Update #2: 2 of the 3 Georgetown Angels Leaving Georgetown Shops

Touted as the "Angels of Georgetown," for making a successful retail run of it in not only a depressed economy but also in a struggling retail location, local women entrepreneurs Simply Soles and Fornash will leave the The Shops at Georgetown Park, with Simply Soles shutting its Georgetown doors this Monday, October 31st. (4:41pm 2nd Update from the original post) The Dandelion Patch is not moving from The Shops at this time.

Though the Shops as a whole have struggled, with stores coming and going over the years, Kassie Rempel (Simply Soles), Stephanie Fornash Kennedy (Fornash), and Heidi Kallett (The Dandelion Patch) opened in The Shops. Though some would say that shoes, accessories, stationery, and gifts are luxuries, the stores have each thrived, building their catalog, brick and mortar, and wholesale businesses when other stores were vacating the mall.

Georgetown rags first reported the possibility back in March 2011, when word on the street was that Target and Bloomingdales were candidates for the real estate block occupied by the Shops in the center of Georgetown's shopping district. Though the rumors died soon after those initial reports, a cashier at H&M, which won't have to vacate the space, shared that Target was moving in. Though the lines at H&M were long for both the fitting rooms (people are trying) and the cashier (people are buying), the cashier wondered what Target, the often-stylish box retailer now known for its exclusive designer collections that sell out in minutes, would do to sales for their store.

Ms. Rempel shared that Simply Soles is consolidating their Georgetown store, headquarters, and warehouse in their burgeoning National Harbor location starting November 1st. To facilitate that move, the Georgetown store is having a "big sale" this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (October 28-30).

Ms. Kennedy also confirmed Fornash will be leaving the Shops; she has not yet announced a date or location for her accessories collection. (4:41pm 2nd update from original post) Ms. Kallett confirmed today that The Dandelion Patch is not moving from The Shops.

[End reported, objective-like story; begin DC Celine thoughts and opinions]

(4:41pm Updated from original post) All 3 ladies have promised to keep me up to date on any moves and the growth they're spurning (the businesses have strong, growing online and catalog components or other locations in addition to their storefronts at the Shops). Honestly, I was shocked when I heard any of the Angels were moving, and I'm sad that these bright spots on one of my routes home (I can always rationalize the key bridge over the Beltway) will no longer be on my way home.

Lord knows H, as supportive as he is of my shoe habits (hel-LO Oscars sitting in their soft, pretty bag in my closet), will be glad I can no longer "pop in" to see Kassie and the ladies of Simply Soles at the drop of a Helen Kamisky hat.

Then there's the whole question of what a box-store like Target means for the eclectic boutique-chain-restaurant mix Georgetown has cultured - intentionally or unintentionally. Much of the buzz in March was around Target's 2nd choice in the District (the Columbia Heights location being the first) of a location without a big, fat parking lot.

Whichever way the wind ends up blowing on this one, it will be interesting to watch, and I'll keep you up to date as I hear developments.

Style Dilemma: How to do respectful and still rock it

Kate of Perpetually Nesting tweeted me last week, asking for help with what to wear to a conservative wedding in May - she can't show arms, shoulders, or legs. Hmmmph. It's an afternoon wedding, and we're not sure about the reception venue.

Eeek! This. Is. A. Challenge.

My first thoughts take me to a long, formal gown. But no. It's an afternoon wedding. Unless they're bucking convention (and isn't everyone these days?) and going black tie in the middle of the afternoon, formal in the afternoon just won't work.

Second thoughts take me to, unfortunately, an old lady pants suit. No.

Next, I'm leaping to a women's tuxedo, a la Michelle Pfeiffer or any of the Major Leading Ladies who've gone there in the past 15 years. But truth be told, as amazing as that could be, it would be leap for a Normal Person to go there at a Normal Person Event. Never mind that this is potentially a traditional crowd (Armenian Orthodox church), in which case a woman in pants is just not what you do. You'd have to have massive amounts of cojones to pull it off. PerpetuallyKate's got 'em, but I don't think that's what she had in mind.

