sworn into office on January 3, she became part of Congress’ largest Republican majority since President Herbert Hoover occupied the Oval Office. >> YOU REPRESENT LOUDOUN COUNTY THE WEALTHIEST COUNTY IN THE U S ARE THERE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH THAT DISTINCTION? It is a wonderful district. I represent parts of Fairfax and Prince William Counties, as well as all of Clarke, Frederick and Loudoun counties. We have suburban and rural areas and it is a diverse district that has a tremendous amount of expertise to address the challenges facing our district as well as the entire country. We have a growing technology community, as well as a growing agricultural community – with many wineries and breweries popping up throughout the district along with technology companies. We also have many government contractors as well as government employees so issues like sequestration hit our entire district harder than elsewhere. Diversifying our economy as well as addressing the misguided sequestration cuts are both priorities of mine. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS IN CONGRESS? IS THERE ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE PASSED DURING YOUR TIME HERE? I always want to stay in touch with my constituents and learn from them every day. There are so many important issues we will be facing over the next few years, but a very important one we will address is the “21st Century Cures” initiative - which is legislation to accelerate the pace of cures and research on cancer and chronic and deadly diseases.We can and should find the best ways to maximize medical innovation to produce breakthroughs in curing and treating these diseases and saving lives. YOUR TERM IS ONLY FOR TWO YEARS IS THAT ENOUGH TO GET ANYTHING DONE? DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO START CAMPAIGNING AGAIN IMMEDIATELY? I think our 2014 class and this Congress have a strong will to get things done. I’m reminded of two quotes from President Ronald Reagan: “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit” and the other is one that I have on a plaque on my desk, “It can be done.” TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL STYLE WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO PIECES OF CLOTHING AND WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO SHOP? WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE DESIGNERS? I like bright colors – Nancy Reagan red and bright blue are favorites. End of season sales and online sales, as well as shopping on eBay, are all great for finding classics, basics, and great bargains.

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ROBIN GIVHAN

Washington Post fashion critic Robin Givhan’s first book, “The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled Into the Spotlight and Made History,” hits bookstores this month. Givhan is no stranger to the spotlight herself: back in the ’90s, she famously critiqued women who wore sneakers with their business attire on the Metro, garnering both vitriol and back pats. Givhan went on to have stints at Vogue and Newsweek before returning to the Post to cover the White House >> YOU SAY WASHINGTON SHOULDN’T CALL ITSELF A “FASHION TOWN” AND/OR COMPARE ITSELF TO NEW YORK WHY? Why should Washington compare itself to New York? We don’t compare ourselves to Boston or Chicago or Los Angeles…. Is it just proximity? New York is a fashion town because that’s where Seventh Avenue is located. It is the home for a lot of creative industries that are involved in fashion. People should be borderline obsessed with fashion. Washington is full of smart, successful and ambitious men and women. They use style in a different way. They don’t need to compete to see who has the hottest new handbag or who can have the edgiest ensemble. But folks in Washington do use fashion as a form of social and intellectual currency. It’s a powerful armor. And it’s entertainment. HOW DID YOU COME TO WRITE YOUR BOOK AND WILL WHAT WILL PEOPLE FIND MOST INTERESTING ABOUT IT? The book is a cultural history of a 1973 Franco-American fashion show that changed the fashion industry. At a time of social turmoil, people looked to fashion as part of the solution. It ws a way of broadening diversity, empowering women and loosening sexual contstraints. The American industry, which existed in the shadow of Paris, was just coming into its own; and it embraced social change in a way France did not. The willingness to look to the future allowed American designers Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, Stephen Burrows, Anne Klein and Halston to triumph over the French. I learned about the show (The Battle of Versailles) at a luncheon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and during an interview with Burrows. I was fascinated that the American designers used 36 models, ten of whom were black. That was unusual. It set them apart and ultimately led to their success at Versailles. WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE TO PEOPLE BUILDING THEIR WARDROBE AND TRYING TO CREATE THEIR OWN UNIQUE STYLE? Buy less. Buy better. I consider a purchase a success when I have to eventually throw the garment away because I’ve worn it down to a few threads. Try on a lot of clothes – even if you think you can’t afford it. You can make a more informed decision when you see the difference between a high end frock and a less expensive one. And do not fear the tailor. There’s no reason a pair of pants or a skirt should fit you perfectly off the rack. Little elves didn’t come in the middle of the night and measure you. And I wish women would rememeber: if a garment doesn’t fit, there’s a problem with the garment, not your body. PHOTO HELAYNE SEIDMAN

