jonesin for ruffled shoes

I am obsessing on ruffled shoes. I've been around long enough to have already done platforms, wedges and glads but not ruffles. Ruffles--I even like the word. I want them in butter soft leather; I want them in silk; I want them metallic. The ones pictured left are perfection: "Savage Lover" by Nanette Lepore. More contenders below (loving the Louboutin):


Christian Louboutin and Loeffler Randall; saksfifthavenue.com


L.A.M.B, nordstrom.com

Meeting Jane Seymour

Yesterday I had a strange encounter of a surreal kind when I had the pleasure of not only meeting a well known celebrity, but meeting someone who was genuinely nice (and of course absolutely beautiful). Actress Jane Seymour was at Wentworth Gallery in Bethesda at an event showcasing her artworks. I bypassed the opportunity (stupidly) to get my picture taken with her and instead asked her when she started painting. She told me it was 18 years ago during a very hard time in her life--horrible divorce, hit bottom, had nothing. She shared the details, but you get the picture. Her mother, a concentration camp survivor, told her to stop wallowing and "get out of her own head" and do something--for somebody else. Jane gave what little she had left to a children's charity and in return was offered art lessons. She started painting seriously and found a new passion. Her paintings range from bold florals to traditional scenes to whimsical takes on her "open heart" logo. I was inspired not only by her openness and her story, but also by her mother's advice to "get out of your head and do something." I thought about it all day in fact and contemplated the strangeness of rare but fortuitous chance meetings.

Shoe (Choo) Lovers Everywhere

Yeah, you know who you are. You just can't get enough. If you're blushing in a rush of guilty pleasure you probably already know about The Towering World of Jimmy Choo, a new book all about the business of Jimmy Choo, a brand put on the fashion radar with some help by TV show Sex and the City. Writer Lauren Goldstein Crowe recently returned home from London (she grew up right here in MoCo and attended Winston Churchill High School) to read from the book (co-wrote with Sagra Maceira de Rosen) during Bethesda's three-day Front Row fashion blitz. As a funny side note, she did mention that an unnamed DC blogger had thought it ironic that a reading about Jimmy Choo would happen in ... Bethesda (assumed sneer and eyeroll). I loved Crowe's retort.: "I guess they didn't know I'm from here and if they think there's no fashion here, they obviously haven't seen the girls at Churchill." Moving right along.... The book presents the "perfect storm," Lauren says, of how the business of Jimmy Choo rose from obscurity to fame with the help of society girl and current company head Tamara Mellon. Lauren has written for nearly every fashion mag around--Harper's Bazaar, British Vogue, British Elle as well as the New York Times, Financial Times and Fortune. Finance pro Rosen, now at Reig Capital Group, was an equity analyst at JP Morgan. The combo gives the book all the cred necessary to make a great reason to settle in for a voyeuristic peek behind the scenes at one of the world's best known new names in luxury footwear. Here's some eye candy for you addicts: a sampling of shoes I spotted at the reading (the black heels are Lauren's):

More from The Front Row

More pics from one of the biggest fashion events Bethesda has ever seen...

Bethesda's Big Night

Wow!! What went on here last night?? Bethesda Lane went from a pedestrian promenade to a full-scale runway style show complete with fashionistas, press, lights, thumping music, programs and front row swag as a bevy of beauties modeled the best of spring, summer and fall fashions from our own Bethesda shops. We got to preview everything from an Esley ruffled cocktail dress from Luna to fall preview Yansi Fugel from Wear It Well with a full complement of dresses and sportswear from Tickled Pink to Ginger to Lucy to Urban Chic, including a dress with a horse race print from J.McLaughlin perfect for tonight's Preakness.

But wait--isn't that Project Runway winner Christian Siriano sitting in the front row?? The young fashion superstar enjoyed the show with his mother, Joy, and sister Shannon. Prior to the show, Christian was gracious enough to pose for pic after pic at a reception for him at Redwood, where we enjoyed cocktails and nibbles. Though Christian's creative styles can be found in selected Saks and Nordstrom stores, the Brooklyn-based designer says he is excited about the shoes he's creating for economy-savvy Payless. His mother, Joy, says she was happy to have him home for the weekend as we chatted over Hot Mess martinis. Today The Front Row continues with a full day of events in many stores, including cookbook signings in Bella Italia, live oil painting at Ginger, and the Jimmy Choo bio book signing and specials on blowouts and highlights. There's still time to take in the trunk shows, discounts, giveaways, cocktails and a fresh hair style and more. 

Valentino: The Last Emperor

Bethesda is in the throes of fashion mayhem with a Thursday kickoff on Bethesda Row and a relaxing end to the day at Landmark Cinema with the fabulous new documentary on Valentino. “Compared to us, everyone else is making rags,” Lagerfeld whispers to Valentino at his 45th anniversary retrospective show as Valentino tears up in Matt Tyrnauer’s Valentino: The Last Emperor, a 96-minute indulgence into the world of Valentino Garavani and longtime partner Giancarlo Giammetti. Through scenes like that between Valentino and Lagerfeld as well as the personal moments between Valentino and Giancarlo we get a glimpse into the rarified world of high fashion in all its absurd splendor: their homes, vanity, passion and the difficult nature of the designer himself. Though Tyrnauer doesn't bow in homage, he very touchingly and perceptively portrays the connection and humor inherent “in two people whose lives are absurd but they don’t know they’re absurd.” Absurd maybe, but I have to commend two people who can stay together for 50 years as well as create the fashion icon that is Valentino. I also commend Tyrnauer for the tenacity to pull this project off. Though he's written about Valentino for Vanity Fair, and was thus inspired to make the film, I still had to ask him, "How does one approach an icon?" He said because he did not aspire to their life, he wasn't intimidated by it. All the better for us. The film will be coming to D.C. soon. Three words: Go See It.

Updates from The Front Row

Shopping was fun yesterday at Bethesda's first day of a three-day spree at The Front Row. Philippe Cousteau (above right), grandson of Jacques Cousteau, was in Ginger for the Calypso St. Barth Trunk Show in support of his environmental organization, EarthEcho. Cousteau Blue just happens to be a signature color of Calypso St. Barth this season. Ginger owner Gretchen Hitchner in maroon top, poses with friends including writer Zena Polin and novelist Cathy Alter. Stylist Craig Miller (below) of Salon Cielo ran open forums on hot summer hair. And there was so much more. Today brings celebrity chef Maria Liberati to Bella Italia at 5; bluemercury is offering complimentary makeovers starting at 10 a.m. And not to mention tonight's grande finale: a fashion show with Project Runway's indescribable Christian Siriano. Stay tuned!