So I'm back to some sort of long dress. Think. Think. Think. Bear with me. Let's call this post Part I. I'm convinced I can find more choices.

South Moon Under has this interesting jersey "maxi dress." I like to call it a gown. While form fitting, the black jersey could be incredibly forgiving. It is black, which is not everyone's first choice for a wedding, and it does have a scooped back. Given my own Orthodox wedding experience, it's nothing a little shawl won't handle, but still.

SMU has a number of other maxi dress choices, but they can be frumpy or too casual, as well as too open. Again, we can solve the "open" problem with a sweater, shawl, or jacket.

Now. The next look is a little tougher to pull off. It would require some very edited jewelry choices (I'd go for brass or gold, structured, geometric pieces, rather than the softer long chains. Keep it out of beachwear and in the HipCoolMamaWear. H&M (will you H&M marketing people please please please put the US merchandise online thankyouverymuch) has this breezy 70s-inspired frock.

Should we end up with a sleeveless dress of some kind, we need to cover up. If the shawl route just isn't covered enough, there's the jacket route. This won't work with all choices (really only with a solid-colored, fitted (read: not flowy) dress), but I'm in love with this bolero. Normally, "bolero" means "something my mom used to wear and I'd try to convince her otherwise," but this thing? I ran a across it on my Friday jaunt to the Atlantic City outlets (more on that later) and fell in love. Must. Find. Way. To. Wear. Or foist it on someone else, like Kate, for me to live vicariously through her fashion.

Stay tuned...I'm on the hunt...

H&M and Sweater Dresses

Both debatably good.

Me? I love a good H&M shop-a-thon. But sometimes, well, sometimes it's just so "on trend" that there's nothing in the store worth even trying on, let alone buying. Clearly, if the trends are not what the average woman would want to buy or wear, then there's less. This summer, there were tons of adorable things - just not fit (literally) for a 9-months-pregant woman. The trends just didn't allow for a bump. But they did look great on Sugarplum and 31204ever.

Dariaux, who makes her home in Atlanta, took advantage of a biztrip to Chicago and stopped in their H&M. She, on the other hand, was not happy with what she found. We discussed the merits of the Swedish store and the trends therein...

DC Celine: it's almost like going to a steinmart or loehmans - you have to go frequently

Dariaux: you are so right.

DC Celine: also depends on the trends - if they're good ones, you can do well. ifnot, then ICK.

Dariaux: oh, this was definitely the ICK trends. The baby doll dresses, sweaterdresses (ye gods) and sometruly hideous colors. Blech.

DC Celine: i'm in love w/ sweater dresses. loved them in the early nineties, love them now (depending on shape, obviously). had two on yesterday that were great - though part might be my newly rediscovered figure.

Dariaux: this is where we differ. i've hated them since the 1970's. i think they are unflattering on most and tend to bag in the bottom once one sits for any period of time.

DC Celine: point taken. i was actually going to argue that they can be very forgiving. could be fodder for a philosophical debate. but sagging at bottom: hadn't thought about that. had one a while back, and can'tremember if that was the case.

Dariaux: and thus lies the dilemma with the sweater dress. Yes, they are lovely and yes, they can be quite forgiving and flattering . . . until you sit down. Then it becomes a disaster. I've never had one that didn't sag with time.

DC Celine: i'm just looking for it to be hot for h's 15 year reunion. ;-)

Dariaux: I still think wrap dresses are the hottest. sooo flattering, particularly when one shows some cleavage. And wearing some great pearls.

And with that, we enter an entirely different discussion.

This post shows you a couple of things (not in any particular order):

1) that two people can differ greatly on their opinions of sweater dresses while agreeing on H&M in general

2) that wrap dresses will always be great

3) that two reasonable, grown-up, professional women can spend inordinate amounts of time discussing innane things while maintaining airs of competency and even effectiveness.

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?

