Art Gallery: Phillips Collection

Now through May 6, an internationally recognized art gallery in DuPont, Phillips Collection, will be displaying an exhibit entitled Snapshot - Painters and Photography, Bonnard to Vuillard. This collection 'focuses on the dynamic relationship between the artists’ work in various media.' What's most intriguing about Snapshot is the influence that photography had on some of the most famous avant-garde painters in the world. There are moments when you might be taken aback at not only the paintings but the subject matter in the photos; both eerie and beautiful at times. Please check out the exhibit before it's too late!

Curator Eliza Rathbone introduces Snapshot: Painters and Photography, Bonnard to Vuillard from The Phillips Collection on Vimeo.

Purchase tickets here.

Additional sources for some of the artist featured can be found here.

Art League Open House & Holiday Party

On Friday, December 2, the Art League will be holding an open house and holiday party; there will be food, drinks, music and of course art! The best part of this event that it's free and open to the public. So, if you would like to start of your holiday festivities with a little bang, please mark your calender and plan on attending.

Where
The Art League - Madison Annex

305 Madison ST, Alexandria, VA

When 

Dec. 2, 2011

Time 

6 - 9 pm

Cost

Free

Art Scene: Rebirth of Cool

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Bird On Money, 1981. Acrylic and oil on canvas, 66 x 90 inches.

This weekend the Corcoran Gallery of Art is launching its new exhibit, 30 Americans. The kick off party is going down at Capitol Skyline Hotel, which will be hosted by artist Kehinde Wiley. Just think, art, barbecue and the hot sounds of DJ Jahsonic and DJ Keenan, does it get any better?

When: 
BBQ, Fri. 6-9 p.m., Exhibition through Feb. 12, 2012
Where: 
Party Rock, Capitol Skyline Hotel
10 I St. SW, Washington DC
Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 17th St. NW
Cost:
Party - $35
Art - $10

"We decided to call [the exhibition] “30 Americans.” “Americans,” rather than “African Americans” or “Black Americans” because nationality is a statement of fact, while racial identity is a question each artist answers in his or her own way, or not at all. And the number 30 because we acknowledge, even as it is happening, that this show does not include everyone who could be in it." – Rubell Family, November, 2008

Fall Trend to Watch: Infinity Scarf

Scarves can be both fashionable and cumbersome, but there is hope in the infinity scarf! These scarves come in different lengths and materials, but the best thing about it, is the ease of wearing it. You will literally loop the scarf around once and you are set. Like most things in fashion, these scarves range in price from $15 - $100 depending on designer and quality. I recently purchased two, a tie dye one from asos.com and a metallic one from South Moon Under, both were under $20 each. Remember, fall is here and this is a great item to update your wardrobe with.

Dear Nicki Minaj: Authenticity is Key

Please stop trying so hard, it's not coming across as genuine. Dress the way you want and express yourself, but there are LOUD hints of unoriginal in your get ups. I am talking about you, so that is something...

Trend Stop Alert: Rompers

For most of last summer and now this summer, my eyes have been blinded by this one piece clothing item that horrifies the masses - THE ROMPER! It will not go away.

I despise the idea of a romper for several reasons:
- Children wear rompers
- Romper = Onesie
- Ridiculously short
- Doesn't do justice for the backend (gives diaper bum)
- Have to be unzipped/unbuttoned and pulled completely off to use restroom
- Is it the 70s or 80s?

Yes, everyone always says, "but skinny girls always look good in rompers," or "but this one is stylish and chic," yes, I guess sure, do whatever you need to justify wearing certified baby clothing.  It's the entire concept that I do not get or understand. Wear the romper to the pool or in the comfort of your home. There isn't a point to the romper on a grown woman when she can just wear a skirt and top and not deal with the hassle.

Do me a favor clothing designers...STOP!For those of you willing to spend money on rompers, they are available at almost every available clothing store.

Bottom line, most people (friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, spouses, relatives) do not think you look fabulous in a romper, you look childish. And to my friends/readers who own a romper, I still love you.

