Rocker Chic: Good Friends Mean You Don't Give a Flying...

Video via

I walked into our apartment last night, barefoot from 14 hours in sky high heels (after months of nothing beyond 3"), and H had this video on his laptop screen. He does that. He'll get on the internet and go down a rabbit hole. Last night, The Doors movie started it, and he ended up with Bon Scott as a schoolgirl. I didn't ask.

"The best thing about this," I said, watching it over his shoulder, "is that they don't give a flying [expletive]."

There's an unadulterated joy in this video. Sure, could be it was helped along with, um, substances, and sure, they're bona fide rock stars in the early days of video (when really, they were the best. ever.) in too-long hair and too-tight clothes. But underneath it all, they didn't give a shit and they were having an absolute blast. There was no pretentious strutting, there were no googly eyes at the camera, and there was nary a selfie in sight. The way it should be.

Photo courtesy of the nice man Rosana asked on the street, then Allie edited on her phone. Because I suck at that shit.

Despite having an electronic record of our togetherness (but we did ditch the selfie and actually asked a passerby to snap this pic, which had us in stitches for 100 reasons), that's precisely how I felt about last night. Last night, I met up with two women I met on the internet. We met because of perhaps the most pretentious industry out there. At any rate, fashion is the most vain, concerned always about appearances. It is appearances, defined. We talked about our industry. We lamented our missing compadres. We shared thoughts large and small. We had chipwiches.

The defining moment of our night came maybe the night before, when we were messaging to confirm plans, when one of us wrote how glad she was to be meeting up with us and how awesome it was to not think a lick about what she was wearing or how she looked. With "fashion people." Heck, with anyone, nowadays, it feels an incredible luxury to be one's self, open and unguarded, unconcerned about appearances. It's pure gold when you find it.

Don't you worry, now, we three looked positively respectable. We even peeked into a fashion event. But that wasn't the point of the night. Instead, we connected, we snorted (with laughter), we consoled, we planned, and we fed off of each other in the most delicious way. And it's all because we don't give a flying [expletive].

Bon Scott, you late star you, I think I'll borrow your look next time we're out.

Give in Style: DC Shoppers, Start Your Engines for the Fall 2013 District Sample Sale

I have - since its inception - loved the District Sample Sale. It's a lovely, well-thought out event. The vendors have interesting pieces - clothing, shoes, and accessories - oh, and the bags, and the sips and tastes are always worth the nibble.

L-R, from top: @travelinjames and the danglers she found; the silver lambskin "space vest" I scored; the faux reptile skin sheath Chelsea found for me (and subsequently earned a "Love the leather!" from The Stacy London as she signed my book); Chelsea, her ruffles, her animal, and her bubbles; me, travelinjames, and Chelsea with our packages; the Queen Bee Designs stunner that always makes me feel like Cleopatra when I wear it; the Vivienne Westwood Anglomania tunic/dress I adore and don't wear enough. (More pics from last year's fun here)

Never mind the monies raised for charity. This year, it's N Street Village. As the DSS website shares,

"N Street Village is the largest provider of women-focused services for D.C.’s homeless and low-income women, offering 1,400 women each year comprehensive services including affordable housing, employment, integrated health care and addiction recovery. The DSS Fall 2013 donation will specifically fund the Bethany Women’s Shelter at N Street Village, the drop-in day shelter that offers up to 100 women each day safe respite from the streets including breakfasts and lunches, shower and bathroom access, a place to receive mail, laundry machines and clothing closets as well as activities, resources and opportunities to help them move from homelessness, including crisis care, 365 days a year."

So. If for some odd reason you live in "the DMV" and haven't yet gone, here's the scoop. Tickets went on sale this morning, so get yours now. If you can swing the $100 VIP version, that extra donation is well worth the hour of masses-free shopping.

Tickets on Sale: Here
When: September 24, 2013, 5:30 (VIP, General Admission 6:30) - 9pm
Where: The Sphinx Club, 1315 K Street NW
Why: Do I really need to explain this again? See you there!

Style Inspiration: We Met on the Internet

When I started blogging back in, oh, December 2005*, I did it in large part out of frustration for DC's lack of style.

There. I said it. I said The Same Thing Every Other DC Style/Fashion Blogger Says.