To Bang or Not To Bang?

(Get your minds out of the gutters.)

I finally made it to see Jae on Tuesday. Much needed, particularly after a late night and early morning (I will pull myself away from work, I will pull myself away from work...100 times on the blackboard). Somehow, every time I go to see her now, I'm exhausted. Nearly fall asleep during the shampoo exhausted.

I've known her so long (longer than H - nearly a decade), I trust her implicitly. Unless I want to do something drastic (like my big foray into bangs), I don't have to say a word - she just cuts the right cut for me. Last time I was there, we sorta talked about growing out the bangs - with impending Mommydom, maybe it'd be easier.

Then, at the marimekko opening, I talked with Sandy (a Proctor & Gamble/Graham Webb rep and hair guru) for quite a while about all sorts of things...including my bang decision. We decided I should keep them. Why give them up? I'm me, not Just a Mom. So what if it takes a few minutes to blow dry them? I'm sure I can manage - or, if not, headbands are lovely (especially $3 ones from H&M).

There. Is. No. Reason. For. Mom. Hair.

I know you agree - as does Post Mom-extraordinaire Jill Hudson Neal. Now, I happen to disagree with her - Katie Holmes Cruise' new 'do is chic and slick - and does suit her (though I'm not sure that she's not trying too hard to be Victoria). But the point is, stay who you are - hair and all.

Breaking Through Your Own Style

"I am wearing my new crazy green circles shirt today and I've gotten a ton of compliments! Thanks for making me try it on! I am going to try really hard to not lapse back into my "safe" clothes zone anymore!"

31204ever gushed to Sugarplum and me this morning.

It's a hard thing, to break out of your own style. By her own description, 31204ever was on the hunt on Saturday for "non-boring" tops. She felt like she has plenty of black, and really wanted to break free of what she's been wearing - while still staying true to her own comfort level (we all know that if you buy clothing to "break out of a rut," but aren't comfortable in it, no matter how cool you think it is, you just won't wear it) and work-appropriateness. She's a designer for a large news organization, and has some freedom, but still needs to stay in some lines.

So we scoured the H&M racks for patterns, colors and silouhettes that she'd wear. We felt a little "3 Bears" for a while (too long, too short, just right), but we managed to pull 4-5 pieces she was willing to try. Even a charcoal blouse with anime skulls (my personal favorite) to pair with military-green bermuda shorts (risky shape).

Turns out that outfit would've been a hit, if the fit was better. Sometimes, clothing just isn't cut for you (and a lot of times, I'm not sure who H&M cuts for, as my left boob won't fit in half the things I try on). We figured out that the bermuda shape is great for her.

In the end, she wavered about one top in particular. It's a lovely green patterned piece, with cocentric circles all over the flattering empire shape (reminscent of a marimekko print like the one at right). "It might be too crazy," she kept worrying. But we loved it on her - flattering, great colors, and pushed the 31204ever envelope just enough.

As you can see, she's thrilled with the results. It's so hard to break out, but she did it. I love it when people (especially ones I care about) feel good - and she clearly does - she deserves a Day O' Compliments.

Can't wait to see what she dons for M & Sugarplum's BBQ Saturday.

Flashback on the Silver Screen

As the Girls and I wandered through H&M, we just had to laugh at some of the 80s-inspired pieces. And laugh. And laugh. And laugh.


Some of it, I'm glad is back - the colors and wild abandon are fun and freeing. The blousy, banded tops, welcome. But neon Ts? Not then, not now. Long, off-the-shoulder shirts/dresses? Not then, not now. Headbands like sweatbands.


No. Thank. You.

But bring me a bit of nostalgia, and I'm all over it. So I've determined that The Bean's first movie just very well might be an 80s flick. Someone told me that it's good to take babies to the movies when they're really young because they like the dark and the noise soothes them. We'll see about that, but I'm definitely sneaking in to AFI's festival of All Things 80s at the Silver Theater.


