The Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce (GWFCC) and Pink Jams! presents PINK FASHION ROCKS Wednesday night at the Longview Gallery in D.C., starring fashion designer Betsey Johnson and iTunes 2009 Rewinds New Rock Band of the Year, the Charm City Devils. Fourteen local designers will be present to show off their pink creations, some custom-made for this event. Local models (some breast cancer survivors) will walk down a down a hot pink runway. And, of course, there's lots of great food and drinks, including hors d'oeuvres by Silver Spring's Daily Dish. Started by Christa Floresca, Pink Jams! raises money for cancer awareness through great events featuring live music and the arts. VIP tickets get you not only swag but entree into a cocktail reception with designers, models and celebrity guests. General tickets for $50 include the show, food and drink. All proceeds go to Pink Jams! and GWFCC's DC Fashion Foundation. Click here for tickets and more information. See you in the pink Wednesday night!

Beach Blanket Retro Glam

I admit it. I don't really like standard-issue "bathing suits." My long torso doesn't take kindly to two tiny pieces of fabric on either end of a long expanse of skin. Plus there isn't much of a waist there to break things up. I want to feel like I'm donning an actual outfit when I put on my swimsuit, not some generic formulaic "two-piece" or "tank" or "tankini." I didn't really want to go the vintage route, so I scoured websites and found suits I actually get excited about like the Jantzen suit left--feminine, tailored, neat and structured. (The Badgley Mischka below is perfection.)

Though some of the smaller houses like Hayden-Harnett (below right)
come up with the most innovative designs, larger design names are coming up with just the suits I have in mind. Here are a few of the best I've found around online and at shops ranging from Nordstrom to Urban Outfitters to Anthropologie to Macy's to SyLene in Chevy Chase.

Love the high-waisted Jantzen two-piece; ruched one-piece is by INC

Betsey Johnson (left) & Kimchi at Urban Outfitters make you feel "dressed"