Don't. Miss. This. ALL ACCESS: FASHION!

Last year we had a blast with Project Runway's Tim Gunn, the affable host of the inaugural All Access:  Fashion event at Tysons Galleria. This year, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, the celebrity host of the runway show Friday night will be Paul Sinclaire, the man who among many other things has consulted with Valentino, Trussardi, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior. He most recently collaborated with Saks Fifth Avenue to create an exclusive fall/winter line of womenswear. Guests may also note another famous face in the crowd: Patricia Field, who styled the looks that made Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw, Carrie Bradshaw.  And that's just Friday. The 3-day fashion mega-event opens with "The New Rules of Engagement: Luxury 2.0," a lively panel discussion by high-profile industry insiders including Ned Martel of the Post Style section and Aaron Battista, retail VP for 7 For All Mankind. Saturday is a full day of individual runway fashion shows by Betsey Johnson, Nicole Miller, 7 For All Mankind, Anne Fontaine, Karen Millen and B/A/S/L/E/R plus 50 in-store events. While runway seating is invite-only, everything is free and open to the public. The event benefits SOS Children's Villages, an international organization that helps orphaned and abandoned children around the world.

Tim Gunn

Tim Gunn comments on the looks at last year's All Access: Fashion show

In case you missed it, here's a Passport to Style replay...

Last Thursday night, people filled up the tent set up at The Shops at Wisconsin Place for  Passport to Style. The event drew a fashion-savvy crowd who gave $20 to benefit either Hope for Henry or Fashion for Paws. They were treated to lobster claw bites from Capitol Grille, wine tastings from The Tasting Room, $3 cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake (who donated the proceeds to Hope for Henry), a fashion show, a swag bag full of samples and discount coupons and much more. All the stores surrounding the tent had their own events as well. Fun!

What else? Georgetown Cupcake

Capitol Grille 

Don't think the sign was part of the show...

Coffee break courtesy of Tynan's

Shopping Break! Fab shoes I spotted at Adolfo Dominguez

This cutie was up for adoption by the Washington Humane Society

 The Tasting Room (my fave is the Topiary)

Jazz It Up at Rockville Town Square!

This Saturday patrons of Rockville Town Square can stroll, shop, sip and be treated to live jazz all afternoon at the center's annual "Jazz It Up" festival and Taste of the Square. Events kick off at noon and go until 7 pm. In addition to store specials, enjoy food and drinking tastings from Bobby’s Crabcakes, Buffalo Wild Wings, La Tasca, Oro Pomodoro, Primo Italiano and Spice Xingthe. Music schedule below:


Noon:     Donato
1:30pm:     Swing Speak
3:00pm:     James King
4:30pm:     Kevin Mittleman Trio
6:00pm:     The Jeff Carmella Band

Rain date is Oct. 2.

Have you gotten your ticket? Passport to Style is tonight!!

Jennifer Rotigliano from Wisconsin Place, Laurie Strongin with the Hope for Henry Foundation and Tara de Nicolas from Fashion for Paws talk about tonight's fashion extravaganza at The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Chevy Chase. Your $20 ticket goes directly either to Hope for Henry or Fashion for Paws. See our earlier post here. Video courtesy of TBD.com's "Let's Talk Live."

The Mothership Has Landed--Equinox grand opening today

Have you even gone inside a five-star hotel and wished you never had to leave? That's the way I felt when I toured Bethesda Row's brand-new Equinox gym. Sure, there are 20 specially trained and certified trainers, tons of of cardio equipment and weights--with huge windows overlooking downtown--and even a serene yoga studio (complete with mats, blankets and blocks). Oh yeah, and a Cadillac, reformers and chairs for Pilates. And, there is a full roster of innovative classes--including the functional training "Whip It" and Tabata. Exercise, schmexercise you might say. But, there's more! Like a dry-cleaning service (hello!), retail shop stocked with activewear, childcare at $9 for two hours (seriously? in Bethesda??), eucalpytus-scented chilled towels, filtered water, and lots and lots of gorgeous tile (my fave). Initiation is just $19 till the end of September. Here's a sneak peek at some of the details we love to love:

Tiled wall

Women's showers
stocked with Kiehl's

Childcare

tile detail from pool room

pool

Garden Love

Hester Garden; Photo from The Garden Conservancy

Nothing helps gives the soul peace like a well-tended garden-- your home's best fashion accessory. On Saturday, Sept. 25, we have a chance to tour four of the area's premier gardens in D.C. and Silver Spring when the Garden Conservancy's Open Days program comes to town. No reservations necessary. Admission is $5; children under 12 are free. For directions and more info about the program click here.

Foodie Extravaganza: Taste of Friendship Heights Sept 25!

