Team Johanna!*

The first clips from Elle's new reality show Stylista are out, and yup, that's definitely D.C.'s very own Johanna (formerly of the sorely missed fashion blog A Serious Job is No Excuse) making Anne Slowey breakfast in an incredibly cute orange and cream Marc Jacobs dress. (We love that dress!) There's an unsatisfying amount of Johanna time in these clips (see part two and part three here) but it all looks just ridiculously awesome.

*Oh, I am SO getting t-shirts made.

The only thing that tops hanging with Georgina.

OMG. Could that really be my very favorite former blogger I see over here and here?

A Very Special GG Recap: Up Close with Georgina!

I was a little worried that this week's recap might be without some of its usual vim and vigor, because I wrote it at 6:45am this morning, just before heading up to New York City for a few days. I shouldn't have worried, because the first stop on my New York itinerary (after a bagel, coffee and a quick stroll through Soho, of course) was the launch of the new-and-improved Sunglass Hut in downtown Manhattan (now without those pesky locked cases!), hosted by none other than Georgina herself, Ms. Michelle Trachtenberg.

I might have prepped a little more if I'd realized that this party was going to be so small – as it were, there were only about 30 of us crammed into the Sunglass Hut, so I basically shoulder-to-shoulder with G. as she gushed sweetly to other reporters about what was in her Chanel 2.55 bag (a Shu Uemura eyelash curler and a Blackberry) and also the details on her handmade jewelry line, Bella Veritas.


Naturally, she was wearing blue – a floor-length Diane von Furstenberg dress with an amazing black lace back. (Plus: Navy nails! I guess when you know what works…) She also had the most insanely creamy skin ever, which is making me feel that much worse about the terrible sunburn I'm suffering with (damn you, pony races!).


And with that, we head to our offical GG play-by-play. Be warned: There are spoilers!

6:58am: Hmmm. Well, Georgina, I have to say that the more evil you get, the worse your outfits get. I'd start lobbying the costume department to get you back into the blue.

7:00pm: Oooh! Nice eggplant Vespa, Vanessa! But your enormous lime green and gold earrings and huge gold chain necklace… I mean, c'mon. Has the accessories department just never stepped foot in a outer borough?

Nate! You're back! Looking good! {Which reminds us: Did anyone see the People Most Beautiful issue with the Ashlee Simpson-Pete Wentz q&a? And Pete alleges that all pretty boys with big eyelashes are wearing falsies? Our Chace Crawford-Zac Efron dreams are slowly being crusssshed.}

7:03am: Tensions mount as Chuck Bass and Dan face off in a grandpa cardigan showdown. Who will win? Will it be Chuck's overly buttoned-up mustard version? Or Dan's casually unbuttoned burnt orange? Only time will tell, but we've definitely got money on Chuck's plaid pants. They'd kick Dan's skinny dark jeans anyday.

7:06am: Oooh, Blair, I really don't know about that tiny little bow on your dress. It's like someone shrunk your bowtie. Your low ponytail, however, is really Audrey chic. Also, is everyone trading in brights for muted, mustardy tones this episode?

Mini dance party break! I do love these Madonna-JT Sunsilk commercials.

7:11am: That Rolling Stone picture of Rufus? Does it not look like he's wearing the worst Halloween wig ever? I thought he was supposed to be *hot* in the 90s!

7:13am: Ooooh! Grandpa cardigan throwdown!

7:14am: Wow, hangovers look pretty incredibly awesome on Serena. As do cute purple bathrobes.

7:17am: Is it not seriously weird that the housekeeper is making clandestine phone calls?

7:25am: Sober flashbacks necessitate sober outfits, I guess.

7:27am: Rehearsal dinner chic! Plus, this silver wide scarf with silver flowers might be Blair's best headband yet.

7:29am: A Lisa Loeb cameo? Oh Lisa, I think you and your black and white mini-dress are both pretty cute, but agreeing to host a VH1 has-beens concert on GG has probably been your worst career move since that reality dating show you did a few years ago. Which I watched an embarrassingly large amount of.

7:38am: Quickest Resolution of a Murder. Ever!

7:39am: Clearly, Rufus was just the worst '90s musician ever. And his lip synching just sucks. And why is no one rocking out anywhere near the front of the stage?

