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.

Shoshanna, with a side of window and Chic P salad

Last spring my daughter Maddie and I jaunted to Georgetown to meet designer Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss at Urban Chic's trunk show. Last night we set out for the Bethesda location to see the latest from the designer and visit with fashion blogger Betsy Lowther as part of Bethesda Row's Boutique Week. The dresses were a classic mix of fem with a subtle touch of sexy. Shoshanna doesn't do plunging necklines or slit up-to-there skirts. Her bright florals have more subtle details--off the shoulder, ruching, and gathered skirts. Betsy looked great dressed in a flowered ruched number we all love.

But stay with me...there are two more parts to the story. The Before:

... the fantastic window display we passed at Ginger. We love this dress made of book pages--perfect statement of book + fashion (see my prior Devil Wears Prada post)

and After:

...amazing salad at Sweetgreen. I've already had the "bondi" and "guacamole greens" with shrimp and I love them both. Because I'm a falafel lover I tried out the Chic P... The best. I loved the crunch of the spinach and pita chips combined with soft, warm, spicy falafel. The salad also has roasted yellow peppers, mesclun and chickpeas all dressed with a light tahini/hummus lemon dressing. It was a bowl full of my favorite tastes. The textures worked splendidly as well--not too salty, mushy, hard or crunchy. A home run--especially paired with their deliciously chewy brown bread.

Ginger kicks off Boutique Week events with The Devil Wears Prada author Lauren Weisberger

Annie Lou Bayly and Lauren Weisberger

It was a writerly crowd last night at Gretchen Hitchner's Ginger in Bethesda--which would be fitting since owner Gretchen Hitchner is a writer herself, having been a Capitol Hill press secretary before following her passion and getting into the business of fashion. Lauren Weisberger, who combined writing and fashion brilliantly in The Devil Wears Prada, was signing copies of her new book, Last Night at Chateau Marmont, where instead of a young, single protagonist tormented by her ruthless fashion-editor boss, the starring roles go to a young couple struggling with the demands of newfound celebrity and long-term travel on a marriage. Annie Lou Bayly of DailyCandy mingled among the crowd who were sipping wine, buying books and filling up the dressing rooms with the fabulous fall clothes at Ginger.

Zena Polin, Gretchen Hitchner, Me (Karen Watkins)

Tonight: Look for Andrea Rodgers of AskMissA.com at J. McLaughlin and a trunk show of Kenneth Jay Lane and Lauren G. Adams jewelry--the cuffs are especially hot.

All Access: Fashion--The Paul Sinclaire Runway Show Redux

Who'd a thunk it?? Wow! A big fashion show like this in a mall--and free? Friday night's All Access: Fashion show of Paul Sinclaire's womenswear line for Saks Fifth Avenue brought out mall patrons, local stars and national celebrities to Tysons Galleria. Patricia Field, award-winning costume designer and stylist for Sex in the City and The Devil Wears Prada, made her entrance, greeting the front row guests (which included Real DC Housewives castmembers), and then took the stage to introduce the show. Though her speech was incredibly short, she was long on star power with her long red hair, cropped bangs, great legs and flanked by style guys with fab studded shoes. The fashion show was a little more reigned in than Ms. Field's entourage, with lots of ruffles and bows, trim A-line skirts, high waists and and bateau necks. The looks had a slightly French and definite ladylike theme. Trousers were neatly cuffed and cropped.  Mr. Sinclaire, who has consulted for fashion houses like Dior, sat modestly among the crowd, which stretched up all three levels of the mall.  After the show, things loosened up considerably as VIP attendees were treated to a cocktail party,  complete with waiters, bars, a silent auction, swag--and lots of photos.

The After Party

Paul Sinclaire

Real DC Housewives castmembers

Glamazon Diaries Makeda Maggau Sackey and Ebong Eka

Kelly Collis (left)  and Laura Chavez (center)

Bethesda Row premieres 'Boutique Week'

All next week, starting tomorrow to be exact, Bethesda Row is celebrating Boutique Week, eight days of in-store events, celebrity appearances, trunk shows, specials book signings and guest bloggers (including moi) hosting daily events. The week kicks off tomorrow with free Equinox yoga classes in Bethesda Lane (weather permitting, of course) and 20% off outerwear at Wear It Well. Don't miss Monday night at Ginger for a chance to meet DailyCandy D.C. editor Annie Lou Bayly, and The Devil Wears Prada author Lauren Weisberger, as she signs copies of her new book, Last Night at Chateau Marmont. Tuesday brings AskMissA's Andrea Rodgers to J. McLaughlin, a Kenneth Jay Lane trunk show and beauty samplings from Aveda; Wednesday is Shoshanna Day all day at Urban Chic along with Betsey Lowther of Fashion is Spinach; Thursday Norah O'Donnell and local chef Geoff Tracy will be signing copies of their new book, Baby Love at Sassanova. Friday is a full day of fun at lululemon athletica with a Function as Fashion show at 7:30 p.m., healthy tips, fitness gifts and ... MoCo Scene! I look forward to seeing you all there! Saturday (Oct. 9) visit Luna for a Soft Joie trunk show.  Click here for more details on all events.