Royal Wedding Fashions

By now, everyone knows that Kate Middleton now Catherine Duchess of Cambridge is married to Prince William Duke of Cambridge.

And perhaps equally as important, are all of the fashions from the wedding. In keeping with the theme, I have included below some of the top finds in beauty and fashion from the wedding as well as her dress. 

$4 - $8 Nail Polish from Essie in Allure (check Amazon, it hasn't sold out yet)

The $89 dress from Zara she wore the day after the wedding.

Grace Kelly and Kate Middleton's Wedding gowns respectively. It is remarkable how Kate's dress is reminiscent of the classic gown worn by the Hollywood icon.

The dress, which was designed by Sarah Burton of the Alexander McQueen fashion house. Her dress was made of ivory and white satin gazar, a loosely woven silk, with the skirt echoing an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats and a train measuring 2.7 meters. The ivory satin bodice, which is narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry and is a hallmark of McQueen's designs, Prince William's office said.

Similar wedding dresses, without Kate Middleton's price tag! Top - Monique  Lhuillier, bottom - Romona Keveza.

Fashion Scene: The Vagina Monologues

Fashion Empowering Women Foundation will be hosting an event to help raise funds and awareness to end violence against women and girls. The event also benefits Our Place DC, a non-profit organization that provides services and advocacy to help women rebuild their lives after a period of incarceration, and the DC Fashion Foundation, a non-profit organization created by the Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce to support the local fashion community.

V-Day brings the issue of violence against women and girls front and center in the culture and the community. In order to understand the grave importance of this cause, one must know that violence is an issue that plagues all women and men in every part of the world. To better show the depth and scope of violence against women, V-Day has compiled a list of statistics and resources that evidence the impact that violence against women has on the individual, and the community. V-day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sex slavery. In 1994, a play called The Vagina Monologues, written by playwright Eve Ensler, broke ground, offering to the world a piece of art like nothing it had seen before. Based on dozens of interviews Ensler conducted with women, the play addressed women’s sexuality and the social stigma surrounding rape and abuse, creating a new conversation about and with women. The Vagina Monologues ran Off-Broadway for five years in New York and then toured the United States. After every performance, Ensler found women waiting to share their own stories of survival, leading her to see that The Vagina Monologues could be more than moving work of art on violence; she divined that the performances could be a mechanism for moving people to act to end violence.

Entertainment will be provided by Grammy Nominated Washington D.C. native, Carolyn Malachi. Please check out her interview clip below from the 53rd Grammy's on CBS.

When: Friday April 29th & Saturday April 30th 

Where: Montgomery College Performing Arts Center (map)

Time: 7:00 - 11:00 pm

Tix: $25 Students | $35 General Admission

Please try to come out to not only support a great benefit, but to enjoy yourself and if nothing else walk away more informed and empowered about a great cause.

I have two free tickets for the event that I am giving out to readers, be the first to contact me and tell me why this cause is important to you and you will win the tickets.

Celebrity Make Up For Less: Alexis Bledel & Jessica Beil

Do you ever see your favorite celebrity at an event or the red carpet and their makeup is done so well and you wonder, how do I achieve that look? And more importantly, how do you achieve the look without spending hundreds of dollars? I love the look on Alexis Bidel and Jessica Beil: Classic eye with full lashes, fun pink lip and peachy golden cheeks.

Face:

Mix your favorite bronzing powder (will only need a small amount) with face moisturizer - rub in hands together and smooth all over your face.

Victoria Secret Brilliant Shimmer - $14

Eyes: 

For more drama, add falsies, otherwise use your favorite thickening mascara. 
L'Oreal's Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara - $8
Line lids with both a black eye shadow and liquid liner - that's the secret for lasting lid lines. First use a an angle brush to line lids with the black shadow, then go over the line with the liquid liner. I use MAC Black Tied - $14.50 and Rimmel London Liquid Liner in Ebony Black - $5.00

Lip:
MAC Quite the Thing! - $14.50 - For those with medium to brown skin tones.
MAC Insanely It! - $14.50 - For those with fair to light skin tones.
This lipstick actually has sheen to it, so it provides color and glossy finish.