Now...would I be a bad mommy if I note The Bean's First Movie in his/her baby book as Blue Velvet or Say Anything?

AFI Silver Theater
Silver Spring, Maryland
July & August
Showtimes and movie listing available on the theater's site.

(Thanks to After Hours for the tip!)

The Perfect Day

It was the kind of day where we didn't look at our watches until, well, until we did. No cares about time. Our clock was our stomachs and our feet (and the number of bags we could carry).

For what will likely be my last Girlie Hurrah, Sugarplum, 31204ever, and I decided to spend the day in downtown DC.

Started at Zaytinya. One of my favoritist places on the planet.

Neither of the girls had been there for more than drinks, so I was thrilled to share the food with them...we ordered two mezze at a time, so paced it perfectly, and rounded it out with Steve Klc's brilliance.

lemonatha - sparkling lemonade with orange blossom water...perfect.

banjtijan bil laban - fried eggplant with roasted garlic yogurt sauce. butter. absolute buttah.

spanikopita - how in the world they manage to make their own phyllo, I have no idea, but they do. And it's worth it. I'll never tire of it.

let's not forget the freshest, pipingist hot, steamiest bread with olive oil and pomegranate reduction.

arni souvlaki - lamb kabob with a yogurt cumin sauce. so tender, it melts.

sea scallops with yogurt-dill sauce (see a sauce pattern here?!). more buttah.

debate, debate, debate. smart waitress reminds me about the shrimp.

garides me anitho - sauteéd shrimp with dill, shallots, mustard, lemon juice. i'm neither a huge seafood nor mustard fan, but these are so tender, sweet, and juicy that i'll cross major amounts of traffic to get to them.

patates tiganites me yourti "agaia kremezi" - basically, the best french fries ever. fried in olive oil and served with a huge spoonful of yogurt on top. heaven.

pause while we debate desserts. two were easy choices: turkish coffee chocolate (deepest chocoloate, espresso, and cardamom - more of my favorite flavors) and turkish delight (my description: deconstructed baklava).

finally decided on a summery blood orange, wine gelée and citrus sorbet (think one was grapefruit) concoction to round it out. the wine gelée was the coolest thing ever. a girl could get drunk on it.

then we all had the same idea: H&M. Walking distance. Sales.

Couldn't tell you how long we were in the store, but we actually braved the dressing room lines and each managed to find a few new "essentials." Florals were high on our list (Sugarplum a skirt, 31204ever a top), and we discovered more good basics (one of the main reasons to hit the store, in my opinion), and the little known fact that H&M has M clothes. Yup, M clothes. H&MMama, the line's called. Same adorable hipness, just with room for The Bean. They didn't have a sexy cute cherry print top in my size, so I consoled myself with a sexy mama (H is going to love it) dress. It's already slated for M & Sugarplum's annual BBQ next weekend.*

My M feet were killing me at this point, so Starbucks to the rescue (and thanks to Sugarplum's students for the gift card that got us our treats). Rest, rest, rest, then on to Macy's.

31204ever was on a hunt for, as she put it, "non-boring tops" to wear to work, so we scoured the racks @ Macy's - to no real avail, though there were definitely some cute pieces. I picked up a pair of pants for H for his foray in to prepdom (baby blue cotton slacks - I nearly fell over when he showed them to me - not his normal style) and another comfy bra for me (let's just say that things change with The Bean).

Then home.

It was the perfect, leisurely day with two of the most wonderful women in the world. No hurries, no worries...just time spent together...and, of course, in the most stylish way.

*I only wish that we could share pics - silly H&M still hasn't put pics on its website.

Style Dilemma: Black & White to a Nearly-Spring Baby Shower

31204ever writes:

Have wanted a skirt like this for a long time and finally found it at H&M last week. I maybe would like to wear it tomorrow to a baby shower. But I think that the skirt still screams "spring" and the weather's not quite there yet. What could I wear to make it less springy? Or should I just bag it for now and maybe wear it to another event when it really *is* spring? (Ahem, your shower.)

