Ann Taylor City?
November 26, 2011
I remember the Ann Taylor store at Union Station. And I remember the gorgeous black and white suit with nautical buttons and a flirty skirt. My first big girl suit purchase in a big city. It was the Spring of 1992. I was a college student spending a semester in Washington, D.C. And I needed a suit, because I was going to meet Barbara Bush.
It’s 20 years later and that Ann Taylor store is still there, at the same spot. Now, when I’m in Union Station rushing for the Acela, I cannot peer up at the second floor shop without remembering that purchase. Of course, Ann Taylor is far more ubiquitous these days….way beyond Washington, D.C.
Monica Hesse’s Washington Post Style section focus on Ann Taylor as the stalwalt of fashion — the “old faithful” of working women shopping in DC. — really nailed the reality of reliable, affordable, fashionable (but not too fashionable) working woman dressing.
Wouldn’t we all like to have a personal stylist? To appear in the pages of Capitol File? That’s likely not the reality for working moms across the region and Hesse recognizes that.
Instead, we do our best. We strive to fall somewhere in between Carrie Bradshaw and Clair Huxtable. We stretch our dollars with a little bit of fancy, a little bit of practical, a little bit of haute, and a lot of reliable. We mix in a little Nordstrom (online for me!), White House Black Market, Neiman (if we’re lucky) and yes, Ann.
American Girl
July 4, 2011
Just like Katy Perry (and the Beach Boys before her) made everyone long to live on the Gold Coast, anyone with a little girl who steps inside the new Washington, D.C. American doll store in Tysons could go off the deep end of pure American consumerism in the name of their little darling.
Confession! I am not immune to this. From our NYC visit of the chain’s flagship store to the purchase of the 2008 “Mia” Doll-of-the-Year to our recent pre-opening lunch at the Tysons store, I can get swooned into the American Girl culture. Wholesome, yes. Affordable? That’s debatable (and that’s why we are buying no more.)
But it was fun to experience the new store. Thanks to my friend Carrie, who knows the store café’s new chef, we got the royal treatment. He must have fed us one of everything on the menu. From special high chairs for one’s own doll, loaners dolls if you forgot yours (because no one wants to be without an 18 inch companion), to doll holders on the walls in the bathroom stalls, they thought of nearly everything for the 10-and-under set. The café is light and airy – almost like a flowery Silver Diner — and the store is warm and welcoming.
It’s a fun destination trip. But my advice is: Visit sparingly…oh, and set expectations ahead of time with your American Girl. Something like this: “Honey, I will absolutely NOT be buying that $125 bed for the doll. ”
On a related note….Want to be a grown up American Girl (Woman, actually) and you have some dead presidents to blow this Fourth of July? Great! You can always invest in this Balmain jacket…for a mere $21,555. Now that’s Patriotism, compliments of the Zoe report!
Happy 4th!
Gorgeous Strikes Again..It’s the Little Attention to Detail
January 20, 2011
I’ve lifted this entirely from NYMagazine. but I have to say I go ga-ga every time Michelle makes at entrance for a big State Dinner. She has a way of striking the right fashion tone in her choices.
Michelle Obama Is Wearing Alexander McQueen to the State Dinner
By Amy Odell
The Obamas with President Hu Jintao.Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
The State Dinner honoring the Republic of China is underway in Washington, and Michelle Obama has emerged for another super-glamorous State Dinner moment wearing a stunning Alexander McQueen gown, which could be a commercial version of a look like No. 29 from the label’s 2011 resort collection. She had good reason to get extra fashionable tonight, since the guest list includes Anna Wintour and Vera Wang.
Beantown Favorite
May 2, 2009
So, even though my Sweetie was born in Boston, he’s not really a true New Englander. Rob certainly has the “no r” Rivere accent down (“Pahk the cah”)… The whole Italian thing…ok. Although not quite to the level of ”The Depahted,” I think we can check that box, thank you Cannarozzos, Lussos. But when all is said and done, we just don’t get there often enough…
So it has been fun recently as I have begun to follow again one of my favorite Boston gals, Christine DiCarlo on Daily Cookie. Have you ever met one of those Force of Nature sort of people? Well, Christine is all that. I first met her when we began Microsoft Federal’s Salute to Our Troops program. Christine ran the last two events and has got to be the best events planner in the U.S. ..hands down..
Our Salute core team at the Times Square NYC Hard Rock balcony: Tonya, Becky, Christina, Christine and Kathy
Ever since I met Christine and learned she has a blog, I’ve gone to her for any fashion insight I can find. She probably finds me to be the “poor soul” and has charity on me, telling me what boyfriend jeans are, taking me to Barneys for the first time, scolding me for rookie spa mistakes… stuff like that! But she knows a ton.
I am not at all surprised the the Newbury street Boston hangout has one of their “famous” local drinks named after her, the “Christini.” I’m gonna try it….
THE CHRISTINI:
Kurant Vodka (made from a black currant berry)
Chambord
Fresh lime juice
Shake all above ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass
Add a champagne topper and garnish with edible flowers or a lime wheel
Enjoy!
Tonya's Links
-
Tonya is a Community Content Producer for
WUSA9.com, DC's CBS affiliate.