Cheeks: Use a peach colored blush - this color will vary between skin tones.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Blush Autumn Catwalk - $5
Rimmel Lasting Finish Pink Sorbet - $5

Dresses & Bows: How it's Done

On Friday, I plan on wearing a Milly black silk bow dress to a gala, which is pictured below. The gala is black tie optional, so as usual I scurried around my closet like a mad woman, until I found the perfect dress via Rent The Runway. Dresses and bows have had long been associated with 'frilly' and 'frump' and the right style can be hard to find. Luckily I found a few that are both classic and chic! 

My Gala Dress:

Milly 'Dominique' Gaza Dress

- Rent the Runway  $50
- Neiman Marcus $145

- Nordstrom $375

Alice + Olivia Gretchen Dress - Shopbop $145

Kate Unger Strapless Bow Dress - Saks Fifth Avenue $330

Lotusgrace Moire Faille Double Bow Dress - Saks Fifth Avenue $428

Kate Spade New York "Shelley" Dress - Bloomingdale's $248

SAG Awards Fashions: A walk down the red carpet

The Screen Actors Guild Awards red carpet fashions - as seen through objective eyes.

The Hits

Love the color and the sweet heart neckline! Julianna Margulies looks fabulous!

Julia Stiles! Where have you been? The ombre effect on this dress is so unique - it was nice to see a different color palate.

Everyone has been talking about Lea Michele's dress, I think it's perfectly glam and the 

décolletage is stunning.

Yay! Modern Family representing on the red carpet and the salmon colored dress and slight knot cinch at the waist is age appropriate for Sarah Hyland.

The Misses

Pale on pale never works, also a larger size helps. Amy Adams please try again.

Nice try Angie, I am not feeling it. Too many frills, could almost be a wedding dress.

Christina I adore you, I really do. Please allow me to style you, just once.

Another Modern Family appearance, but sadly Julia Bowen misses with this jump suit apparatus.

I love this color, but the black belt ruins the look. With the wrong accessory, an entire outfit can go down.

The Decent

January Jones looks more classy this time around (see any picture from People's Choice Awards), but I can't help but think curtain. The silhouette is lovely though.

I love the color purple, but the bedazzled bust, strap and waist cut out are too much. Kim nice try though.

Again love the color and Mariska, but the material looks and is probably stiff taffeta. 

Another request for styling assistance, please choose me Natalie. The hair is very formal and satin is a wrinkles best friend.

If you can't tell, I am obsessed with Modern Family. Sofía Vergara looks great in purple, would have preferred a loose side bun and less cleavage. The design at the waist is unique, but the entire look isn't working.

The flowers, too much. Had the print been solid, I would have placed Tina Fey in the fabulous category.

Winona Ryder! You are still relevant! No to the dress, which is a actually for a wedding. No to the black purse, which is actually for little old ladies.

Love this dress..for the beach and without the belt. Not SAG carpet worthy. Mila Kunis you can do better.

Update Classic Fashion: Yo Vintage!

Vintage clothing can be risky, at times you aren't sure whether or not clothing that your mother/father used to wear will look good on you, but Yo Vintage! takes the confusion out by offering fabulous, one of kind clothing at affordable prices. Flaunt the sequins or stripes and go wild! This site offers you the vintage state of mind...

Art Scene: Girls Rock! DC

Art is near and dear to my heart - I paint and enjoy artist of all types. On Saturday, December 11th from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. you will have a chance to not only purchase fabulous art on the cheap but half of the proceeds will benefit the non profit Girls Rock! DC!

'Participating artists include Leslie Andrus, Lely Constantinople, Mike Ferguson, Sha Grogan-Brown, Floyd Knight, Tom LeGro, Gina Matchitt, Les Talusan, Lisa Marie Thalhammer, Frank Turner and others.  Artwork sold will include paintings, screen printed goods, lots of photography and more.'