Need a way to jazz up that Saturday afternoon lunch with the girls? Or just want to try the fabulous restaurants at Friendship Heights? Now's your chance. On Saturday, Sept. 25 from noon to 5 pm, over a dozen restaurants will participate in the fourth annual Taste of Friendship Heights at the Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 South Park Ave., Chevy Chase. Five dollars gets you four tickets (though you'll probably want more) to sample food and drinks from the area's best eateries, including Capitol Grille, Indique Heights, M Cafe, Famoso, Bambule, Lia's, Maggiano's and more. Ticket sales benefit the Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place. 

An American with a Spanish heart...

On Saturday afternoon, Bloomingdale's White Flint shoppers (especially those in the shoe department) were lucky enough to get to hear renowned flamenco artist Marija Temo serenade them with classical Spanish guitar music. Temo, an American who has been playing Spanish guitar since age 9, says she has "a Spanish heart." The artist played everything from Spanish/American pop to traditional flamenco for an audience sipping on refreshing white sangria by Ridgewells Catering. Although hearing such fabulous music in a shoe department was a bit disconcerting (she sat under a "big chunky" sweater display), the accomplished composer was able to transport us with her amazing vocals and superb guitar.

It's Friday--so here's the weekend update...

Saturday: LOTS to see and do in Bethesda...
Shop: Drop by Ginger boutique in Bethesda for  Elaine Turner's "Jackie" shoe and handbag collection inspired by Jacqueline Onassis.


Learn: Visit the Montgomery County Total Body Health Fair outdoors at Bethesda Row from 10 am to 4 pm. Get the chance to meet health practitioners and learn more about optimizing health for body, mind and soul. Free. For more info, click here.

Listen: Don't forget to drop by Bloomingdale's at White Flint Mall at 2 p.m. to see flamenco artist Marija Temo perform. There will also be tapas and a drawing for two tix to the Hispanic Heritage Awards at the Kennedy Center. See previous post here.

Watch and Shave: Have a pint at RiRa Bethesda and see general manager Simon Hewson shave his head for St. Baldrick's Foundation for Childrens' Cancer Research. You can volunteer too and enjoy a raffle and appetizer buffet. A donation will also do. For more info click here.

The Best Shopping Party in Town

For those who missed the District Sample Sale, the biggest sale of the year (and benefiting GW Mammogram), I hate to say it, but you also missed a really great party. DJ Neekola spun tunes while frenzied shoppers (and it WAS a frenzy--especially trying on tiny dresses over full outfits... never mind) paused to replenish at the vitaminwater zero lounge and nibble on salmon bites, chicken croquettes, fresh veggies and brie from Occasions Catering, swig corn chowder shots from ICI Urban Lounge, and get more tasty bites from Neyla and Kababji. Cafe Bonaparte was whipping up full-sized French crepes...seriously?? Oh yeah, and a full table of Georgetown Cupcakes, including my favorite "Chocolate Squared." There was more from Dirty Martini, FunXion, Morso and Ping Pong Dim Sum. If you needed a beauty refresher, there were mini-massages, polish changes -- and even blowouts by one80 salon--nice on a damp, rainy night. The most serious shoppers follow a pattern--shoes first, dresses next, then champagne and cupcakes last. Slackers like me go straight for the bubbly. VIPs got a swag bag chockful of goodies including an Equinox gift card, a Monopoly Deal game, a full-size Deborah Lippmann nail polish, Popchips and a tee-shirt and hat. Wheeee! But don't feel bad. There's always next year.

The Fab Five Haute Committee: Mary Amons, Barbara D. Martin, Jayne Sandman,
Liberty Jones,  Shannon Haley

Gretchen Hitchner of Bethesda's Ginger 

Fabiana Zelaya of Daisy Too

ICI Urban Lounge

The smorgasbord

Time out for polish changes

Get a Passport to Style

There are more than enough fabulous reasons to spend time at The Shops at Wisconsin Place--Adolfo Dominguez, Bloomingdale's, The Tasting Room and Sephora to name a few. But now there's even a better reason. "Passport to Style," a fashion extravaganza running from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 23 benefits  Hope for Henry, a local organization that benefits children with life-threatening illness, or the stylish Fashion for Paws, which supports the Washington Humane Society. Your $20 ticket goes to either charity and gives you entre to one-night-only shopping specials, entertainment, food, style and a swag bag.  Some events are listed below. Click here to register and get more details.

• Stylist Lydia Santangelo of TESstylist presents fall trends in an interactive fashion show featuring looks from Bloomingdale's, Adolfo Dominguez, Eileen Fisher, ILORI and White House/Black Market.
•  Meet the experts from cosmetic lines including Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Dior, Laura Mercier and La Prarie. Enjoy mini makeovers and skin consultations and take home a special gift while supplies last.
• Complimentary Bloomingdale’s AT YOUR SERVICE personal shopping service.
• Complimentary Oxygen Facial at Sephora, or let their makeup artists show you how to get flawless skin with their fabulous TEMPTU Airbrush system. Subject to availability.
• Circe Salon Spa, a luxury AVEDA lifestyle spa, will showcase the season’s newest hairstyles and will also offer complimentary chair and Chakra massages, facial demos and makeup advice.   Subject to availability.
• Pick up a famous Georgetown Cupcake for a $3 donation to Hope for Henry.   While supplies last…

Design your own shoes today at The Little Shoe Box!

