Exclusive reader deals on chic sandals, diamond jewelry, designer dresses, and other fashions
Washingtonian readers can get 20 percent off Wink’s terrific merchandise by designers such as Milly, Ali Ro, and Theory. Photograph by Chris Leaman
Fancy Feet
Many shoe lovers are fans of Foot Petals, whose tootsie-saving products include inserts that keep sandals from rubbing, pads that prevent feet from sliding in super-tall stilettos, and oh-so-comfortable Flexy Feet flip-flops. July 1 through 31, pamper your feet with 30 percent off all Foot Petals products by using the code “Washingtonian” at footpetals.com.
Savings on Hot Brands
Farinelli’s, Clarendon’s hot store of the moment, carries men’s and women’s designer labels you won’t find elsewhere in Washington. Throughout July, you can get 30 percent off names such as Vena Cava, Band of Outsiders, Pencey, and Sea plus a great selection of premium denim.
For one month only, readers can take up to 20 percent off a special selection of merchandise at Mervis Diamond Importers. You’ll find its signature diamonds set in rings, necklaces, earrings, and more. Nothing like a little ice to cool you off in the summer swelter.
The “Washingtonian” pieces are on sale July 1 through 31 at Mervis locations in DC, Tysons Corner, Rockville, and Chevy Chase; mervisdiamonds.com.
This week, we stop a Hill staffer in a bright cardigan and vintagey accents.
Stacy Kerr, 31 Special assistant to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi
What she’s wearing: An Old Navy cardigan ($7.99!), Theory skirt, her grandmother’s jet beads, and Hale Bob flats from the Palisades consignment store Inga’s Once is Not Enough.
Tell me about style on the Hill: “Well, I obviously work for a very stylish woman. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that I’m as influenced as the rest of America by Mrs. Obama. In recent months, I’ve tried to wear less suits and more dresses. Partly because it’s summer, but partly because it’s more accepted now. Capitol Hill is still a man’s world in terms of dressing—it’s freezing inside so men wear three layers! So it’s hard to wear a sheath dress, and it’s hard to make a coffee run in a long-sleeved sweater. The air conditioning is my fashion pet peeve on the Hill.”
And what about pantyhose? “I’m anti-pantyhose. If Michelle Obama can go sleeveless to the State of the Union address, I think that career women on Capitol Hill can go without pantyhose to the Capitol.”
Drop by the hotel July 22 for Summer Beauty Night.
Milan might be the fashion capital of the world, but July 22, The Beacon Hotel (1615 Rhode Island Ave., NW) will have its night. The hotel is hosting Summer Beauty Night Out 2009, which, for Metro-area fashionable women, is a must-do. Here’s what you can expect: makeovers, hairstyling, skincare consultations, beauty and shopping tips, product sampling, manicures and even mini-spa treatments. Complimentary cocktails will also be served (what goes better with a mud mask than a cosmopolitan?), as will hors d’oeuvres. At the end of the evening, attendees will go home with their own swag beauty bag.
The event starts at 5 p.m. and runs to 10 p.m. Advance tickets are $25; you can also show up at the door, but it’ll cost you $10 more than the advance ticket price. Also, without advance tickets, you are deprived a beauty bag. Our advice: buy tickets in advance. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to Through The Kitchen Door, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering recent immigrant and low-income women and at-risk youth with outreach programs.
“Khakis—just burn them,” says J P Stephenson. It’s a piece of advice for Washington men that’s as precise as Stephenson’s look. “I like suits with a European fit—snug and not long in the coat,” he says. The day our camera caught up with him, Stephenson was wearing a Ted Baker suit—check out the coat’s fantastic stitching and lining—Etro shirt and tie, and Allen Edmonds shoes. Watch our video below to see how Stephenson mixes up his office look for the summer with bold colors and stripes, and what shops he frequents if you want to emulate his look.
We’re branching out: In addition to our regular Tuesday Sidewalk Styles, we’re starting a nightlife version, where we find folks dressed fashionably for a night on the town.
Photograph by Chris Svetlik.
Who: (right) Madeline Caldwell, 20, Phillips Collection intern; (left) Anca Uliu, 21, Romanian native.
Where we spotted them: Fresh off the catwalk. Madeline and Anca modeled in the Art in Fashion runway event at Artomatic.
What they’re wearing: Madeline: Skirt from LaRok, Kain T-shirt, shoes from a discount store in Brooklyn, and a PR at Partners hairpiece (the salon provided styling for the evening).
Anca: Pants and shrug from Forever 21, Express shirt, and “the most comfortable pair of shoes I own” from Burlington Coat Factory.
Who did you walk for on the runway tonight? Madeline: “I walked for Diallo by Diallo Dejuan, Heydari by Miriam Heydari, Imorge, Kustom Looks Clothier, and Yosoy. In Diallo’s collection, I wore a red cocktail dress; for Heydari, I wore an architectural white linen dress with a chunky white necklace; and for Imorge, I wore a creation of black, white, and silver with chains, polka dots, and a silver mouth covering. For Kustom, I wore a funky pink business suit; and in Yosoy, I wore a black tie-dye dress with a sweetheart neckline. I was really impressed with all the designers, but I loved Diallo’s clothes because they were unique and fashion-forward but also wearable. His swimsuits are killer.”
Over the weekend, we stopped a shopper on her way to check out Treasury, a new vintage shop at 14th and T streets, Northwest.
Kathleen Sutter, 30 Art therapist, Children’s Hospital
What she’s wearing: Shirt from Listopad (now Treasury), shorts and sandals from local thrift stores, bag from a store in Texas.
Would you say you’re mostly a vintage shopper? “I’ve gone back and forth over the years. I was always a vintage shopper through high school and college, and then I started to feel like I needed to polish myself up. I started buying new clothes, and then I didn’t really like the new clothes I was buying, so I’ve come back to vintage clothing over the past few years.”
What do you like about it? “Other people don’t usually own what I have. I got tired of seeing a shirt I had on a hundred other people. As I got a little bit older, I wanted my identity back again. I kinda got more comfortable in my own style, whereas for a while there I wasn’t sure how I wanted to come across. I was in grad school and starting new jobs, and I wanted people to take me seriously, especially in Washington. It feels like there are a lot of people dressing to not be noticed.”
A large-scale fashion swap, trunk shows, and more fun fashion events for the week(end).
Monday, July 13 Snag designer clothes by names such as Ports 1961, Elizabeth and James, Matt & Nat, and Dilbar for up to 60 percent off at Sangaree’s summer sale. The merchandise was marked down over the weekend, but the great deals go until it’s all gone. Shop fast for the best selection. 3288 M St., NW; 202-333-4690.
Practice safe skin care with the opening of Swiss brand Alchimie Forever’s new Washington location. Although the line has been based in Washington for some time, the company finally launched a retail location on Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown, stocking its signature creams, lotions, and potions as well as a small treatment room for the signature facials. 1010 Wisconsin Ave., NW; 202-530-3930; alchimie-forever.com. Friday, July 17 Shop for a cause at Equinox Fitness this weekend during a trunk show and sale to support Sporting Generosity, a company that donates all of its profits to charity. Bring in gently used clothing (athletic or otherwise) to receive 20 percent off your purchase. Today and Saturday. 8065 Leesburg Pike, Vienna; 703-709-6193; sportinggenerosity.com.