Black Friday Deals: Old Town, Alexandria

STORES OPEN AT 6 A.M.; SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS FOR ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS AT OTHER LOCAL SHOPS

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Skip the craziness of crowded malls and frenzied national discount stores and get “Door Buster” Black Friday discounts from local merchants in Old Town Alexandria this year.

Shop Local Alexandria, an initiative of the Old Town Boutique District, is organizing merchants across Old Town to open early. So far 24 locally-owned stores have signed on and more are joining up every day.

Studies have shown that when shoppers buy from local independent merchants, more money stays in the local community. That means more jobs, more tax revenues for local services and more support for local charities. It also means finding products and gifts that are more unique and diverse than what shoppers find at national chains. And in today’s big box, self-service world, local merchants offer genuine one-on-one customer service.

“We may not be able to offer the most outrageous discounts,” said Amy Rutherford, owner of Red Barn Mercantile and one of the many Old Town stores opening early on Black Friday, “but we have major retailers beat when it comes to quality, service and the overall retail experience. National retailers operate from national quotas, cookie cutter merchandise and get-it-yourself models. Local merchants know their customers. They buy what their customers want and are ready to go the extra mile to build real relationships. I live in Alexandria, my store is here. My customers are my friends and neighbors.”  

In addition to special Black Friday hours, and individual in-store discounts, a collection of Old Town retailers are teaming up to provide extra savings. If you buy from one of the participating stores on Black Friday, your receipt becomes an instant 10 percent off coupon redeemable at any of the other participating stores. See the table below for participating stores. 

Some of the retailers may set a few restrictions, but there's no limit on the number of stores shoppers can visit, or the amount of savings they can rack up. For example, if you buy something from Bloomers, you'll get 10 percent off at fibre space™. But why stop there. Your full-purchase receipt can get you 10 percent off purchases at La Cuisine, Mystique Jewelers, The Christmas Attic and other Old Town stores too.
The offer is good only on Black Friday, Nov. 26. 

Shop Local Alexandria (www.ShopLocalAlexandria.com) is an initiative of the Old Town Boutique District, a grassroots organization of local independent retailers dedicated to promoting historic Old Town Alexandria. For more information about the Old Town Boutique District or other events, visit 

OldTownBoutiqueDistrict.com.

Click link for a list of stores participating in the Black Friday Sale 
(* offer special 10 percent off with receipt discount)

Free Giveaway - CSN Stores

Yes you read correctly - FREE giveaway! One of my fellow bloggers, is hosting a free giveaway from the company CSN Stores. There are a couple of fun things to do to be entered into the giveaway. Please go to her blog to read the rules and regulations! The prize a $35 promo code to use at any one of their 200+ stores. You can't go wrong with free, so try your luck out!

Fall/Winter Style Must Haves

November is almost over and December is fast approaching. No matter where you live - whether in a mild or cold climate it's fun to fall into fall style! Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you have to slack off on your wardrobe, embrace the chill in the air with great wardrobe choices. With these steps you will be looking effortless (key!) and chic in no time.

Oversized cardigans and sweater wraps - Lucky Brand and Victoria's Secret carry some of the best quality and affordable sweaters around.                              

Boots - both tall and ankle length. DSW and Payless offer a wide selection for the shoe concessioner.

You need that one stand out piece - why not let it be your coat. Try a pea coat in a vibrant hue or a leather jacket. Both are available at Victoria's Secret and Macy's.

Let't not forget the basics, pair with dark wash jeans in a skinny or straight leg cut and your possibilities are endless. Lucky Brand's jeans are made to fit women with curvy physique - your calf will not get stuck in these 

jeans!!

Remember these basics can be mixed and matched to your hearts desire. It's okay to choose color - but keep the colors on the cooler end of the spectrum. Simple and  effortless - these tips will keep you warm and stylish for the season.