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Substance and Style

REGGIE LOVE

33-year-old Reggie Love is as imposing in person as the notion of his close friendship with President Barack Obama.The 6-foot-4 former Duke basketball and football player spent four years anticipating the every need of the leader of the free world as Obama’s personal assistant. His recent memoir, “Power Forward: My Presidential Education,” chronicles the highlights. With a resume like that, and the apparent success of his “Body Man” predecessors, it would be easy to get cocky. But after spending just a short amount of time with Love, it’s apparent that everything about him is genuine, from the ear-to-ear grin to his retelling of the first time he met the future President, wearing a hand-me-down Hugo Boss suit that was a couple sizes too big. “I thought I looked sharp though,” says Love with a laugh. >> There have been many nicknames for your job with President Obama: “Body Man,” “Chief of stuff,” “First Friend” etc. What did you consider your role in Obama’s life?  I’ve never been one for titles; you are either on the team or you’re not. I defined my job by trying to figure out how to add as much value to the process as possible. Anything that made the day easier, more efficient or more enjoyable, I would try to figure those things out. How did you wind up in politics when sports were your real passion? Can you draw any comparisons between your life in sports and your life in politics?  Sports are definitely a passion of mine and athletics opened up education, opportunities, friendships and relationships that I probably wouldn’t have if I didn’t play. A lot of the principles that I apply to my overall life are things I learned growing up playing sports: toughness, hard work, competing on every play, sportsmanship and respect for my opponents, teammates and coaches. But, the chance to be a small part of the Obama campaign and administration was the opportunity of a lifetime, bigger than any game that I ever played in. What did you get out of writing the book?  Reflection. I grew up most of my life in sports being taught how to get ready for the next play. There wasn’t a lot of time spent reflecting on how certain experiences and events made me feel and what I learned from those things. Taking the time to write this book helped me to grow mentally and to truly appreciate the journey I have been on to date. Tell us about your personal style. I’ve got a hodgepodge of style. I have my father’s style of simplicity. The president taught me how to tie my tie with a perfect dimple, and shared insights about which type of tie makes the best knots. Chris Duhon introduced me to the world of tailored shirts and suits. And I always have hats to cover up this massive head on my shoulders. photographed at The Oval Room

