The heart is a fickle hunter....of shoes

Last year I was in love (and a little bit of lust) with this Badgley Mischka...such a party girl.

bloomingdales.com

This year, I have a new love. More subdued, but tantalizing with a quiet passion just under the surface of its slightly authoritarian exterior:

Prada, Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie
My change of heart was vindicated (egged on?) when I spotted these on Julia Farr at the grand opening of her new boutique. 

Frailty, thy name is woman.

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.

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…

Bloomie's celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Marija Temo

Don't miss this. On Sept. 18, Bloomingdale's White Flint will present a special performance by renowned flamenco guitarist, vocalist, composer and dancer Marija Temo in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. The 2 p.m. event, in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, is free and open to the public. Guests can enjoy Latin refreshments and enter to win two VIP tickets to the prestigious, invitation-only Hispanic Heritage Awards at the Kennedy Center on Sept. 29.

Bloomie's first-ever outlet opening in Potomac Mills

Bloomingdale's is opening its first-ever outlet at Potomac Mills on Friday, Aug. 20. We all made the schlep when IKEA came there; now we have an even better reason to make the trip. The official 10 a.m. public opening is preceded by a press event featuring a corporate ribbon-cutting with entertainment by Urban Nation H.I.P.-H.O.P. Choir of Washington, D.C. The 25,000-square-foot store will carry women's shoes, jewelry, handbags; and clothing for men, women and children. 2700 Potomac Mills Circle, Suite 307, Prince William, VA 22192

From inlaws to outlaws

Bloomie's take on spring 2010 is all about unconventional pairings and good girl/bad girl combos. Find feminine ruching and pleats as well as classic designs updated with bad-girl cutouts. Innerwear and outerwear mix and match in sheer, sexy layers by Alberta Ferretti and Jean Paul Gaultier. Say goodbye to slouchy blazers as Chanel edges its classic structured jacket back in, this time with fringed trim. The hottest shoes? Menswear oxfords by Stuart Weitzman and Pour la Victoire and clogs--yes--clogs by Chanel. As far as jewelry goes, find it in jeweled belts. Ladylike wrists are to be adorned with oversized watches and chunky bangles. So there.

Dress at left: Aqua $98.

I want you so bad it's driving me mad

I Want You! 

I want you so baad

I want you

I want you so bad it's driving me mad

It's driving me mad.

_I Want You (She's so heavy)

John Lennon/Paul McCartney

A little birthday madness for MoCo today. 

THE holiday shoe. 

Badgley Mischka $215

Bloomingdales.com

Reefer Madness

Check out Bloomie's for different takes on this great fall classic reminiscent of noir films' natty dressers--crisp tailoring, chic grays in menswear-inspired reefer coats that would only look better accented with slick black booties, a hint of ruffle, a great slouchy bag. For Bloomie's card holders it's a matter of "the more you spend, the more you save." Also check out Bloomingdale's exciting event this fall called "Lights, Camera, Action." Bloomingdale's has partnered with motion picture studios, indie filmmakers, classic movie cable networks like TNT, and locally with Women in Film and Video, AFI and others to merge film and fashion in an innovative fall theme, incorporating ticket giveaways, private screenings and more. The store has even commissioned five indie short films, called "BFLIX" to be produced, screened and voted on by customers online at bloomingdales.com. Directors include Emily Abt, Andrew Hunt and Amy Redford. Customers can also put themselves into their own favorite movie scenes via Yoostar. Cool! I'd like to see myself right in between Robert Redford and Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. "Lights, Camera, Action" runs through October.

Bloomie's Annual Fashionable Fundraiser

If you're looking for a good excuse to go shopping, you just might have one. From Aug. 27 till Aug. 30, Bloomingdale's has pledged to raise $75,000 for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS research, dedicated to helping stop the AIDS epidemic. And you can help by shopping in any Bloomingdale's store during the Fashionable Fundraiser in Black and White. Check out the deals under the black and white spotlights, watch classic black & white films in the movie lounge, win gifts and more. Designer Kenneth Cole, amfAR board chairman, designed the Fashionable Fundraiser t-shirt. 75% of the $35 price goes directly to amfAR.

Shopping for Labels for Love

Last night I attended the Labels for Love charity shopping event hosted by CityShopGirl and Bloomingdale's in Chevy Chase, not only for the great clothes and drinks, but because I wanted to meet CityShopGirl Kelly Collis Fredrick. Once I got in I immediately went to the bar for my Bloomie's Martini (a perfectly chilled Absolut concoction with pineapple) and there she was! Saying hello to me because...I already knew her. But as Kelly. (So there, my memory isn't as bad as it seems.) After we chatted I took my drink and bruschetta (courtesy of Lia's) to lean on a checkout counter where I met two women from Arlington. I don't usually go to Arlington because I always get lost. But one of them not only had sisters in my hometown of Albuquerque, she also had spent time in Tucson and had a fabulous purse and necklace she had made herself. More new friends. Now it was time to make the supreme sacrifice and shop to "give back." This was a charity event, after all, giving a portion of proceeds to Labels of Love, which supports local women's and children's causes. Ever crafty, I used my 20% coupon for a Laundry dress, which was already 40% off. Score! Weekend dress problem solved. That plus one more from BCBG made the night a shopping success. I made new friends, reconnected with old ones, had a martini, great food from local restaurants (Lia's, Lebanese Taverna, Georgetown Bagelry) helped support Labels for Love and saved money. All in one night.