Dads & Grads

May 20, 2016

Spring is a time of new beginnings and relaxing in the warm, inviting light of the sun. Meanwhile, grads are getting ready to head off into the world, and dads are there to help them through the process. With graduation and Father’s Day just around the corner, it’s essential to find the best gifts that are sure to impress.

What better way to treat these dads and grads than with the latest fashion? Our dads deserve the best, and their style should reflect that. A crisp suit and a new pair of shoes, coupled with an elegant watch and belt, will keep him looking clean cut and professional. Every grad should master the balance between comfort and style. A light, airy button-up and belt are great for almost any occasion. Before they hit the ground running in their new careers, grads will want to spend a little time in the sun, so a pair of great sunglasses is a must.

Here are two looks to keep dads and grads happy and stylish this spring.
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Haute and Cool: Off to the Races

April 27, 2016

Heading to a local track with some friends is not only a great way to spend a day tailgating and enjoying the weather. It’s a great excuse to dress up. The Royal Ascot, one of Britain’s oldest formal races, has a strict dress code. Perfect! Let’s use those guidelines to help us decide what to wear to horse races here in the Colonies.

For gentlemen, a suit with shirt and tie is required, naturally. For ladies, a hat, headpiece or fascinator should be worn at all times. Strapless and sheer dresses are not permitted (as if there could be any question about that).
Here are two looks that will keep you fashion-forward while hewing to traditional guidelines.
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Nancy Reagan: Fashion Icon

March 30, 2016

America has lost not only a former first lady but also one of its greatest icons of fashion. Nancy Reagan was known for bringing a sense of style to the White House of President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s that had not been seen since the days of first lady Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s. Reagan represented glamour, grace and impeccable style.

“Nancy never made a fashion faux pas,” said designer Oscar de la Renta. Her signature color was called “Reagan Red,” and it soon became the color choice of the Republican Party.

Her preferred designers were Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, Adolfo, Carolina Herrera, James Galanos and Arnold Scassi.  She will be buried at the grounds of the Reagan Presidential Library, next to her beloved husband, “Ronnie,” as she liked to say. With all her other achievements, her fashion style endures. [gallery ids="102262,128734,128741,128770,128749,128757,128762,128777" nav="thumbs"]

La Dolce Vita


Photography by Angie Myers

models Brett McAnney & Gabriella Bianchi at T?H?E Artist Agency

Hair & Makeup by Lori Pressman at T?H?E Artist Agency

Wardrobe by Chaza Betenjane at T?H?E Artist Agency

Production Assistants Haley Sanchez & Lexi Rodencal

Location Via Umbria, Georgetown

This issue of The Georgetowner celebrates the Italian lifestyle: La Dolce Vita. Perchè adesso (why now)? No special reason needed; Italy looms large in American lives.

The history, cultures and fates of our two countries are intertwined, both in hugely important ways and in matters that we take for granted, things that have taken up permanent residence in our hearts, minds and habits.

What would opera be without the giant presence of the Italian composers, whose works warm the genre with boisterous energy and passion? What would
cineastes do if they weren’t able to argue about Fellini and Antonioni? And where would American dining be without pizza and pasta and — since we’ve become more sophisticated — risotto, agnolotti and crudo (a term, if not a dish, said to have been invented by restaurateur Joe Bastianich)?
American history begins in the 17th century; in Italy, they start before Anno Domini and run through Rome — the Republic, the Empire and the center of the Roman Catholic Church — and the Renaissance, the Baroque and all those periods from art history.

Columbus was in the employ of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, but he was a citizen of Genoa, and it was a Florentine fellow named Amerigo for whom the New World was named. Centuries later, waves of Italian immigrants brought their innumerable talents, contributing to America’s progress through their own striving.

Italians have tread a remarkable path here, becoming Americans without giving up the essential nature of who they are and who their ancestors were. They replicate their communal gatherings and remind us of the presence of the church in their history and lives. And every such occasion is replete with tradition and with the celebration of the familial ties that bind.

