Not Gilty

...of spending too much money on big-name items. When I was invited to a party hosted by The Gilt Groupe at the W Hotel last week following a screening of The September issue, I was so busy falling over myself to get there, I didn't pay close enough attention to who was hosting (The Gilt Groupe). I was invited to join and realized Gilt Groupe is an online designer sample sale extravaganza. Note these bargains: Erno Laszlo blush for $19?? Calvin Klein shoes marked down to $98 from $525? Now that's a sale that really says sale to me. There are also specials on Rachel Roy, Alexander McQueen and Rebecca Taylor. Of course I always have to have the T-shirt; love the $30 Fashion's Night Out in black and white.

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.

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.

Simply Santa Fe

I frequently go to New Mexico so today we're doing a little Shop Talk Santa Fe. There are so many wonderful stores for unique clothing, art and furniture, but I'll start with a Plaza staple. Simply Santa Fe was a must-stop on the Plaza long before all the other stores sprouted up and Santa Fe became SANTA FE. (Believe it or not, the famed downtown Plaza was once just a square with a Woolworth's and stores selling beaded belts and souvenirs.) Simply Santa Fe sells unique women's clothing on the main floor, some funky but all fashion forward. I spotted a fabulous white brocade coat and an embellished dress, two of the many things I'm unlikely to find in Bethesda. The top two floors are devoted to whimsical furnishings, dishes and accessories. The Italian porcelain plates I bought here years ago are my entertaining staples. My house-bored husband even gets excited about their furniture; I had to drag him out of a leather rocker, now on the list for our Southwestern someday dream house. This bed makes sleeping under the stars an everyday reality.

My MoCo Tomato

Drumroll please! My first Black Krim (or Crim) tomato of the season, grown just on the edge of a landscaped bed. And, from a plant I grew from a baby given to me from my good friends' wondrous garden in Gaithersburg ... (which you WILL read about one day soon, promise). Anyway, it's perfect. The color and deep green top are all part of its natural beauty. Now, the point of this tomato is to harvest the seeds to plant for NEXT year - NOT to go buy plants, but to make my own by harvesting the seeds and planting them in little peat pots next year. Why am I writing about tomatoes on MoCo Scene you might ask? This tomato's roots are entirely MoCo. It came from a seed harvested from a plant grown locally last year. This tomato was grown sans chemicals, sprays or anything more than benign neglect and some water. That's how we roll around here. And, I've been super busy with travels and work and what not. Now, I've got to go get a knife and some salt.

Is 'Combat Ready' Camp Out Ready?

My daughter and her boyfriend, a newly commissioned Army officer, are going camping next weekend. My daughter suffers from bug bite overload (huge, painful welts). She's anticipating that this week's camping trip (in muggy August) will be challenging. They're packing Combat Ready Balm by Skincando to see if it's up to task. It's a wonderfully rich and creamy skin balm I found around the corner from my house at Village Green Apothecary. (Check the website for more locations.) The bonus is the cream's soothing but aggressive bug bite relief.  So much so that Skincando owner Sara Damelio ships the stuff by the crateful to our soldiers fighting in Iraq to ease their flea-bitten, sunburned skin. She's running a campaign called Operation Sand Flea--for a $12 donation she'll send a jar to a soldier with a gift card and thank you note. I'm sending a jar with my daughter and newly commissioned officer for camp combat. We'll debrief next week.