My Christmas List

Here's my running list of Things I Want for Christmas. It's the first time in a Very Long Time that I've made one. It's really just a list of Cool Style Things I spot along the way. And yes, it started with one item.

(No capital letters were harmed in the writing of this post.)

Bumped to the top of the list because, well, #bestchristmasgiftevereverever 1 year of Vogue Archives. 1892-today
H bought me "just 'cause!" Bill Cunningham's New York DVD
A fancy gold watch - chunky
A fancy gold watch - dainty and ladylike (preferably like one of the ones my mother is splitting between BabySis and me When That Day Comes)
A standing appointment for something - anything - at Nectar Skin Bar
Multiple Vogue subscriptions (see My Style To-Do List)
I think I want an iPad
Books. Because I need more of them to sit on my nightstand and not read. Amazon.com wish list, thankyouverymuch
Echo Design Center Point Echo Touch Gloves. In pewter. Because they're techie gloves. And I'm addicted to my phone. (Thanks, Alison, of Chain Strap Purse, for the find!)
Chanel 3-book set (Liz, this is all your fault)
Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine Petite Cologne Absolue showed up in birchbox last month, and I've used it exactly as they've advertised it - for a mental pick-me-up on those days that just seem impossibly long. And you do feel like you're on an orange-blossom filled patio in the Med.
Daphne Guinness, by Valerie Steele and Guinness herself, which is the Museum at FIT publication accompanying the once-in-a-lifetime-so-I-took-The-Bean exhibit straight out of Guinness' closet and iconic (though she protests the label) mind
Reversible Diamond Earrings from Gioielli by Nikki Baker. Yup. I'm reaching here. Really reaching. But they're goooooooorgeous (and Hu's will have them shortly!)

My Style To-Do List

Instead of reading a Government draft RFP or preparing something horrendous like a compliance matrix like a responsible adult - or even instead of sleeping, which my body desperately needed to do - I used the 2 flights here to Lawton, OK, to read the entire October issue of American Vogue. Cover to cover. I devoured both the inane (Hamish Bowles does X Factor) and the intelligent (Hamish Bowles does X Factor), marked pages, and then borrowed a pen from a nice gentlemen across the aisle and scribbled a list of everything that had popped into my head while reading.

• Does it count that I "followed" Vogue Germany and British Vogue on twitter? order Vogue subscription (in multiple languages?)
• Uncheck! Never happened. find nail salon in Lawton
• make list of fahion/style/art books to read
• find a red lipstick
• Uncheck! Rosa and I never made it - visit Michael Reinhardt at Neiman Marcus Chevy Chase to buy new La Metier de Beaute eyes
• She did it on her own, and did beautifully! Bad friend. plan Old Town Boutique District vintage scour for friend who wants a vintage-y party dress for weddings this fall
• Check! start a Christmas list (for the first time in, oh, 25 years)
• It's just not worth it. Too many good, cheaper things out there. look into La Mer
• It's getting a little urgent. Must. Do. Today. order Skincando Miracle Cream
• Really, it's sitting in my car in the box. Take it to the store already! return Michael (Kors) turtleneck poncho
• Sort-of check. I did it once. Skipped DRESSED viewing Thursday for yoga class - do yoga and/or calissthenics tomorrow (each day will be a new resolution for the next)
• design and order calling cards
• Check! Classic Crane's at The Dandelion Patch - buy new letter-writing (as opposed to card-writing) stationery
• buy new not-to-lose pen
• buy very-nice-but-ok-to-lose pens
• get new, impossibly hip glasses and/or
• get lasik appointment
• get pinning - seriously
• Check! December 2-4, with The Bean in tow! plan NYC trip (including Daphne Guinness exhibit)
• plan girl time with childhood BFF
• change all future vacation references to "holiday"
• figure out if i want an iPad
• find pretty little post-it notes for marking up magazines and maybe books
• investigate skinny jeans
• investigate colored jeans
• figure out how to collaborate on a style post about warheads (Scott, if you've read this far, I'm sure I can find a prize for you of some kind)
• Check! Going for my second appointment today! brows with Adrian at Nectar Skin Bar
• Silly me - no massages (hint, hint, add them!) massage at Nectar Skin Bar
• Check! Adrian is a brow and skin god. Put yourself in his hands. anything at Nectar Skin Bar

DC's Old Favorites: What I Saw in a Short Afternoon Wander

I found about an hour the other day. By myself. It was marvelous.