7:42am: I'm sorry, but that was an incredibly anticlimactic and passionless kiss, Lily and Rufus. Look alive, kids.

7:45am: So wow, there was just an incredibly lack of eye candy! Luckily, next week's wedding looks like it will be formal-tastic. Plus, now that this pesky murder business has been neatly taken care of, we can move back to more frivolous pursuits. Like dresses!

DC-ish stuff

In case you missed it:
+Bethesda-based interior designer Sara Tuttle was named one of The Domino 10 and she was nice enough to tell me some of her favorite easy decorating tips for, uh, those of us who probably can't afford her services. My personal favorite? Her suggestion to DIY your own Pollock- or Rothko-esque modern artwork – she swears she's done this lots of times, and the results are always spectacular. I'm completely intrigued.

I'd have to suggest you use the amazingly fun JacksonPollock.org to get your creative juices flowing, a la the art above, via here.

+And! Rachel of Project Beltway and I will be hosting a fashion chat on the Washingtonian.com site on Friday, and we want your burning style questions! Feel free to submit questions in advance about anything fashiony, such as where we're shopping right now, or what our biggest summer fashion pet peeves are, or what's on our Desperately Coveted wishlists at the moment, or even what kinds of vintage finds I scored in Nashville (because you know I did!).

Really, anything remotely stylish is fair game. Plus, it will be doing me a big favor, because hosting an online chat brings out all kinds of fears not unlike throwing a party in sixth grade and wondering if anyone will actually come.

More from the races

If you read my other site already, then there will be quite a few repeats below, but honestly, Steeplechase was so fashionably prep-tastic that it seems necessary to show them again over here.






















And what did I wear? I took a serious cue from my Eliza Doolittle fantasies and went with black and white for the day (and bright pink for the afterparty). Really, it was the poofiest vintage dress I could find, and this picture doesn't really do justice to its seriously gauzy rufflyness. I added an extra touch of Southern-style ridiculousness by pinning an oversized flower to my shoulder that has left me with some very unusual tanlines. The hat – which I love and am totally going to wear around all summer – is from H&M; the sunglasses are my oversized freebies from Meeps.

Back from the races…

I've just returned — only sliiiightly worse for the wear – from my ponytastic long weekend in Nashville. I'm sorting through the hundreds of pictures I took (and the hundreds of e-mails people sent me while I was away {sigh}) but should be back later with plenty of stories.

Also: Next year, I've definitely got to step it up, hat-wise. I mean, *just look* at this amazing homemade horse hat. Now why didn't I think of that?

Gossip Girl Skewers L.L.Bean, Tinsley Mortimer and Tom Cruise

Can you believe we finally just got around to watching the new Gossip Girl this afternoon? That's a pretty good assessment of how busy we've been this week. (And how busy we'll continue to be for a little while. Bear with us!) Still, it was well worth the wait. And of course, a more concise recap is available over here, for those of you who like their rehashing to be shorter and also include superlatives. (And – be warned – there are spoilers in both!)

1:00pm: Shoes! Colors! Headbands! I'm not down with Jenny's evil streak, but this clique-y face-off seems to inspire way adorable color combinations.

1:03pm: Serena! Cute vest. Cute layers. Cute red cuffs! And your jacket seems to actually fit. For a change, we say: Looking good, S!

1:04pm: Vanessa has new earrings! They're not cute, but still: Hurrah! The gold lips necklace is not cute either, but I'm just happy the door knockers are gone.

1:05pm: Jenny, you ARE insufferable. Even your adorable bright yellow jacket is not helping things.

1:08pm: Ooooh. Rapid cuts. Artful close-ups. A pulled tie! I smell scandal. Yep, scandal!

1:11pm: Here's Lily, looking cutely matronly in oversized clip-on earrings and librarian glasses. Stuffy-chic is back. I like!

1:13pm: OH SNAP! An LL Bean pants dis.

1:15pm: Hmmm. Blair's navy, white and red (bright red tights and long-sleeve shirt, B?) is a bit much/patriotic, no?

{Oops, sorry, hold on; I have to take a phone call.}

1:26pm: Still digging Lily's conservative-chic look. And that pale blue birdcage wallpaper in the background of the wedding store is very sweet.

1:27pm: OMG. A Zac Efron dis!