I have various long sleeve black tops, I have a corduroy black blazer, I have various black tights (textured and non), I have various black heels and knee-high black boots. I don't have anything nice that's pure white (all are off-whites).

Dear 31204ever:

First, great selection on the skirt. B&W is always, always, always stylish. And there are so many ways to wear it.

Second: to your dilemma. Part of it is solved by the fact that tomorrow is going to be very, very spring-like in the Baltimore-Washington area. So no need to pile on a big sweater - or even to wear your boots because you feel like it's "too springy."

That said, the boots and a fitted black sweater would work well and be appropriate. But only if you promise to throw on a piece of big, primary colored jewelry - like a big red or blue cuff bracelet. Yellow or green would work, too. Other jewelry, like the D.C. insitinctual jet beads would just blend in with this. You need a piece to "pop" alongside of the beautiful, strong pattern of the skirt. Either one or three (always an odd number, in my book) Alexis Bittar big bangles at left would work.

Black pumps - or better yet, flats, would work, too (with the black sweater, above), and be perfectly acceptable and lovely. Even better than that would be to take advantage of the weather and go barelegged with a brightly colored pump - again, primary colors (like the Taryn Rose peep-toe, at left, or a pretty pink, too, doing a monochromatic thing on the legs, and letting the skirt stand out). The colored shoes would take a little more fashion chutzpa, though. And if you have even more, drag out the colored (not textured) flats or low pumps and pair with plain black tights (as long as you can't see the tights through the white skirt). But if you do the bright shoes, go gold or silver (preferably gold) with a big bracelet.

And, of course, let us know...

What I Actually Packed for L.A.

Tops (yes, I packed too many, but they all fit with room to spare, so why not? You never know how you'll feel, right?)
H&M babydoll sweater*
Favorite brown merino v-neck (Banana) all-weather sweater*
Favorite black holey cowl neck sweater (also Banana?), just in case it's chilly
Banana indigo babydoll T**
I.N.C. nearly sheer, ribbed printed indigo T (yes, I'm apparently in love with indigo)
Brown merino shell (Banana)
Brown F.C.U.K. kinda racer-back tank (yes, brown's a theme, too)
Romanian iie (my fallback, ahem, signature, look)
Indian-inspired beaded orange tank (I'd tell you the designer, but it's packed, and all I can remember is that it was a Nieman Marcus purchase and the logo reminds me of Guns-N-Roses)
H's old school warm-up jacket

Bottoms
Ancient Citizens trouser jeans*
Boring but functional (and well-fitting) khakis (Banana)*
Boring but functional (and not-as-well-fitting) pseudo khakis (Banana?) - original plan are still at the cleaners (sorry, H, I forgot, too!)
Too big (but fit the mildly growing bump) Kate-inspired pinstriped trousers**

Sole dress
H&M wrap dress (we'll see if I feel up to wearing it, but it packs too well to not come with me)

Shoes
New orange Nine West flats
Ancient and holey Target mocs
Ancient (what will I do if they ever die?!) bronze/gold sandals (for evening with jeans - perfect)

*On the original list
**Gotta-go-to-work-don't-want-to-bother-to-change-before-the-plane-wear

Packing for L.A.

After I finish up a few things for work, pretend to work on my thesis (which now has a very pressing deadline), feel sorry for myself because I'm so tired, I have to pack.

I hate packing.

I especially hate packing when I don't like a fair amount of the clothes in my closet or when I don't fit into a lot of them.

I especially hate packing for a vacation trip when I don't feel like I have a lot of casual options.

The good thing? L.A. is unabashedly casual. And rubber bands are my friends.

Things that will definitely go in the 'case:

H&M babydoll sweater
Ancient Citizens trouser jeans
Boring but functional (and well-fitting) khakis (Banana)
Favorite brown merino v-neck (Banana) all-weather sweater
New orange Nine West flats

See? Boring. Not happy. I'll just have to dig and see what I can find to add in the 'case.