Shop in Style: Events Galore VIII - Secret Revealed - R. Nichols Makes a DC Appearance

Sorry for the secrecy, but here it is, along with the story behind my first celebrity Blogland meet.

Right after I met my first friend through the internet (it makes for a great "how did you two meet" story), I felt oh, so very important when I got an invitation to Suited for Change's anniversary gala - addressed to DC Celine. I had no idea what I was doing - had never really been to an event like that (unless you count the random tickets H and I got to the Redskins - ick - 70th anniversary gala). So I asked at the door for Babsie D, and I found her, and we met - in person, after months of Blogland.


Introductions all around, H and friend happy because there were tons of models walking around, and friend's wife and I happy because of the fashion all around.


And then I was introduced to R. Nichols. A delightful, dapper man with a ready smile and a pen that beats all. He's Stationer Extraordinaire and Artist (know the cover illustration to "French Women Don't Get Fat?"). We chatted and chatted, and then we were photographed. I felt so ridicioulsly special. (You can tell I hadn't done the Washington events scene up to that point. Wasn't used to the grin n click.)

But anywho...now I'm a jaded woman of the world (yeah, right)

R. Nichols is in town next week...

What: Premier of R. Nichols' Washington DC stationery line and a retrospective of his original work (and limited edition prints on hand for sale, too)
When: Wednesdsay 14 November, 6-8pm
Where: apres peau, 1430 K St NW
Why: Because his stuff just plain ol' rocks (and a girl can never have enough stationery)
RSVP: 202.783.0022 or events@aprespeau.com

Shop in Style: Flowers and Cards Unlike You've Seen Before

Apres Peau is offering a really nifty experience - listen to a renowned NYC florist speak of her work - oh yeah, and see her new line of cards.

Meredith Waga Perez, the daughter in the mother-daughter Belle Fleur NY team, is going to be at the downtown shop next Wednesday. Snag a spot by RSVPing to events@aprespeau.com.

What: Floral secrets and new notecards

Where: Apres Peau, 1430 K Street NW

When: 10 October, 7-9 pm

Style Dilemma: What Not to Miss in DC

Vivien wrote in, asking for tips on what not to miss in her upcoming 3 weeks in D.C. She's a saavy shopper, and wanted to know what 'hoods she should hit...and the best way to get there. From Vancouver, British Columbia, she's got some of the same stores, but...

Because she's going to be close to Georgetown proper, I'm sending her to our indie places like Sassanova, Wink, and Urban Chic. She also can't miss Barney's CoOp, H&M, and Intermix. I've practically made her promise to do Kafé Leopold, and recommended Hook, Rocklands, and DolceZZa.

Getting to and from Georgetown, sans Metro, feels really far to a non-Washingtonian, but I've assured her that, if the weather cooperates, it's a lovely walk from Foggy Bottom with lots of places to stop and "freshen up" along the way (Mie N Yu springs to mind, of course). Or, should she be laden with packages (or it's just too darn hot, or storming, like it has been lately), taxis are plentiful and not terribly expensive.

She shouldn't miss the U Street corridor, either, or islands in the downtown corporate stream, Alex and Apres Peau.

What else shouldn't Vivien miss in her time here? Help a girl out?

Style Scoop: A Bag That's More than Meets the Eye

Can't decide what to blow your tax refund on (yes, I know it's only coming in now because you waited until the very last minute to file - that's ok)? I've got it.

The Best Bag Ever.

And it's a Transformer.

Sure, that's a "guy thing," but I'll freely admit I made sure I was in front of the tube every day after school. I can't remember if it was on at 3:30 or 4 (there was Transformers, Thundercats, and Starblazers - points if you can tell me the Starblazers' heroine's name), but I was there. I also played with G.I. Joes and Star Wars characters ('cause you need Princess Lea from Starwars to add women to the G.I. Joe contingent).

But I digress. Back to Style.

The Antrobus bag flies in from Miami to D.C. tonight at the Apres Peau opening party. Tonight, it'll show up as an evening clutch. Tomorrow, when running about town, it'll be the perfect daytime bag, and then, this weekend, when jetting off to, uh, Ocean City (ok, so we don't jet to the Hamptons around here), it'll safely and stylishly carry all your accessories and cosmetics. Yup. All of them. At least for a weekend. And you can pretend you're a successful doctor who refreshingly old-fashionedly makes house calls, with its "doctor bag" look.

It's the perfect bag. Even if it does cost more than the average Hill worker's monthly salary. Start working on your rationalizations now.