1:27pm: OMG. A Page Six dis!

1:28pm: I don't like that all this activity is taking place on the same day. There are not enough outfit changes!

1:29pm: OMG. A Tinsley Mortimer dis! Wow, they are really pulling out all the obscure reference stops. Love it.

1:30pm: OMG. A Katie Holmes/Tom Cruise dis! They are really upping the rapid banter to Gilmore Girls levels.

{Commercial fast-forwarding begins now.}

1:31pm: Lily! Wedding gowns! Fun!

1:32pm: What, no gratuitous gown shot? We want to see all the ruffly goodness!

1:33pm: I like how the nerdy girl has become the Token Asian Sidekick, now that the other Asian has left the show. Still: Those round red glasses are pretty cute.

1:35pm: Guess I was wrong about that Asher. He went from cutie to jerk in a blink of a pink plaid shirt and striped grandpa cardigan.

1:36pm Hey, is that an arrangement of ranunculouses (ranunculi?) on Serena's dresser? Pretty!

1:37pm: Hmmm, Lily, not entirely sure about that royal blue belted dress. And you'd been doing so well.

{Sorry, another phone call. Hold on...}

1:47pm: Wow, has anyone else thought that Tom Welling (who I used to play on the same Little League team as, fyi) looks an awful lot like Rufus, at least in these new Smallville commercials?

1:48pm: Jenny, that striped cardi? Ew. That purple floral dress, though = seriously cute.

1:50pm: What's up with Georgina's gross purple blazer? Is it *polyester*? Really, G, if you're pushing someone out of the closet, the least you could do is be appropriately well-dressed while everyone stares at you all agape.

1:53pm: Time for some tough love, Serena: That gold mini-dress is NOT flattering. And the weird lanyard necklace? No, no, no!

1:54pm: Coming out, however, is very flattering on Eric. He has a nice glow. And his hair highlights-streaky bits are looking much better these days.

1:55pm: Wow, I guess Madras is waaaay in. *Everyone* is sporting Madras patchwork shirts. Asher: A Madras tie and a Madras shirt? Bold move!

2:00pm: Jenny, that purple dress is ah-may-zing. Blair's pearls aren't my favorite, but revenge does look very good on her.

2:05pm: Jenny, we know you own a cute yellow trench. Why must you pair that brown patchworky thing with that purple dress?

2:10pm: Serena, that silver jacket with that gold dress? Doubly uncute, and way too uncomfortably short for you.

2:11pm: Oh, the big secret has been spilled! Mike has just announced: "Shark. Jumped." We'll see…

Gone thriftin'

I have some familial obligations for the next few days, and so things might be a little quiet around here. Unless I score big time at the thrift store tomorrow (yes, there is a family thrifting trip planned) and then I'll probably have to post immediately about all my finds.

In the meantime, I've decided the ranunculous (above) just might be my favorite flower ever. That's right: Move over, Gerbera daisy. Image and insight via Aesthetic Outburst.

Eeeee! Fun package day!

After months of handing out business cards with all my now-irrelevant Singapore contact details, the sweet and incredibly talented graphic designer Wendy Frink (who, as you may remember, once surprised me out-of-the-blue with the fabulous header that you see above) agreed to help me design a new one. She sent over a ton of gorgeous options, patiently finalized the idea after I picked out exactly one element of each of those great options (they were all just so cute! how could I choose?) and did lots of handholding because I know absolutely nothing about things like bleeds or eps files or anything else that goes along with actually printing something.

I ordered the cards from PSPrint.com (which they said would take 10 days, but which actually took about three) and they just arrived. And they are *perfect*. A sunshine-y yellow graphic circle design (with the reverse on the back), and so sweetly pretty, and also no longer claming I live in Singapore. Oh, I am so handing these out all over town this weekend. Thank you, Wendy!

Not surprisingly, Commander Robot totally approves.

Me me me me me me me me…

In case you just cannot get enough of me (hi mom!), be sure to check out my mini-photo shoot over on Righteous (re)Style from the DCScout party last night. Maria did a great job styling me (the stripey dress under the flouncy dress? cute!) and, although my eyes kind of look like they're about to bulge out of my head in the evening gown, it sure is purty (again, I blame the lung-constricting size—but it was the only one left in stock, and I was determined to squeeze into it!).