To use up the time before I met H and The Beans for an early dinner, I wandered the Friendship Heights stores. I had one quick errand to run at Bloomingdale's (that turned into 2, don't they always?), then I stopped in some of the DC staples stores, just to see what the hyped brands offered that wasn't expected. Some unexpected pieces, and some reminders about what I love: poppy, teal, stripes, and tweed and bouclé. Oh, the bouclé.

Talbot's - Yes. Their ads have been eye-catching, especially for someone who tends towards the classic (like most of DC). So I wondered if they'd really gone from frumpy to fabulous.

The Verdict? Some definite options. Reasonably well made versions of basic styles and silhouettes, just like you'd expect, hung on the racks. Some still veered to the Chico's side of things, at least in my head. I don't think I'll ever really like a long, belted sweater jacket or a drapey shawl collared cape/cardigan/wrap.

What Tempted Me: I desperately want a Little Corduroy Jacket. And they have nice ones. But I'm just not slender enough yet for me to wear it happily. Next year. Oh! And they have a red sheath dress that just might be a replacement for My Favorite Suit That The Drycleaner Ruined. I saw it in an InStyle fall issue 10 years ago, and rushed to the store to buy it for my new job. It wasn't in stores yet. It was the first time I had a store call me when something arrived.

Talbot's Fall 2011 Temptations by dcceline

J. Crew - Here I found more of what you'd expect, with a return to some of the old-school preppy basics, like rugby-stripe Ts (for which I might just have an addiction, as they could supplant the out-of-reach Michael Kors version I'm coveting).

The Verdict? There are some fun pieces, as well as some basics, mostly well-made and often worth the money (to spend on a basic, or classic piece). They're clearly making their decades-old model work. I was lucky to overhear one of the (I'll assume) veteran stylists (?) explaining their merchandising strategy to a newer hire: make sure you mix a striped/patterned top into a wall, along with multiple colors; for certain corners of the store, they key is for shoppers to know they're getting what they came for, like henleys or favorite T basics

What Tempted Me: Anything poppy, teal, or striped; a simple textured shirtdress; equestrian-inspired leggings (+ big sweater + boots, perhaps?); and a Cobain-inspired long flannel shirt that I pray I'll never buy because if I do, I'll be reliving a part of my life that doesn't need reliving.

J. Crew Fall 2011 Temptations by dcceline

LOFT - I've been lucky here recently, so I was hopeful. Never mind the bright poppy sheath in the window and main display.

The Verdict? I was disappointed. Despite those recent successes, I couldn't weed out anything interesting (perhaps summer was a better season for me) other than the poppy sheath, which was nowhere to be found in the store (I didn't have the energy to ask about it). The suiting had a sadly cheap hand, not what I've found recently, and the accessories were too predictable (pearls, chains, ribbons) to be worth the not-terribly-cheap price.

What Tempted Me: The Poppy Sheath

Style Dilemma Solved: What to Wear to a 44th High School Reunion

I can't take credit for this one. vtgracie, a.k.a. my baby sister, helped my Mommy get ready for her 44th high school reunion. And she pulled it off - sis with the styling, mommy with the wearing.

They picked out the pieces when Mommy was visiting Baby Sis out in the Chicago suburbs. They found both at an adorable little boutique targeted at moms: Hot Mama.

Top: Sweet Pea; Jeans: 7 for All Mankind (Baby Sis swears these, one of their stretchy trouser styles, make you feel like a sky-high model); Sandals: Cole Haan; Bracelets: vintage (I've got dibs on at least one)

I hope any boys who dissed my mommy (like the one who slipped a mickey in her coke) or mean girls who were hatin' had to take a second look. And maybe Ralph will forgive her for dating him just for his car. Mommy was a catch in high school (if I'd thought ahead, I'd have gotten a pic from her), but now, Jimmy is one lucky (if not crazy and sainted) man.

