We have an unspoken style rule when it comes to must-have fashion: Spotting it once is a chance. Twice is a coincidence. Three times, and we start accelerating the style to the top of our want list. So when we spotted five of Washington’s fashion bloggers sporting the same sleek, snake-embossed clutch from GiGi, we took a mental shopping note.
These leather bags are perfectly sized to fit all your daily essentials, come in a dozen shades from muted to bright, and can be personalized with a monogram. Take a look at how each of these District darlings paired her envelope clutch, then snag your own bag at Georgetown’s Sassanova or online.
When we get word that there’s a hometown contender in a competition, we can’t help but want to cheer her on, no matter what. And in this case, it’s well deserved: A health nonprofit worker by day and beauty blogger by night, Chevy Chase’s own Ashley Weatherford is sitting pretty as a finalist in Allure’s beauty blogging competition, which is being judged by the likes of Lauren Conrad, model Coco Rocha, and Revlon’s Gucci Westman. Now that three of the five challenges are complete, Ashley stands against seven other national beauty bloggers in the race for top ranking. Voting for this week’s challenge, which focused on lazy-day beauty, ends on Friday, and two more contestants will be eliminated on Monday.
We caught up with Ashley recently to get her top five favorite products. Read on to see her picks, then head over to Allure’s website to cast your vote!
1) Make Up For Ever Pro-Finish Multi-Use Foundation
Ashley says:
“This can be applied wet (with a damp sponge) or dry. Either way, it
makes my skin look like it’s been Photoshopped.” $36 at Sephora.
2) Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector
Ashley
says: “Part treatment and part concealer, Even Better Eyes Dark Circle
Corrector is one of those rare eye creams that live up to their name. I
noticed results in about two months.” $39.50 at Clinique.
All photos by Michael Kress Photography.
Right after the super-cute outfits (of course), the first thing you notice about Kendal Stopak’s personal style blog, Metropolitan Thread, is the exceptional photography. Perfectly framed to suit Stopak’s look—sophisticated, uncomplicated pieces dialed up with flashes of neon, bold graphic prints, and edgy detailing—the shots can really only be described as utterly gorgeous. That’s just what happens when you fuse fashion blogging with a day job as (and for) a professional photographer.
After attending Clemson University’s visual arts program, Rockville native Stopak returned to her home city and joined Michael Bennett Kress Photography. Two years in, she found herself craving a sartorial outlet, an excuse to get creative with her wardrobe. In January she decided to marry her love of fashion with her passion for photography, and voilà—Metropolitan Thread was born.
Skinny Hipster, District of Chic, and Poor Little It Girl show off their favorite spring pieces. All photos courtesy of bloggers.
We can’t resist a good voyeuristic peek into the closet (or makeup bag, or home, or . . . well, you get the idea) of Washington’s most stylish. Lucky for us, DC’s fashion bloggers are only too happy to indulge us. Read on for the ultimate can’t-live-without-’em picks in their spring arsenal.
Carla Cabrera of the President Wears Prada
“I love this peach dress—its neutral color works great with brighter pieces, and it layers beautifully for cooler spring evenings. The nude wedge heels complement all the dresses in my closet and are made from an environmentally friendly, rubber-like material that is super comfortable to walk in.”
Get the Look: Try Alexander Wang’s silk tee
dress ($129.99 at the Outnet) and Michael Kors’s nude wedge heel ($195
at Bloomingdale's).
Ashleigh Hutchinson of the Daleigh
“My hands-down favorite piece in my closet for spring are my Gucci sandals—a sexy, sleek and classic style with a bit of edge that will be worn for years to come. I love a simple sandal, so this was definitely a great investment and will be on repeat all season long!”
Get the Look: Splurge on the buckled Guccis themselves ($695 at Saks), or try this similar Chinese Laundry style ($59 at Piperlime).
Some trends are not universally adored. Take leggings, for example. Crop tops. Harem pants. Denim on denim.
This season, we’d add wedge sneakers to the list of especially divisive, love-’em-or-seriously-hate-’em fashions. (For the record, we’re on the “love ’em” side of the argument. We love us a heel—on anything.)
But we have a theory on one reason a relatively innocuous pair of shoes might incite such emotion: They’re just so very tricky to wear—or wear well, at least. That’s why when we spotted the elevated sneak on the feet of two local style bloggers, we immediately wanted to know their secrets to making this trend look chic, not silly. Read on to see how our brave fashionistas styled theirs, then shop 12 of our fave versions on the market.
“They give a tomboyish edge to any outfit and are a welcome alternative to the flats and heels we’ve seen season after season. I wear mine with skinny jeans and short skirts to really show them off.” Sanaa Ansari Khan, the Style Matrix
For the April issue of The Washingtonian—on newsstands now!—we asked 14 of Washington’s most influential fashion bloggers to model spring’s hottest trends. Photographer Trevor Dixon joined us at Joshua Cogan Studios for a two-day photo session featuring the duo behind Necessary and Proper, E from District of Chic, Carla of The President Wears Prada, and more of the District’s fashion darlings. Read on for the exclusive behind-the-scenes photos.
Are you as thoroughly over the cold as we are? Thought so.
In hopes that wishful thinking somehow magically turns the temps, we asked local fashion bloggers to show us how to channel spring when it’s not quite as warm as we’d like. Here, E from District of Chic and Elena from Classy and Fabulous show off two entirely different takes on transitional wardrobing.