Oh yeah, and also:
+I'm going to be painting schools tomorrow (hopefully in pretty colors) as part of the DC Cares Servathon. It's not too late to donate a couple of dollars to sponsor me in the name of a great cause and some fab educational hues. (Ahem. Mom.)

+New shops and fashion-y events around town (I'm thinking of heading out to Timothy Paul's new housewares shop later today… I caught a glimpse inside the day before it opened, and it looks really, really cute. See also here.)

+Cynthia Rowley makes me seriously covet a pink garden hose, even though I do not have a garden. Or a lawn. Or even a houseplant.

+The Marymount student show recap should also be up later today is now up(!). I am personally besotted with designer Lynn Matthysse's gorgeous super-exaggerated skirt ensemble (below left) and Farah Jafarzadeh's amazing sheer black lace peasant sleeved dress, which this photo is just not doing justice. There were lots and lots of cool items and great styling; check it out if you can.

Lots of new faces…

I have to say, the dressing room walls at the Georgetown Barney's Co-op are pretty gosh-darn awesome. Even better? Every little silhouette is named and has a funny identifying characteristic.




So tonight was the big DC Scout anniversary party, which turned out (for me) to also be a big fun blogger meet-n-greet. After months of reading their blogs, I finally got to actually meet Pandahead and DC Celine and Righteous (re)Style and BabsieD and Project Beltway and they were all as much fun as they are online. (Em and Johanna, you were missed! And discussed!) I'm sure some fun pictures will surface -- Maria in particular had me trying on a bunch of cool eco-designs (including a gorgeous and I-can't-breathe-in-this!-teensy Phillip Lim gown) for a mini-photo shoot around the store, which was definitely a good time. (I mean, running around Barney's in Phillip Lim? She definitely didn't have to ask twice.)


Tonight's outfit included the following: lace-ruffle-front vintage cardigan (a $3 Goodwill find years ago), patterned vintage circle skirt ($10 from Park Slope flea market), skinny belt (2 for $5 at a wide variety of Singapore street stalls), my favorite patent purse (Goodwill) and quilted patent peep toes (Steve Madden, when the near-identical Calvin Klein version proved to be too uncomfortably tall to actually wear).


(Sorry about the poor lighting. It's late! The bloggers, naturally, were the last to leave the party.)


Oh and also these Jessica Elliot "natural" stacked rings, from the May 2008 Lucky. (Plus! You get 25% off with the Lucky Breaks code "lucky02".) *Love.*

Shades of summer

On my thrifting excursion the other week, I came across a slew of beaded necklaces. They were all individual pieces, but just happened to be sorted by complimentary colors—shades of pinks and purples together on one hook (like a gorgeous Bali sunset) and pale blues, green and gray on another (so cool and calming). I loved the hues together and so after I bought them (for about $1 each) and got them home, I hooked them all together to create two big necklaces that I could easily throw on whenever I wanted. I think the results are really pretty—and, as they say, the price is right.


Pardon the plain white tee. I could tell you that I wanted to show them off on a basic background, but the truth is, I haven't bothered to change out of my jammies today.

A great show of spring fashion

So they're really keeping me busy over there at Washingtonian.com. Up today is the first part of my coverage of Marymount University's senior fashion show last week—snaps of some of my favorite outfits worn to the pre-show reception and luncheon. (Can you believe that maxi dress at the bottom left is from Victoria's Secret? And on sale? It seriously looked amazing in person. Also, I may have come home and ordered one for myself immediately. {Update} Unfortunately, the dress they sent is not the one that they had pictured on the page before. {It appears the link has since been updated since my order.} Maybe I missed the fine print somewhere? In any case, boooo.)

The whole event was great fun: I got to swap stories with Cynthia Rowley (my Q&A with her will go up tomorrow) and catch a really cool runway show (which will be posted about on Friday. Several of the designers created great tulle pieces, so I was pretty deliriously happy.) Oh, and did I mention that Christian Siriano was there? He is so incredibly tiny and seemed like tons of fun. (Plus! He and Nina Garcia will be on Ugly Betty tomorrow night. It looks hilarious.)