So all of you working on your ensembles for the Next Big Reunion, take note. This is the way to do it. Simple, modern, and using shapes and silouhettes that flatter.

Shop in Style: Tomorrow's the Day! Join DC Celine for Missoni for Target

What: Early Bird Missoni for Target Shopping Spree


Where: Target at Fair Lakes, 13047 Fair Lakes Shopping Center, Fairfax, Virginia


When: 8am sharp. Doors open right then. If you want to get coffee and get in line early, I'll be meeting up with folks at the Starbucks in the same shopping center. Exact time, TBD.


Why: Really? You need me to answer this? Really? Then...check out the lookbook.

Comment or email me at dcceline dot blogspot at gmail dot com if you're up for coffee or group shopping.

Style in Print: Carine's World

While we're on the subject of Style Icons (see earlier Daphne Guinness post, please, if you will), I stumbled upon this.

Probably old news to ThoseIntheKnow, Barney's is releasing 100 limited edition copies of Carine Roitfeld's visual memoir, Irreverant. With that copy comes a Mario Testino print signed by Carine herself.

As if there are any that aren't already spoken for.

But for we Little People, our little peak into the branded Carine's World (because who in love with style wouldn't want to be a part of that world?) is available in October.

Hmmm. My birthday happens to be in October.

Thank you to The Window at Barney's for the image.

Museum Style: Daphne Guinness at The Museum at FIT

H and I have both been itching to take The Bean on her First Trip to The Big Apple. Mama-wise, it's a dilemma. The PrudentMama says, "She's only 4, there's plenty of time for that." The HipProgressiveMama says, "Expose early and often." The mama who knows her Bean the best says, "Who're you kidding? Do it. She's a City Girl, capital 'C,' capital 'G.' She was born for this.

Until this morning, PrudentMama was winning.

Then The Museum at FIT email arrived in my inbox this morning, taunting HipProgressiveMama and MamaWhoKnowsHerBean with Daphne Guinness.

By way of backstory, The Bean seems naturally inclined towards design. Sure, I encourage her in All Things Stylish, but it does seem to be her thing. From the time she could hold a writing implement, she's been content to draw or write for literally hours. Since we transitioned her to a big girl bed (and she figured out months later that she could get up in the morning without us coming in to get her), she gets up most mornings, comes in to us for a very quick snuggle, then asks, "Can I go draw?," then dashes off to her easel by the big picture window in the dining room.

We've taken her to the National Gallery, colored pencils and itty bitty Moleskin in tow, where we picked out a painting to copy. Bedtime reading ranges from Dr. Suess and The Runaway Bunny to Andrew and N.C. Wyeth tomes (and Jamie & Betsy's The Stray) and the Met's Anglomania exhibit book. [Here comes the BraggingMama part] Another mama, who has an art background and helped out in her preschool class, commented that she "gets" art, following suggestions on using different crayon strokes and adding her own imagination when capturing a basic "still life" they were doing in class.

Then there's Fancy Nancy. Her favorite book of all time.

So I'm thinking that taking her to see the Daphne Guinnness exhibit is a no-brainer. She'll love the fashion and, dare I say it, appreciate the design. I can't wait to hear which piece will be her favorite.

NYC, here comes The Bean. You'd better watch out!

What: Daphne Guinness
Where: The Museum at FIT, 7th Avenue at 27 Street, NYC
When: September 16, 2011 - January 7, 2012
Why: Quite simply, there is no other fashion collection like this. Ever.

UPDATE: I'm pretty much convinced we have to go. Just have to find a date. I can take her out of school for this, right? She can write a report to share with her friends. I'm sure it'll fit into the DCPS curriculum. And I think The Bean and I should have been invited to the opening party, which Italian Vogue captured oh, so glamorously.