Fall Fashion at Neiman Marcus

Thinking about fall fashion in the thick dog days of July, is well, escapist. And I was very happy to run off to see fall trends displayed last Wednesday at Neiman Marcus's  fashion show at the CityShopGirl fete. Among make-your-own cupcake and champagne bars (mine came in the cutest little red can with it's own petite straw) were mannequins displaying the trends to be shown. Because I was unable to stay for the actual 7 pm fashion show and was desperately snapping pics of the displays, I got a little love in the form of a private fashion show of my own (which I give back to you). Thank you, Liberty Jones.

Neutrals, leggings and ankle booties--not going anywhere. Note the softly wrapped military style jacket and textural bag.

Military styling is in charge this fall, but only with feminine touches, like this Ali & Ro anorak decked with ruffles. Even the studded clutch commands attention.

Neiman's Liberty Jones shows how to wear the cape for day or night.

Lovely silk and cashmere Trilogy lace wrap edged with fur. 

Warm up that anorak with a furry layer

Cupcake break!

Fine tailoring, ruffles, lace and neutrals

Love the little bubbly in a can

Plaiding It

I did plaid way back when. I sported a bright plaid maxi coat that was not only fit for inner-tubing down mountainsides, it caught my then-boyfriend's eye. So with a rich plaid history that cannot be outdone, I prefer to try something new. But then I saw these Bettye Muller shoes at Sassanova:


and this Nanette Lepore "Walk of Fame" coat (which kind of, in name at least, reminds me of my famous coat):

and suddenly I'm less plaid-resistant. Both of these make a fabulous foil to basic black, which except for chocolate brown, is my constant winter-chic color of choice. Plaid away, little schoolgirls!

Making fall fashion dreams reality

A couple of posts ago I was waxing poetic on the dreamy vintage romance of fall fashion. I snapped back to affordable reality when I received the new White House Black Market catalog. They nail it. I get the same feel--ruffles, jackets, cloche hats, rows of pearls--with an updated modern sensibility that I'll feel good in while eating sushi outside at Raku. And we're lucky here in MoCo. There's a new White House in Wisconsin Place in Chevy Chase and another (with tons of free parking) at Congressional Plaza in Rockville. I'm off to the races. (Plus, the prices sure beat haute couture. Now I can get a matching gamine haircut... )

Waxing Poetic on Fall Fashion

This fall, the ruffle is back and the best looks seem to be the old ones--really old ones. Styles that harken back to the 1920s--skimpy, droopy, filmy skirts, tights, lace-up shoes, rows of pearls. Or take it back to the romantic 1820s, high ruffled collars and jeweled jackets mixed with modern edge--thigh-high boots with a ruffle. Designers--Armani, Bottega Veneta and Isabel Marant-- are coming up with spare dresses with delicate ruffles, billowy scarves and new/old shoes. Make the look a modern reality a la Lagerfeld with high, skinny trousers and lace-up ruffled booties, rows of Chanelesque baubles, a fitted boyfriend jacket over an ebullient Ralph Lauren ruffled blouse or scarf. (If you don't want to keep the poetic-era "shadows" under your eyes, don't worry. La Mer is coming out with concealer in September to take care of that. There ARE benefits to modernity.)

Two great looks as shown in the September Elle magazine

Tibi Trunk Show

Looking forward to fall? Stop in Urban Chic at Bethesda Lane Aug.28 from 11-8 for a Tibi trunk show, bubbly, a discount and a free gift with purchase.

Excited about Tights

They're back. Fall must-have? Tights. I absolutely love this August Vogue spread on the subject done only as Vogue can do it. Also for more tight-legged fun, check out the many pairs on this local blogger from  the fashion void that is DC. She's nailed the trend like nobody's bizness. (Great haircut too.) Here's a pair to get you started by Free People at Bloomingdale's.  And please, don't be afraid to tell us where to find more.