Better late than never! Live-blogging Gossip Girl

Ah, yes. Well. Due to some technical difficulties, we are a little behind on this, but we do think our style points are still valid, and so, here you go! Those of you who would prefer a more concise version of our personally selected GG highlights can find exactly that over here.

8:01pm: We start with a frenetic SAT montage. Wait, producers, you're going too fast for me to see the eye candy! Ooooh! Cute vocabulary flash cards alert!

8:02pm: Oversized headband count: 2 (gold with a big bow, basic black)

8:04pm: Headband count: 3 (red with a oversized brooch above the right ear)

8:05pm: Chuck's bright orange coat is slightly overly day-glo. The color works way better on Serena's fingerless gloves.

8:06pm: Headband count: 5 (textured silver, bright yellow)

8:07pm: The triumphant and much-anticipated arrival of Georgina, aka Michelle Trachtenberg! We dig the bold blue scarf, G. (It's not unlike the one the Sartorialist was sporting around D.C. when he was here for his gallery opening. Is a bold blue scarf the new black?)

8:11pm: On even closer inspection, Georgina's makeup is really incredibly flawless.

8:11pm, part 2: Headband count: 6 (skinny this time, with a little purple accent)

8:12pm: Cute boy alert! Cute pug alert!

8:13pm: I love Vanessa, but I've never been a fan of the gold door-knocker earrings. We get it. She's Brooklyn. Let's move on to something fun and cute and significantly subtler.

8:14pm: Well, apparently, big earrings are back for everyone. Georgina's rocking some seriously distracting huge royal blue hoops as well.

8:15pm: Headband count: 8 (purple silk, skinny white patent). Also Blair's humongous polka-dot bow-neck blouse is faaaabulous.

8:18pm: I'm definitely digging Chuck's kelly green and white striped v-neck sweater (and the clashing plaid peeking out from underneath). I guess bright colors are in for boys this spring too.

8:25pm: Chuck is now rocking the bright red! I dig it, Chuck. You go with your colorful self. (Spotted in the background: Super-hot pink tights! Swoon.)

8:26pm: Headband count: 10 (green and black striped with bow)

8:27pm: Headband count: 12 (embellished red, wide black). Also a very cute bright yellow umbrella.

8:28pm: Nice cape, B! We love the plaid lining. But that diamond-pattern sweater? Ew, not so much.

8:29pm: I generally find that electric green a really bad outfit choice, but Vanessa is still managing to look pretty cute in the diner. I particularly like her rosy, flushed-by-flirting cheeks.

8:30pm: Georgina is wearing some seriously fierce heels. Also some less fabulous rubbery-looking leggings. Serena continues to look uncharacteristically uncute. What's up with that blah mint green bead necklace?

8:35pm: Embroidered purple sweater, short leggings and exposed red bra strap, Jenny? Hmmm…. not so much. But the sleek bob you're sporting now is fab.

8:36pm: Headband count: 13, 14 & 15 (goldish, white, black)

8:38pm: I am enjoying Vanessa's shrunken black leather jacket. Plus, she and Nate make a really cute couple. Ooooh! Kissing!

8:39pm: That Michelle Trachtenberg can really rock a smoky eye and a glossy ruby lip. Buffy's little sister is officially all growns up!

8:47pm: If my hair looked as good as Serena's when I rolled out of bed (after being roofied and subsequently partying all night to boot), I'd be a very happy girl.

8:48pm: Nate rocks a cute double-breasted navy blazer! Vanessa rocks… those door-knocker earrings again. Really, we were over them back when they were on Sex and the City. Yes, she's so urban! The point has been made!

8:50pm: Headband count: 16 (knotted hot pink). Boy, those kids really dress up for their SATs. If I recall, I wore my field hockey uniform (we had a game immediately afterwards). Still, I do think my pleated hockey kilt would actually go over well in the Gossip Girl costume department.

8:54pm: I take that back. Blair's neck brooch and buttoned-up blouse is more grandma than groovy. But is that Balenciaga we see? I actually like the cream and white contrasting blazer. An unexpected color combination, but it's kinda cool.

8:55pm: Chuck rocks the vibrant purple cardigan and the daffodil yellow pants. (Wow, they're really going overboard with this new signature look, aren't they?) And also a pastel color-block gingham oxford that I'm pretty sure I owned a similar version of back in 1989.