I do have a lot to say about style and fashion blogging in the District of Columbia and Greater Metropolitan Area. I promise (yes, I know this is a blogger-no-no, promising a post for later) a post here or article over at my other written style project with Jessica Quillin, Finessed Fashion, one day relatively soon.

In the meantime, though, there have been a few recent developments in the DC Blogger World and style in general. One of my favorites? Very Smart People are strutting their stuff in unique, thoughtfully styled ways. Then there are the people capturing them on film. Yes, there's the daily style blogger, putting (usually) herself out there for the world to see. There are also brainy, style-inclined folks like ThirstDC founders, Eric Shulze and Lori Noto, entrepreneurial minds like Eliot over at Accoutre, and, though she's not the first street style photog to grace DC's streets (Rachel, this nod's for you), Kate of Go Kate Shoot is getting some beautiful images of what we stylish folk in DC think beautiful.

So last week, a few of us were tweeting away when suddenly we had a date for drinks and shots (with the camera). I think it was 6 of us to start. Apparently that expanded. It became a Thing, and threw me into a frenzy of What to Wear I'm Going to Be in a Picture. I even dragged H along, styling him in a vintagey, geeky T just for the occasion.

Wonderful, amazing, colorful shoes (and on a snowy night, girl after my own frostbitten toed heart) Go Kate Shoot

The long and the short of it? H and I made it out for drinks at Smith Commons, even on a snowy night when others stayed in. It was worth it. The laughter, the style, and the photographic record of the evening tell the story of a DC happy to style its way through the night.

The lovely, sweet, and incredibly stylish KC Ellis. The first time we met "IRL," at #BlackChampagne, I gushed over her ensemble so much I was afraid I'd offended her. Go Kate Shoot

The shots here, as stated, are all the work of one lovely Kate Warren, and she graciously said it would be ok if I posted a few of my favorites. She posted a whole slew of them on her blog (look for the Style Flash Mob DC post). Please go check them out - she's just amazing.

Yup, that's me on the left, in my shit-there's-going-to-be-a-photographer-there-what-do-I-wear outfit. H is holding up the brick wall on the right, complete with Captain America T picked out by The Bean. KC smiles at us from the back, with her sweet F (soon to be H) gazing at her lovingly. Go Kate Shoot

[editorial note: darned Chrome or Blogger or something isn't happy about me posting pics right now. But I will. I promise (there I go again). In the meantime, follow the links to Miss Kate's site and drool over your keyboards at the eye candy.] Look! I kept a blogging promise!

*seriously? 6+ years? why, oh, why, haven't I had a blog birthday party? Oh. Right. Those Beans of mine. And H (though the blog idea was his - I'll tell that story one day). And that day job. But maybe, just maybe, we'll have a 7-Year-Itch Blog Birthday Party or some such nonsense. Start the planning!

Memo to Government Workers: Style Counts. Honest.

When I started this blog, way back when, I was wading through the stereotypical sea of Government Worker Style. It was awful. It was part of the reason - part, mind you - I started to write. I knew there was more style here than met the eye, and oila! in the last few years, I've been proven right. The DC Style World is alive and kickin' - kickin' hard

[strains of "We're not gonna take it...no, we're not gonna take it...we're not gonna take it, anymooooooore" play in the background]

I've been more than encouraged.

And then, I go to a Big Government Meeting. And I lose all hope. Well, most of it. Granted, the Meeting was in Aberdeen, Maryland, and it was mostly men, but still. So, Government Workers, here's my memo to you.

To Whom It Should Concern, but Doesn't, so That's Why I'm Writing This Memo:

From: DC Celine, who has lived and worked in your midst for the better part of a decade, and understands, so listen to her

Re: Style Counts

If you don't understand what that means, here's a few pointers. Yes, they're "Don'ts," which are harder to follow than one might think, but please. Don't.

• If you dress up (i.e. put on a suit), wear your one nice coat and a scarf. Do not wear your ski jacket over your suit. If you don't own a nice coat, go buy one. Hang it in your closet next to your Funeral Suit.
• Do. Not. Wear. Stockings. Wear tights.
• Gentlemen? Buy and wear one suit. The jacket + slacks thing works on 1% of grown men. And they're European.
• Hair gel - if you need it, you need a haircut. If you must use product, gentlemen, use pomade.
• Ladies? I'm all for a fun, statement, fashion piece of jewelry, but cheap jewelry looks cheap 75% of the time. Learn Coco's rule, now, and abide by it religiously.
• Tie clips = N. O.
• Have to take notes at your Big Government Meeting? Get a nice one. For heaven's sake, they hand those suckers out at every convention known to man. Swipe one. Or spend the money and buy one for these occasions. A sprial notebook you borrowed from your tween daughter or a stack of papers falling all over the floor? Yeah. Doesn't work.

