Washington’s men are known for their suit collections. And indeed, the pairing of slim-fit slacks and a sharp blazer make for a successful office wardrobe—but that’s not the only place to rock the perfect jacket. After hours, this workhorse piece can also lend extra polish to more casual staples such as polos, hoodies, denim, and shorts, whether you’re dashing down the terminal at Reagan or kicking back at a rooftop happy hour.
First and foremost: how to choose the blazer itself. Lightweight fabrics such as linen or cotton keep you cool on humid days and help with the high-low transition, thanks to a looser, more relaxed structure. Look for a subtle pattern to add detail. The rest of the ensemble should follow suit in fabric and color; keep the blazer the focal point by sticking to solids.
We put together three looks to help you transition your blazer from the office to your summer adventures.
Travel Attire
Ludlow navy sport coat in herringbone Italian linen, $328 at J.Crew; Summer-weight melon chinos, $98 at Bonobos; Threads for Thought pullover hoodie, $42 at Nordstrom.
There’s something really satisfying about finding your Holy Grail of beauty products, yes? And though there’s no question that our hearts hold a lot of love for luxe-level brands like Kevyn Aucoin and Chanel, when that MVP find comes straight from the shelves of your corner CVS . . . well, it’s doubly awesome. Click through the gallery to get a glimpse of the drugstore finds we keep going back to—and that completely belie their wallet-friendly price tags.
Photograph courtesy of South Moon Under.
South Moon Under's Woodbridge Grand Opening
The chain fetes the opening of its 20th store, in Stonebridge Potomac Town Center, with a bash featuring giveaways, signature sips, snacks, and swag bags for the first 50 guests, plus 20 percent discounts on everything. Lara Ramos of beauty blog The Glossarie hosts a pampering beauty bar offering up Butter London mini manis and touch-ups from Stila. Thursday 6 to 9 PM. 14900 Potomac Town Place, Woodbridge.
G.L.A.M. Summer Fashion Event
Style-focused charity organization G.L.A.M. throws its second annual summer fashion soiree, featuring shopping pop-ups from area designers and boutiques, a fashion presentation modeled by local bloggers, and a giveaway that will raffle items from local brands like Fornash, Blair Ritchey, and Love Cortnie. Plus: an open bar, nibbles, and a live deejay. All proceeds benefit children’s advocacy group Safe Shores DC. VIP tickets get you a swag bag and two raffle tickets. Thursday 6:30 to 9 PM. 906 H St., NE. Tickets $10 to $30 at Eventbrite.
The Makeup Date with Politics of Pretty
For early risers and makeup lovers: The blogger behind Politics of Pretty, Kara Manos, hosts an AM presentation of beauty trends at Bloomingdale’s, followed by personal makeup consultations. The first 20 guests to RSVP take home a sample-stuffed limited-edition travel bag. Saturday 7:30 AM. $25 reservation fee goes toward any beauty purchase. RSVP to Heather Guay at 240-744-3806.
Rough Luxe Market
Peruse vintage home goods at Stylish Patina’s new monthly market, which kicks off with a deco-filled Great Gatsby theme. Stay tuned for more details later this week right here at Shop Around! Saturday and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. 138 W. Jefferson St., Falls Church.
We’re loving the summery vibe of BYT’s latest style story, shot poolside at the Capitol Skyline Hotel and starring tons of locally sourced goodies. [Brightest Young Things]
Apparently some shoe stores are considering charging try-on fees to combat the shoppers who use their merchandise to determine fit, then buy online for less. Fees could range from $5 to $25. Would you pay $25 just to see if a shoe fits? Our take: Um, no way. We’ll take our chances. [Footwear News via Racked]
Vogue has a new cooking show (???) and the legendary Grace Coddington makes a co-hosting cameo, cooking something very fatty and cheese-covered. Her fluffy cat Bart makes an appearance, too. It’s all as awesome as it sounds. [Fashionista]
We’re pretty excited for Sofia Coppola’s new movie, The Bling Ring—and mostly for the wardrobe potential. The Cut goes behind-the-scenes with the film’s costume designer to get the scoop on how she recreated the celebs’ Loubie-stuffed closets. [The Cut]
Clear some space in your closet’s shoe organizer, invest in more shoe trees, and replenish your shoe polish tins—summer shoe season has officially arrived.
We know it’s shoulder to shoulder (well, sole to sole) in there, but our selection of essentials will help you start your summer off on the right foot. Check out the gallery to see these five footwear favorites that will take you from office to gym and beyond—all practically guaranteed to please both the shoe novice and the seasoned curator.
The LWD: It’s like the LBD’s cooler, cheerier cousin. And for summer, the little white dress’s light, breezy vibe and blank-canvas hue mean it’s just as insanely versatile—and super chic, too. Need proof? Witness a trio of our fave local bloggers rocking their LWDs in three completely different ways.
Summer Cocktail
We love the surprise of crisp white for a nighttime look, and Kendal of Metropolitan Thread does it perfectly by glamming it up with a major statement necklace and gold clutch. Her pleated shift adds just the right touch of on-trend texture.
Steal her style: Erin Fetherston’s leather-and-chiffon dress ($152.75 at Last Call) mirrors the texture blending. Dress it up with a tribal-style bib necklace, like this one by Jules Smith ($120 at Couture Candy), and BCBG’s gold leather pouch ($55.25 at Last Call).
After spring’s dalliance with athletic-inspired everything—perforation, varsity jackets, and wedge sneakers, to name a few—it seems only fitting that headwear would move beyond fedoras and Panamas to the playful world of baseball caps. But take note: no team logos allowed. Instead, these cheeky caps are reimagined with a style-centric spin. Try feminine lace. Sassy studs. Shiny silver. Luxe leather.
Here’s the key to making sure the cap says trendy, not “bad-hair day”: Balance the tomboyish vibe by keeping the rest of your look polished and girly. Pair with a cute little sundress, or skinny jeans and feminine stiletto pumps. Wear your hair down, in loose waves. Maybe add a swipe of ultra-bright lipstick.
As founder of lifestyle blog the Edit, and the limited-edition tee line Manifesto, and cofounder of online gift-guide mag To & From, Meg Biram is known for her personal style and eye for all things chic and trendy. We caught up with the blonde bombshell, who also happens to be an ultra-talented painter (does the girl ever sleep?!) to get the scoop on what she’s loving lately. Click through the gallery to see her picks.
Makeup meltdown: pretty much inevitable in the face of Washington’s sticky summers, right? Not necessarily—if you employ the right tricks, that is. We asked local makeup expert Victoria Stiles—whose impressive résumé includes gigs with top magazines, runway shows, and celebs, plus tons of weddings—to share her go-to techniques for keeping makeup fresh when you feel anything but. Read on for her foolproof plan of attack, plus a few of her favorite hot-weather products.
It’s no secret that we love us a stiletto, whether it be a delicate pointed-toe pump or a feminine ankle-strap sandal—but there’s no way around the fact that we live in a city. A very walkable city. Which means we’re often faced with a dilemma: Wear the skyscraper heels and suffer the consequences? Or resort to flats and settle for bemoaning our lack of genetically gifted height? Thankfully, there’s another option: Behold, the chunky heel. All the extra inches; way less foot pain. Here, eight styles that perfectly fuse summer style with comfy design.