8:57pm: Oooh. The drama is distracting me from the fashion. I do like Serena's gauzy white scarf, however. I guess they decided that Georgina always wears royal blue.

8:58pm: Cute boy alert again! So far, I like this Asher. Very clean-cut. Plus, he loves hot dogs. How can you fault a guy that loves hot dogs? And actual dogs?

9:00pm: Remember how great "Scenes" clips were at the end of 90210 and Melrose Place? The Gossip Girl editors definitely need to take a cue from that and give us more meat to look forward to. Particularly now that the secretly gay character has been openly revealed in the gossip columns. (Oh, you didn't hear? My lips are sealed, but it's an easy guess.)

9:01pm: Also, can they just kill One Tree Hill already? I don't watch it anymore, but I feel it's suffering a long, painful, ridiculous dramedy death.

Can Chie Mihara do no wrong?

Obviously, she cannot. Do any wrong, I mean. Because just look at these gorgeous Boutonniere Sandals, via oh happy day.

{The only thing that is disagreeable is the $328 price tag. But finally! Have I at last found a DIY project for all those flower pins I bought years ago?}

In which I discover a tiny slice of sewing heaven

If you managed to click over to my Bethesda vintage/thrift store piece, you would know that the highlight of my trip (after the slew of really awesome finds—the $8 record player? amazing!—and trying on real, actual YSL vintage) was discovering the Bethesda store Accessories of Old. I literally stumbled upon it while walking around the neighborhood, and I'm so glad I did. Honestly, if there was a special heaven for sewers that loved vintage, this would be it.




I've never seen anything like it. Everything in the store—from the buttons to the ribbons to the various accessories, like barrettes and brooches—is authentically vintage and often in the original packaging. The owners, Andrew and Lisa, have filled the store with the huge amount of leftovers from Lisa's grandfather's sewing supply store, which opened in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1918 and was stocked with gorgeous items from Europe and beyond. For those of you who don't have Bethesda on your current travel radar, they also sell online. (Etsy crafters, take note!)



We are personally making up a shopping list for a major return trip soon. First up: All of our favorite cardigans are getting a makeover with vintage buttons. Next up: We are definitely making retro cocktail rings out of some of those really elaborate buttons! And then: We will learn to sew something that requires trim. Lots and lots of amazing trim. Sigh…

Glad about Gladiators*

I hadn't been particularly feeling the gladiator trend so far this season, but this Stuart Weitzman Gladio version ($265, in silver or gold) might have just made me change my mind. Gorgeous! Via the DCGF.

And while I'm at it, I might as well throw in these lipstick red heels ($299) too. Such glossy, fire engine-y, super-fierce goodness. Drooool.


*Yes, this is really the best title I could come up with. It's been a looong day.

Is it just us…

…or is this Mike & Chris trench possibly the most perfect coat ever?



This $330 piece of extreme goodness is via our good friends over at Fashion Binge.

More vintage goodness (if I do say so myself, which I do)

It was still balmy on Saturday when we headed out to dinner, which was good enough reason for me to break out another floral dress. (Good thing too, because the rains began a few hours later and it has been chilly and damp and dreary ever since.)


This one's from a small vintage shop in Delray Beach, FL. But my favorite part is really the oversized black patent vintage frame bag, a Goodwill find. Can we just talk for a second about how awesome this bag is? Because it is really awesome.


I also ended up throwing on a few extra-long strands of shiny black beads to spiff up the neckline a bit. You will just have to imagine.

I'm back to being bundled up in jeans and raincoats for the time being. Looks like things might warm up by the end of the week to sundress-appropriate levels again – here's hoping!

In which I finally get my tulle

I know I've been pimping my new string of Washingtonian.com style pieces, but really, I just think you'd like them! Like today's round-up of Bethesda's best secondhand/vintage/thrift stores (complete with synopsis of what I bought during my reporting excursions. Like this faaabulous vintage tulle skirt! I'm thinking of chopping off about 10 inches to make it more Agyness-ified. Thoughts?)


Incidentally, my awesome new "These Pancakes Don't Run" t-shirt is from local D.C. company T-shirt Insurgency. They set up shop every weekend in front of the equally awesome Capitol Hill Books (just steps from Eastern Market) and also sell their highly irreverent, somewhat political, very funny designs online. Plus: purple!