E of District of Chic
Floral prints are a tried-and-true way to introduce some spring cheer to your wardrobe. A structured black blazer and glossy black accents help temper the sweetness of E’s floral dress, while pops of neon add a playful finish.
Ponte Boyfriend Blazer, $50 at Topshop; Eight Sixty Kona fit-and-flare dress, $94 at Piperlime; faux-suede clutch, $19.80 at Forever 21; Trina Turk City Lights bracelet, $100 at Max & Chloe; Rachel Roy Ana Brogue pumps, $225 at Shopbop; neon ring set, $3.80 at Forever 21; and skinny patent belt, $29.50 at J.Crew.
Forget medicine cabinets—we’re WAY more interested in sneaking a peek into other people’s beauty bags. Especially those people whose beauty routines are bound to be so carefully curated as to include only the best of the best. So to indulge our nosier instincts, we asked local beauty blogger Lara Ramos of the Glossarie to divulge her top five desert-island beauty products. Read on to see what made it onto Lara’s must-have list—and why.
1) Mark Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint in Cheeky
Lara says: “I love cream blush to keep me dewy when my skin gets dry in winter. This formula gives a sheer, natural flush of color without any stickiness.”
$8 at Mark.
2) Deborah Lippmann Flat Top Matte Topcoat
Lara says: “All matte topcoats are not created equal. This one by Deborah Lippmann is the smoothest application I’ve found, and I love the way it instantly transforms all of the polishes in my collection by giving them a cool matte finish.”
$20 at Nordstrom.
3) MAC Plush Lash Mascara
Lara says: “This was a recent recommendation from a friend, and I absolutely love the way the super-size brush plumps up my lashes. It doesn’t clump, smudge, or flake, bringing it up to top mascara status in my book.”
$16 at MAC.
4) Sonia Kashuk Matte Blotting Papers
Lara says: “My oily skin tends to give me a shiny forehead and nose, even in February. These blotting papers are bigger than others, and the price point is tough to argue with.”
$6.69 at Target.
5) Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick
Lara says: “Lightweight and super-hydrating, this chubby pencil melts onto lips, leaving juicy shine. I’m dying for these to come in more colors!”
$16 at Sephora.
Whose beauty essentials are you dying to see? Talk to me! Email me at mthomas@washingtonian.com.
Stripes, dots, snake, paisley, tie dye . . . for a newbie, parsing out exactly what to wear with your adorable new floral-print jeans can seem like Very Advanced Fashion, indeed.
One wrong move and your au courant look veers right back into the ’80s—or worse. Never fear: Here, three of our fave Washington fashion pros spotlight sophisticated takes on this scene-stealing trend—and we show you how to re-create their looks to perfection.
Spot on
Abbey of District Dress Up transforms playful polka dots into something seriously chic by pairing her colorful spotted denim with a slouchy tee, a sleek leather-sleeved trench, and forever-classic black pumps. A neon necklace and a cheery yellow satchel mirror the whimsical sensibility of the spots without overselling it.
Hot Spot Jeans, $48 at Nasty Gal, T by Alexander Wang pocket tee, $80 at Barneys New York, Blu Bijoux neon necklace, $39 at Max & Chloe, Allen Street Raquelle bag, $278 at Kate Spade, Bishop trench, $1,200 at Rag & Bone, Frited pump, $80 at Aldo, Ray-Ban Folding Aviator, $189 at Piperlime.
Pretty Wild
Leopard + leopard + leopard? Yes, yes, and YES. Ashleigh of The Daleigh manages to tame an otherwise over-the-top pattern mix by tempering the bold pieces with laid-back basics. The gently faded look of her leopard jeans helps, too.
Cotton v-neck tee, $24.50 at J.Crew, Genetic Denim leopard skinny jeans, $242 at Saks, Jessica Simpson Sana T Strap sandals, $62.30 at Macy's, Outbound Jacket, $138 at Madewell, Clare Vivier clutch, $165 at Piperlime.
In Bloom
Balance femme florals by pairing them with simple, ever-so-slightly masculine pieces. Caitlin of Style Within Reach nails it by layering classics in relaxed silhouettes and soft, neutral hues, then works in a dash of glam with dramatic jeweled earrings, sexy black pumps, and oversize sunnies.
Wheelspoke earrings, $108 at Anthropologie, Equipment washed silk shirt, $208 at Net-A-Porter, Floral jeans, $135 at J.Crew, Elizabeth & James Lafayette cat-eye sunglasses, $155 at Shopbop, Banjo & Matilda cashmere sweater, $265 at Net-A-Porter, Black pump, $89.90 at Zara.
Our love affair with Nicole Aguirre’s DC fashion glossy, Worn Magazine, is well documented—we’ve got mad respect for the striking photographs through which she showcases the city’s indie fashion and creative scene. There’s a Washington beyond suits on the Hill, after all, and Worn is solid (and beautiful) proof of that. After taking a year off to travel the globe, Nicole is back with a hotly anticipated fourth issue of Worn Magazine (details below), but it’s Worn Abroad, the accompanying e-commerce venture she’s whipped up with Seersucker Social mastermind Eric Channing Brewer, that we’re most jazzed about.