Shop in Style: Join DC Celine for Missoni for Target

If you're even remotely aware of the fashion world, you know the blogisphere, twitterverse, and facebook have all been a flutter with the upcoming launch of Missoni's collection for Target. Long a favorite design house of mine, I'm eschewing my often-ignored issues with mass production of trendy clothing. I can't wait. I've even asked my local Target if they're having any special events for the launch.

They're not.

And while I can't imagine the doors in Fair Lakes, Virginia, will be crushed open at 8 o'clock sharp, I'm going to be there. With bells on. Quite possibly literally. If you'd like to join me and meet up for a little early morning shopping, here's the scoop.

What: Early Bird Missoni for Target Shopping Spree
Where: Target at Fair Lakes, 13047 Fair Lakes Shopping Center, Fairfax, Virginia
When: 8am sharp. Doors open right then. If you want to get coffee and get in line early, I'll be meeting up with folks at the Starbucks in the same shopping center. Exact time, TBD.
Why: Really? You need me to answer this? Really? Then...check out the lookbook.

Comment or email me at dcceline dot blogspot at gmail dot com if you're up for coffee or group shopping.

Shop in Style: Fashion's Night Out Georgetown

All over the country, fashionistas unite on Thursday, September 8th. Are you going to be one of them? I am.

Style Reboot: Closet Cleaning = New Wardrobe

This is the 3rd topic in what's become a series on rebooting my (and by way of example, your) personal style. (Search my blog for "Style Reboot") After I admitted to massive style doldrums, I got my @#$% together. First were my attempts to re-fill my clothing coffers with Clothes That Fit and I Want to Wear, here, and here. Second was The Great Accessory Cabinet Reorganization (The Beans' personal favorite), here, here and here. After this here Closet Cleaning post? A how-to with my tips on how to get started and make the right choices in your own Closet Cleaning. Want more? Want support? Email me at dcceline dot blogspot at gmail dot com. Tweet me or join the twittersation with hashtag #ClosetCleaning. Others are with you, like Ally over at Wardrobe Oxygen, with her great post on how Irene helped her closet.

It's that time of year. The time of year when I start itching to buy sweaters, corduroys, scarves, and sweater dresses. Anything cozy, fitted, tailored, and wool. I'm a fall/winter gal who doesn't look back. Lament how I can't wear my cute summer dresses anymore? Nope,  not me.

I also get excited for school supplies. That The Bean needs them now gives me into palpitations of joy.

First of all, I'm just not a summer dress gal. They're all too-small-in-the-bust-and-don't-fit-my-broad-ribcage. I need a bra, so slip-like things, as cute, flirty, and breezy as they are, just don't work.

Secondly, I'm a firm believer in manipulating the pieces you have in your closet to be all-season. I've never been one to pack away my winter or summer things, even though I've been space constrained for the last 20+ years. Except for the occasional heavy wool sweater (like my absolute favorite orange J. Crew chunky turtleneck, probably circa, oh 1998, if not earlier), I will wear anything in any season. Extra fine merino wool v-neck sweater? Perfect to pair with a flirty skirt or, to make it oh-so-2011, tailored dress or leather shorts. (I will literally cry when my beloved, perfect weight chocolate brown Banana favorite, which I'm fairly certain pre-dates H, springs too many holes to get away with it any more. Why do they not make it again? It was - is - PerfectionInASweater.)

That being said, in order to manipulate like a pro, you  have to know your closet. You also have to be able to find what you know. Which, until 2 weekends ago, I couldn't do. I had regular morning fits about what I didn't like in my closet, and was constantly searching for things I knew I had but couldn't find. So I bumped a Closet Cleaning up the household priority list, decreeing to H that by the end of August 28th, we would have cleaned out our (not The Beans') dressers and closets. He bucked and whined, claiming that cleaning our den/office was more important (pshaw! we don't need to find major documents or know where our bills are. Finding our clothes is a much higher priority.)