Here in D.C., Holy Rosary Church, the “national Italian parish,” was established in 1913. Statues of Dante, Michelangelo, Verdi and Marconi adorn the façade of its Casa Italiana, where language classes and cultural programs are held. On April 3, Holy Rosary will host a Festa della Vendemmia wine tasting and a mass in honor of Maria SS. Annunziata, organized by the Society of Fiumendinisi of
Messina, Sicily.

To stay connected all year round to Italian events (and perhaps learn the language), visit the websites of the Casa Italiana at casaitalianaschool.org, the Istituto Italiana di Cultura at

iicwashington.esteri.it/IIC_Washington/it and the Italian Cultural Society of Washington, D.C., at
italianculturalsociety.org.
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Dress for the Occasion

March 10, 2016

This issue’s arts preview focuses on opera, ballet and other upcoming performance and visual arts. Following these fashion suggestions will assure that some eyes will stray from the stage to members of the audience.

photography by Angie Myers
model: Belle Shickle at the Artist Agency
hair and makeup: Lori Pressman at the Artist Agency
wardrobe: Chaza Betenjane at the Artist Agency
location and props: Washington Opera Rehearsal Studio [gallery ids="102258,128820,128824,128814" nav="thumbs"]

NYFW : Glam, Spark and Lots of Black

February 24, 2016

The latest edition of New York Fashion Week was full of glamour, sparkle, fur and leathers. The colors ranged from blues to pinks, greens, reds and lots of black. Influences: the ’70s, rocker metallics, ladylike suitings, abstract designs. All in all, once again the shows did not disappoint. We’re looking forward to an exciting and fashionable fall/winter 2016.

Chiara Boni photos by Will Ragozzino.
Angel Sanchez photos by Conrado Veliz.
Other photos by Pamela Burns. [gallery ids="102254,128853,128836,128841,128847,128857,128869,128863" nav="thumbs"]

How to Dress Like You Are Sitting in the Front Row at New York Fashion Week

February 18, 2016

New York Fashion Week is right around the corner, and what you wear to the show can be almost as important as the shows themselves. Here are a few ideas about how to look fashionable, while still staying warm running from shows to show. A navy long-sleeve dress with sexy blue suede tassel bootie or red cap-sleeve sheath dress with killer t-strap black pumps will ensure paparazzi attention. For walking from venue to venue, a black swing ankle-length cashmere coat, fur slouch hat and very long red wool gloves will keep you cozy and fashionable. Fingerless black cashmere gloves let you text and take pictures of street style. Now, all we have to wait for are the invitations to come flowing in. [gallery ids="102378,123760,123753,123765,123777,123782,123772,123792,123787" nav="thumbs"]

Star Shops of Georgetown

January 11, 2016

The holiday season arrived in Georgetown right on time this year, manifested in festive lamppost adornments, shop-window displays filled with snowflakes and cheer and the unmistakable bite in the air from Old Man Winter himself. My boots hit the cobblestone sidewalk with a peppy clickity-clack as I stepped outside the Dolcezza on Wisconsin Avenue on a recent Saturday afternoon, fueled by an aromatic cup of joe.

My mission? Complete the remainder of my holiday shopping list in one hour. Good thing I’m pretty well versed in this shopping-in-Georgetown thing.
First stop? The new Georgetown Olive Oil Company store, to pick up something for my boyfriend’s parents. I first popped into the shop a couple weeks ago after work. I had just picked up a French baguette from the Foggy Bottom Trader Joe’s and was looking forward to finding something yummy to complement it. Upon entering, I was blown away by the vast variety of olive oils that not only exist, but are available in this beautiful shop. The owner, Emil, spent time educating me on the varied health benefits that oils from different regions of the world offer. I sampled a dozen different flavor varieties (a fraction of the 165 in the store).

If this sounds like olive oil overkill, do yourself a favor and go see for yourself why it’s not. After doing a side-by-side taste test of any oil in the store versus a moderately priced bottle you might pick up in Safeway (Emil keeps a supermarket bottle on hand for this purpose), you will become a believer. The three-bottle packs that Georgetown Olive Oil Company is currently offering in hemp gift bags of festive hues make the perfect holiday gift, as a stand-alone or paired with complimentary sea salts, jams and chocolates. Gift Number One, checked off my list.