How far are you willing to drive for shoes?? Today only you can design your own shoes at The Little Shoe Box (that wonderful shop formerly on Bethesda Row). The event features Eliza B Flats--you pick the fabric, suede, leather, sole, damasks and trims. The show runs from 12 to 6. Near Baltimore: 7625 Bellona Ave., Ruxton, MD. Click here for website. 

Stacy London tells why she chose DC to launch Style for Hire

For all those who didn't get to see, hear or meet Stacy London from TLC's "What Not to Wear," during her recent DC launch of Style for Hire, here she is. I especially liked the way she relates to all women, wanting to help them to express their own style without squelching it.
Video is courtesy of the technological wizardry of Kelly Collis, founder of CityShopGirl.com.

Now THAT'S a bra!

Judith Olivia HeartSong's "Mariposa Azul" bra

No, not the latest Victoria's Secret concoction, the bra above is actually wearable art created by MoCo artist Judith Olivia HeartSong for the Cups Full of Hope event this Wednesday night at Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology. For months, artists, as well as the general public, have been submitting their creations to be auctioned off at this fab fundraiser sponsored by Success in the City to benefit the Tigerlily Foundation, which supports young women facing cancer. HeartSong's creation, "Mariposa Azul" started as a plain pink bra. HeartSong then handpainted the butterflies, paisley designs and stripes and added beads and crystals. The other whimsical creations (as portrayed below) to be auctioned at the show run the gamut from sexy and playful to downright outrageous. Just like us. What a great way to support and acknowledge our girls.  For tix and more information, click here.

"Hot Tamales"

Meet Stacy London today in Bethesda

Stacy London at Puro Cafe, Georgetown

The famous Stacy London of TLC's "What Not to Wear" is in D.C. and Bethesda today launching her new nationwide company, Style for Hire. I have been a fan of the show for years and especially love the emotional transformation many of her former fashion victims experience when they clean up their look.

She will be appearing at the following Bethesda/Chevy Chase shops. Bring a garment that you don't know what to do with and have Stacy's team build an outfit around it.

2:30 - 2:45 Piazza Sempione, 5471 Wisconsin Ave.
2:45-3:00 Sylene, 4407 South Park Ave.
3:30-3:45 Urban Chic, 7126 Bethesda Lane
3:45-4:00, Sassanova, 7134 Bethesda Lane
4:00-4:15, National Jean Co., 7301 Woodmont Ave.
4:30-4:45 Denim Bar, 4939 Cordell Ave.
4:45 - 5:00 Daisy Too/Zelaya Shoes

(FTC disclaimer: yes, I received a gift certificate for a service; no I haven't used it yet and would recommend Stacy with or without said cert.)

Fashion Tonight Everywhere

Ok, to recap, reinforce, gently hint and yes, nudge you. Get your walking shoes on (and for some those are  4-inch high) and your fashion sense honed at tonight's Fashion's Night Out events in MoCo and beyond:  1. Saks Chevy Chase has dueling DJs (click here for more events);  2. Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie is featuring Lafayette 148 designer Edward Wilkerson and live music (see my previous post here or click here for events). 3. Georgetown--for an all-out fashion and foodie extravaganza. Pause: if you need a rest, Dean and DeLuca is providing a lounge where you can regroup and refuel with a complimentary vitamin water. (Scroll down or click here for more info); 4. The 14th Street/U Street Corridor is holding a multi-store MidCity fashion blowout (click here). We need to embrace this night. It's fashion, it's fun, it's fantasy and it keeps us distracted from our problems and gives a little boost to our saggy economy. Yes, D.C. is known for its brains (wasn't Bethesda rated Numero Uno on the brainiac scale last year?), and smart doesn't mean dowdy.  Events start at 6 pm--in sync with the mothership Fashion's Night Out in NYC.

Friday Night Lights in Georgetown

MoCo residents can cross the county line Friday night Sept. 10 and shop at the Georgetown outposts of their favorite Bethesda Row boutiques during Georgetown's Fashion Night Out. Over 60 stores, restaurants and salons will hold special events, trunk shows, giveaways, raffles, drinks and nibbles. The Georgetown locations of Bethesda Row faves Urban Chic, bluemercury and Georgetown Cupcake will all be participating with giveaways, trunk shows and more. Urban Chic will have a style discussion with CityShopGirl's Kelly Collis, hairstyling and a Halston Heritage Trunk Show. New shop M29 will offer fortifying bubbly, and don't forget to stop by Juicy Couture for a greeting by the "Juicy Boys." And the best part, the members of the new Cirque du Soleil OVO show will be roaming the streets during the extravaganza, which runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. For more information and a complete listing of store and restaurant events click here.