So when Bean #2 went down for his nap on Saturday (and H followed), The Bean and I capitalized on the energy gained from reorganizing my accessories cabinet, and started to unload my dresser. It was her idea of a great time, especially as she decided that anything and everything we were sorting was up for grabs, asking "Mama, can I have this?" at every belt, scarf, and t-shirt we sorted.

Before I get into the "how I did it" (upcoming post), I should show the "it was all worth it." Isn't that the way to motivate? Show you what you can accomplish if you set your mind to it? And it is very. very. difficult to bite the bullet and start a Closet Cleaning project. I promise you, though, I've found whole new life in my wardrobe without buying a thing.

So. After thwarting The Bean's attempts to confiscate everything I own, dodging her brother's full-on dives into my neat, folded piles of Things I'm Going to Keep and Wear, and making a teensy bit of space on the bed for H to sort his things (and trying desperately not to micromanage his own sorting), here's what I got.

Day 1

• A dresser with infinitely more space in it than I had before. And no, that's not massive license to go fill it again. 
• A reminder that I love scarves, and have a lot of them, many of which are vintage and were given to me by special women in my life.
• A reminder that I have some great belts (one of which my son seemed to love. H will hate that I posted this picture.)

• Drawers in which I can find things. I mean really find them.

Day 2

• My missing black slacks. For oh, about 3 months, my new(er) black wool slacks (part of a 3-piece suit collection I rarely wear together) have been missing. They were on H's side of the closet, still on the drycleaning hanger. I feel much better now.
• A whole additional side of the closet for my pants. Somehow, before now, H had more closet real estate. While he's a clothes horse of sorts, it just wasn't right. Things are the way they should be now.
• More shelf space for my beloved shoes.
• A sense of what I have (dresses), and what I don't have (fall shoes).

Then, there's what left my closet and dresser: flip-flops that have no partner, shoes I never wear or don't fit (passed along to friends or in a bag for Simply Sole's program), a beloved dress that won't ever fit these boobs again (which our sitter now owns), T-shirts and tops that have more than seen better days and should have been tossed long, long ago, button-down shirts (I haven't worn them in a year, don't particularly care for how they look anymore, and am no longer a fan of the overall concept), and a sequined Victoria's Secret tank emblazoned with "Sexy" for which H actually shed tears.

What am I surprised I kept: a pink terrycloth mini H gave me not really in jest Christmases ago (perfect to toss on down tha shore and a ridiculously short denim mini (same Christmas) I tried on and couldn't believe fit. I'm going to attempt with tights, boots or booties, and a big ol' cozy sweater (probably the cowl neck or poncho I've been eyeing over at Michael Kors). If that doesn't work, though, out it goes with the rest.

What I won't ever give up: bonus points if you know what this is.

Swap in Style: Twice is Nice

First off: if you don't already get DC Scout emails, sign yourself up now. The montly Style Events calendar emails are worth it, alone. This month, my pick for events-I-wish-I-could-make?


What: Twice is Nice
Where: The Textile Museum (another DC Style venue I'm embarrassed I've yet to visit), 2320 S Street, NW
When: Tuesday, September 6, 6-9pm
How much: $10 (members get 1 free drink)
Why: Well, their own blurb says it pretty well, so...

Celebrate everything loved twice! Don a vintage ensemble and visit The Textile Museum for a night of fashion, music and drinks in the charming garden.

Wear your best vintage outfit to win prizes in our best-dressed contest!

Have a special pre-loved piece? Trade it for something new-to-you! Trash Cats, D.C.’s own vintage clothing exchange experts, are coordinating a swap in our garden.

DC-based band Laughing Man will be playing in the garden, and DJ Baby Alcatraz will be spinning classic 45's in the galleries.

Pinkberry is back with their delicious frozen yogurt, and we welcome the talented bakers from Whisked! with their fabulous treats for sale. Explore the current exhibit, Second Lives: the Age-Old Art of Recycling Textiles, which sheds light on the different ways cultures around the world repurpose clothing and furnishings—and visit the popular exhibition Green: the Color and the Cause in its final week.

Presented in partnership with The Pink Line Project.