My trek continued all the way down Wisconsin Avenue to the corner of K Street. Barre3, the studio offering classes designed to balance, strengthen and lengthen the body with moves inspired by ballet, yoga and Pilates, is here. The gorgeous space, defined by hardwood and exposed brick, exudes warmth and a sense of community. Studio owner Jill Warren first invited me to try a class more than two years ago. The Georgetown studio has been a spot for me to rebalance, reboot and embrace mental and physical well-being ever since. I’ve been dying to get my stepmom to give it a try, so what better time to purchase a set of classes for gifting? Gift Number Two — check.

With gifts for my three sisters in mind, I head back up to M Street to the beauty-product store Lush. Lush’s whole philosophy centers around creating products for the hair and skin using fresh, natural ingredients. I stumbled upon the brand a few years ago when I was looking for an effective hair mask that wouldn’t break the bank. Naturally, I consulted with a college sorority sister (who has the healthiest, shiniest locks I’ve ever seen). She recommended Lush’s “Jasmine & Henna Fluff Eaze” mask. One try and I became a devoted convert. In addition to their top-notch hair masks, the shop is chock-full of natural soaps, lip glosses and face masks. This time of year, it is overflowing with an array of perfectly edited holiday gift sets. A basketful of products later, this gift-shop stop is complete.
As I head back up Wisconsin toward home, I make a final stop at fine-stationary store Just Paper & Tea on P Street. The assortment of beautifully crafted cards within make this an effortless one-stop-shop for all of the holiday card recipients on my list. Owners Nick and Carolyn are the embodiment of warm and affable; I feel cheerier and more filled with holiday spirit just for having stopped by.

As I stroll homeward amid groups of bustling holiday shoppers, I look to my left and pause, suddenly seized by the idyllic scene before me. Candlelit tables, crowded by families, friends and lovers, are visible through the windowpanes of tiny Café Bonaparte, creating a postcard-like display. I am struck for a moment by the beauty of the season in Georgetown. The gifts I’ve purchased for loved ones were chosen with care, yet the spirit of the season expressed in smiles exchanged is truly the greatest gift of all.
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Red Speaks


’Tis the season to decide to be naughty or nice. What looks are in for 2016 holiday makeup? Bold lips or light gloss? The holiday season is the best time to play, so here is your guide — whether naughty, nice or somewhere in between.

Red lips are, of course, a classic and instant way to party up your mood for the holidays. There are several ways you can enjoy this look.

1. Bold red lips speak for themselves. This season, leave the matching colored lip liner in your makeup bag. Applying red lip color without lip liner gives you a more modern and fresh feel. Using a lip color pencil is the ultimate easy way to create “unlined” lips — it doubles as the liner and the lip color, providing foolproof easy application (and easy to touch up when out and about).

2. Stained lips (applying lip color to your finger and then dabbing it onto your lips) is a subtle way to enjoy bold colors on your lips. Apply your choice of lip color on the inside of your natural lip lines and then clean up with cotton buds along the rim of your natural lip line. You can also use your finger to smudge and soften the color.

3. New to the red or still scared of the red color? Fear not! Tinted gloss is an effortless way to dazzle with your lips. It requires less touch-up and less precise application.

Whichever choice you make with your red lips, make it joyful and have fun under the mistletoe!

By Soo Park | Photography by Angie Myers

Models: Flavia Dias, Enna Sliwinski, and Elle Einwaechter of THE Artist Agency [gallery ids="102192,131581,131590,131585" nav="thumbs"]

Legends of the Fall

October 26, 2015

Our “Legends of the Fall” shoot shows the much-discussed bearded lumbersexual in his natural habitat: the great outdoors. The outfits are at once stylish, utilitarian and cozy, mixing thick-knit sweaters and wool outerwear with scarves, lambswool, leather and lots of layers. The look works in the woods of Vienna where our models Andrei Talasman and Andrew Dolan Miller (and trusty dog, Thaidy) were shot ­— or on the town for a night out in Georgetown or along the bustling, trendy 14th Street corridor downtown. Enjoy, Legends of the Fall.

Photography by Angie Myers

Models Andrei Talasman and Andrew Dolan Miller T H E Artist Agency

Styling Pamela burns

Grooming Jessica Ariane T H E Artist Agency
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