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

| march

2015

| washingtonlife.com

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SUBSTANCE AND STYLE

JON PETERSON

He’s behind many of the popular mixed-use developments throughout the region—downtown Silver Spring, the Washingtonian Center, the Milestone Center and National Harbor. As son of the company’s founder, Jon Peterson has been involved with the Peterson Companies for 25 years, and currently serves as principal and chairman of the executive committee.>> TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL HARBOR Right now National Harbor is getting all of the attention just because of what we’ve been able to develop there. We call it the trifecta, or the triple crown, because all within one year we opened the Tanger Outlet Center which has been really successful...and then MGM announced that they were coming, they’re under construction [and will] in 2016, and we invested in the Capital Wheel, the 180-foot wheel with views that you can’t find anywhere in Washington. We’ve gotten pretty good at building a live/play/work environment. People want the walk-able, livable communities and are willing to pay extra bucks to be in those locations. I think if you look at the most successful projects in the Washington area, they are those projects that combine the office, the residential, the retail and the entertainment. DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON? WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS? We’ve got a number of projects that we’re working on in Loudoun County. There’s Commonwealth Center where we’re building Top Golf, which is a great new golfing venue. It’s more entertainmentoriented than it is golf, as 50 percent of the people that go there are non-golfers. We are putting in the infrastructure for Compass Creek and are going to open a Wal-Mart there. Then we have the entertainment-based Avonlea in southern Loudoun County. We’re in a development phase of the company that we haven’t really been in for a while. WHAT CHARITIES ARE YOU MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT? The Peterson Family Foundation. Peterson Companies have always believed that it’s important to give back to the communities we serve. Most recently, the Foundation announced a $10 million gift to Inova to assist with their plans to build an internationally recognized Center for Personalized Health in Fairfax, $1 million to Teach for America to support Prince George’s County Schools and committed to feeding one million people a year for three years in Prince George’s County. I’m also very involved with Youth for Tomorrow, a residential and educational home founded by Joe Gibbs, for “at-risk” boys and girls in the community. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE? DO YOU HAVE FAVORITE ARTICLES OF CLOTHING OR DESIGNERS? WHAT DO YOU FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE WEARING? I don’t shop very often but when I do, I’ll go somewhere like Nordstrom and buy five suits or 20 shirts. When I find something I like, I buy a lot of them. I like Peter Millar. I’m pretty casual but when I’m out, I don’t want to have my shirt hanging out, because you never know who’s looking; you never know whom you’re going to run into.

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Men of

Substance and Style

R. David Edelman

R. David Edelman was only 24 in 2010 when he became the youngest person ever appointed to the National Security Council, where he directed international cyber policy. Now this stylish Millennial is at the White House, charged by President Obama with overseeing Internet, innovation and privacy policy at the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Economic Council. >> What are the tech and internet issues that you are most concerned with now? Broadband in schools is a major focus — and the program the president launched to help solve it, ConnectED. Consider this: the average American school has the same connectivity as the average American home, but with hundreds more people. If a teacher wants to stream a video from Khan Academy to students’ desks, oftentimes they can’t.That’s not fair, and it’s holding schools back from embracing amazing innovations in personalized learning. These kinds of tools can help teachers understand their class’s progress in a very precise way, put a teacher’s one-on-one time to better use and ultimately keep kids from falling behind. ConnectED is working to solve that by making sure schools have the high-speed Internet connectivity and technology to enrich teaching and learning. The president launched ConnectED in mid-2013, and last year alone the private sector has committed over $2 billion in free technology and services for schools -- and the FCC is on track to meet his goal of connecting 99 percent of U.S. students to high-speed broadband and wireless within five years. Delivering on that could transform American K-12 education. How can we better protect economic data in an age of brilliant hackers who seem to be able to penetrate even the most carefully safeguarded sites? Cyber security and consumer protection are two sides of the same coin.  Whether you’re focused on threats from organized crime or nationstates, the reality is they are exploiting the same cyber security problems. Before we can take on the issue, we have to find a way to communicate not just to techies, but to CEOs and the general public, that the risk is real. All the defenses in the world won’t help if you don’t take the threat seriously and ignore basic steps.You’d be amazed how many cyber security breaches and cases of identity theft could be prevented by basic cyber hygiene. Changing passwords, updating software, using two-factor authentication takes only seconds but can save you hundreds of hours of headache — and millions of dollars for companies.. What did you learn at Yale and Oxford that most changed the way you see the world?  In college I did improv comedy. Imagine being locked in a room with a hundred of your closest friends, being put on a stage in front of them all, and having to deliver every time someone pointed at you and said “be funny.” A life skill, and a lesson in humility, all at once how would you describe your personal style? My workplaces haven’t traditionally been hotbeds of sartorial expression…but when there’s not a lot of room for variation, little details can be great. As a graduation present from my doctorate, I got a Shinola watch. I love it, especially for the story they’re telling — Detroit’s renewal meets American style. Mr. Edelman’s suit by John Varvatos. Watch by Shinola. Photographed at Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers, Georgetown

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

| march

2015

| washingtonlife.com