We ran into an editor friend and got his tips to help men in Washington navigate the city with ease and style.
Jeff Dufour, 35 DC editor, UrbanDaddy.com
What he’s wearing: “The jacket is Filippa K, a cool Canadian designer from the long and dearly departed Alex Boutique that my friend Liberty Jones ran. It was a great place to shop. It’s cool for the daytime because it’s kinda professorial. It’s got these snaps instead of buttons, which jazz it up a little bit. I’m wearing a lot of layers today because it’s Arctic outside: The sweater is a gift from my wife a few years ago, the shirt is Hugo Boss from a trip to Los Angeles, the jeans are Rock & Republic from this great store in Nashville that sells a lot of rock-music T-shirts—I can’t remember the name. The boots I got pretty recently from Bloomingdale’s.”
Is shopping in Washington a challenge for guys? “Absolutely. It’s hard to find stuff here that you couldn’t find anywhere else. We have Bloomingdale’s, Saks, Neiman Marcus, and Barney’s Co-op. But we don’t have anything you couldn’t find anywhere else. There’s Lost Boys, Farinelli’s, and a couple of boutiques on 14th Street like Caramel. There might be a piece or two at Foreign Exchange, Lettie Gooch, Rue 14, or Redeem, but those are all somewhat casual. And there’s the fact that Washington is somewhat conservative.”
So where do you shop? “My strategy is pretty simple. I generally go to the Barneys Outlet in Leesburg once in the spring and once in the fall. And then I sort of augment that with whatever else I find around: Barneys brand, Varvatos, and Hugo Boss are the brands I generally get at Barneys. I have a lot of Ben Sherman, too. And Billy Reid is sick.”
A DC jewelry designer offers Valentines Day gift advice and a sweet his & hers giveaway.
A few of DC designer Michelle Guest's adorable bangles and charms.
With its hammered gold-and-silver plating, delicate classic design, and sweetly colored semiprecious gems from India, Thailand, and China, you might never guess MIJA Jewelry is the product of conservative Washington. But the eye behind this line, Michelle Guest, is based in Glover Park. After she created spur-of-the-moment bracelets for her nieces, lots of people asked where to buy the dainty single-pearl chains, and Guest decided it was time to channel her creative juices into professional jewelry making. The result—a collection of stack rings, bangles, charm necklaces, and earrings named for the designer and her sister Jani—is “youthful, refined, and delicate,” according to her fiancé. The understated and versatile add-ons work with everything from jeans to wedding gowns, and we especially love how the bangles and simple birthstone rings can be combined to create a unique look that doesn’t overwhelm.
Now in her third year selling her pieces all over the country, it’s safe to say Guest knows a thing or two about jewelry. So we turned to her for gift-giving advice this Valentine’s Day. Read on for tips on finding the perfect Valentine’s piece for your significant other and how to win a his-and-hers gift package from MIJA and Smathers & Branson, another DC accessories company.
At a house party hosted by Sidewalk Style alum Danielle Vu, Carolyn Purcell wore a sequined dress. Because why not?
Carolyn Purcell, 26 Fashion-design student at Parsons School of Design and design intern at John Varvatos
What she’s wearing: A black sequin dress she designed and sewed, BCBG heels, vintage 1940s Schiffer necklace worn as a bracelet, and “a random black sweater.”
Did you make the dress for a specific event? “I didn’t make the dress for a specific event, it was more for an event I hoped to go to. I always love sequins, but they’re not easy to sew. When you cut into the fabric, the sequins break off and they get everywhere and you can never pick them all up. I made that dress over a year ago, and I still have sequins stuck in between my floorboards and hiding in corners. They’re like a disease.”
What else do you like to make? “My favorite thing to make is coats. I recently finished a gray wool swing coat that has a huge shoulder-width collar that I’m really excited about. I love coats because you could have pajamas or hot pants on underneath, but because you have a great coat on, you look completely put together.
Who are your favorite designers? “My list of favorite designers changes periodically but always includes Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. When you look at their collections, you can tell that they don’t care about being on-trend or anything like that. They just make what they like, and that’s how trends are really started anyway.”
This week, we ran into none other than celebrity hairstylist Yusef Williams, whose client list—which includes Tyra Banks and Penelope Cruz—reads like a who’s who of Hollywood A-listers.
Yusef Williams, 31 Hairstylist, Factory Downtown in New York
What he’s wearing: Plaid vest from the Gap, H&M chambray shirt, American Apparel thermal tee, Levi’s skinny jeans, Adidas sneakers, Kangol hat, and Gazelle shades. “Oh, I’m all low-end today!” he said.
Tell me about your style. “Every day is different. One day I’ll do rocker-chic, where I’m wearing all black and lots of studs and spikes, and the next day I’ll be more urban. I worked in Paris for a year and a half, and you don’t do that without being influenced. I love fashion.”
Any favorite stores? “For more dapper clothes, Jeffrey and Seven New York. And there’s an emerging line called House of Destruction that I’m into. I have a crazy studded jacket of theirs.”
Anything you can tell us about your clients? “I am fascinated by Penélope Cruz. She has this almost-tough, masculine sexiness to her.”
After the wintry chills of the past few weeks, we were delighted and warmed by this student’s floral prints.
Jasmine Bell, 21 Student and assistant manager, DSW
What she’s wearing: Urban Outfitters dress, Forever 21 sweater and sunglasses, DSW boots and bag.
What do you recommend buying at DSW? “Right now, I’d say boots, because a lot of them are on sale.”
Where else do you shop? “Forever 21 is so affordable. You can find so many things for under $30. And I like Nordstrom Rack. I like to get InStyle magazine—there’s a list a lot of good Web sites for deals. There’s lulus.com, bluefly.com, and couponcabin.com. Another thing I’ve noticed is that the same thing will be cheaper online than it will be in stores.”
What are you looking forward to wearing come spring? “This is really the first time I’ve done the tights and dresses thing. So that, and sandals.”
During a recent visit to the ice rink at the National Gallery of Art Scultpure Garden, we experienced some serious boot envy after catching sight of Tatjana Fischer’s pair. A medical student from Germany who’s currently volunteering at the National Institutes of Health, Fischer paired her chic boots—which she got at InterMix, she thinks—with a coat, a Mad Bomber hat, and her boyfriend’s mother’s vintage red gloves. Check out our video below to find out what she thinks of our city’s sense of fashion and what winter accessory should be discarded permanently. Hint: It rhymes with fug.
What he’s wearing: Adam Lippes suit, Polo sweater, J. Crew shirt.
Name a few things every guy should have in his closet. “One gray suit, one blue suit, comfortable chinos and shirts, and some Levi’s.”
The fit on that suit is perfect. Do you have a tailor in town you like? “All I had to have done to this one was hem the pants. I don’t really know much about the designer, but I saw the fabric and loved it. It’s this dark houndstooth. And I also love that the buttons at the sleeve are real. But for tailors, Cheryl A. Lofton & Associates in Shaw is a great place for basics. They’re quick, professional, and cheap. Field’s in Georgetown is one of the best suit tailors I’ve ever visited. They’re expensive but well worth it for a perfect fit.”
Where do you shop, and what are some of your favorite labels? “American Apparel for T-shirts, Levi’s for jeans, and J. Crew for polo for shirts and sweaters. Suits are a different story. The key is finding a brand that has a cut that fits you well. Burberry and Zenga fit me perfectly off the rack, so that’s what I generally buy.”
Who needs a stinkin’ significant other anyway? Here’s a list of parties where all the single ladies (and gentlemen) can party this Valentine’s Day weekend—and where you might even find your next soulmate.
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