There are, I'm sure, other guidelines I could give you (like don't go all matchy-matchy on us, or no sneakers and skirts for the commute), but a) you've heard them all before, and b) you haven't listened. So I'm trying these first. Then we'll tackle the Reeboks with your Liz Claiborne knock-off.

Cc: The World. Because they think we don't do style here in DC, and you're helping to prove them right.

I had a dream...

...that I waltzed into Harriet's closing store and bought a whole bunch of things, including a blue silk scarf.

Of course, it wasn't really her store, but some other place that actually reminds me of a menswear store (lots of dark wood), and the saleslady was not nearly as lovely as the women who work with Harriet. And I have no idea why the only thing I can remember buying (though I know I scooped up a whole bunch of things) is the blue silk scarf.

That's just the way dreams are, I suppose.

But H did ask me this morning - when I lamented that I have no idea what I'm going to wear to The Bean's 2nd Birthday Party on Saturday - why I hadn't gone to visit. (Yes, I have the best H in the world that he would consider something like that - and go a step further and say "I don't know why you haven't gone yet - why don't you go tonight?" Seriously.)

Now I know that HK probably wouldn't have something I'd want to wear to a child's birthday party with sticky fingers and wading pools, but I do wish I could find a way to get there. It might all be gone at this point, what with news spreading like wildfire last week (I think it was the most twittered and tweeted and statused thing in the DC Style World ever), but maybe just a minute to peek in...

Sad News for a Washington Tradition

I know it's teensy to read, but here's the gist: Harriet Kassman is retiring after 41 years, and closing her shop at Mazza Gallerie. If ever a time to buy, buy now, and be able to say you were a part of something quintisentially Washingtonian.

Budding Washington Style

It's been 20 months since The Bean arrived. She's a growing girl, stylish in her red patent leather mary janes. She loves the playground, walks, and "cooking" at the kitchen sink while MamaCeline makes dinner.

She also has a boyfriend. They met on the swings.

A younger man, he's an active guy. He's into cars (particularly racy yellow and orange ones that zoom around the playground) and dirt.

They dine together on "crakah" and "gapes," sometimes asking politely "peas" for something off the other's tray. More often than not, they just grab for it. If one's slower than the other, well then, too bad.

When they get together, they're usually in playclothes, ready to hit the (no longer - it's all foam and mulch now) blacktop. But based on his recent dinnerwear choices, maybe we need to step it up a notch. His mama reports that he dragged this jacket out of the closet yesterday and wouldn't take it off. Perfect with his striped T and jeans. Jazzes up a "newt" snack instantly.

Shop in Style: Homegrown Designer Styles Us Chic

Kathlin Argiro is a DC area native. When she couldn't find a dress for her first high school dance, her "passion for fashion" was ignited, and she hasn't stopped since. New York, Parsons, stints at Arnold Scaasi and Carmen Marc Valvo later, she has her own design firm based in the Big Apple.


A member of the Infintessimal Readership kindly passed on the news about an event tomorrow and Saturday. Style Me Chic, a debut event for the DC area is happening - so reserve your spot now. Meet Kathlin, pick out a dress or two, and get hooked. Kathlin's designs are lovely, feminine, sleek, and just perfect for the DC woman who harkens to style pegged as "DC" but pushes the envelope with colors, fabrics, and patterns, upping the modern elegance ante. Anya, from the Vintage Heiress (love the name - who can resist tagging themselves as an heiress?!) collection does just that.


Style Me Chic
May 4, 2007, 8:30am - 7:00pm
May 5, 2007, 10:00am - 3:00pm
Potomac Partners Townhouse
210 D Street SE (btw 2nd & 3rd Streets SE)

If you're going, be sure to RSVP. And then report in on your score.

And if you miss this event, contact Kathlin's studio to host your own Style Me Chic party. What better way to bring the style home?