Bethesda Fashion Week: October 2-9

Bethesda Row Boutique Week!

What are you falling for this season? A fringe handbag? A slouch beret? A tailored blazer? Whatever your fall fashion craving, chances are you’ll find it at Boutique Week, an entire week of fashion events, gifts with purchase, styling tips, celebrity appearances and more—all at your favorite Bethesda Row boutiques.

Events:
Saturday, October 2, all day
Celebrate the opening of Equinox
Check out the area’s newest and most stylish fitness club. Free yoga classes on Bethesda Lane. (weather permitting)

Sunday, October 3, 9am-1pm
Farm Market (behind Jaleo)
Healthy eats fuel fashion ambitions. Don’t forget to stop in at Jaleo, Assaggi or Redwood and toast a week of fashion with your BFFs!

Monday, October 4, 6-8pm
Ginger
Ginger and Annie Lou Bayly, DC editor of DailyCandy, welcome The Devil Wears Prada author Lauren Weisberger as she signs her new novel, Last Night at Chateau Marmont. Plus a White + Warren trunk show all day.

Tuesday, October 5, 5-7pm
J. McLaughlin
Meet Andrea Rodgers from AskMissA plus accessories trunk show from Kenneth Jay Lane and Lauren G. Adams, samplings from Aveda Bethesda and cocktails.
Wednesday, October 6, all day
Urban Chic
Shoshanna trunk show plus 15% off Shoshanna. See the Fall 2010 collection and meet Betsy Lowther from Fashion is Spinach. Bubbly and treats after 5pm.

Thursday, October 7, 6-8pm
Sassanova
Meet Norah O’Donnell and her husband Chef Geoff Tracy, as they sign their new bestseller BabyLove. Visit babylovefoods.com for healthy tips. Enjoy special treats along with poshbrood.com.
LouLou, all day View the Mija Jewelry collection.

Friday, October 8, 9-10pm
lululemon athletica
Join lululemon’s fitness ambassadors and MoCo Scene’s Karen Watkins and take in a Function as Fashion show. Healthy tips and fitness gifts.

Saturday, October 9,10am-7pm
Luna
Soft Joie trunk show—soft, modern and sexy knits. Bubbly and special treats with Brightest Young Things.

*Free Georgtown Cupcake when you spend $150 at participating Bethesda Row boutiques during Boutique Week.*

(Redeem at the Bethesda location October 4-8)

Present receipts dated Oct 2 – 8, 2010 totaling $150 or more from participating Bethesda Row boutiques and you will receive a card for a free Georgetown cupcake. Limit 1/person/day regardless of purchase amount. While supplies last. No rain checks. Cupcakes are available Oct 4 – Oct 8, 2010, only at the Bethesda location of Georgetown Cupcake. Participating boutiques include: Ginger, J. McLaughlin, Urban Chic, Sassanova, lululemon athletica, Luna, LouLou, Aveda and Bubbles. 

Happy Birthday, Lilly Pulitzer!

Happy Birthday to Ms. Lilly Pulitzer, the birthday girl of today September 20th!

My she continue Happily living in her"jungle" in Florida enjoying life, family, friends and the pursuit of happiness for many years to come!

Lilly's wonderful story:

It all started with a juice stand in Palm Beach. Lilly, a young, sassy New York socialite had eloped with Peter Pulitzer, grandson of the Pulitzer Prize's Joseph Pulitzer and settled in Palm Beach to live the life of the rich and famous. Peter owned several Florida citrus groves, but Lilly needed a project of her own. So in 1960, with Peter's produce, she opened a juice stand on Via Mizner, just off Worth Avenue in Palm Beach.

Lilly Pulitzer's business was a hit, but squeezing oranges, lemons, limes, and pink grapefruit made a mess of her clothes. Realizing that she needed a juice stand uniform, Lilly asked her dressmaker to design a dress that would camouflage the stains. The result? A comfortable sleeveless shift made of bright, colorful printed cotton - pink, green, yellow and orange. The dress even had custom dressmaker details like lining and lace seam bindings. It was perfect for the job and became Lilly's first Classic Shift.

Although her customers liked Lilly's juice, they loved her dress. When people began to ask if they could buy the dress, Lilly had a few more made up to sell in the stand. Soon Lilly was selling more dresses than juice, so she decided to stop squeezing and to focus on designing and selling her "Lillys." Before long, Jackie Kennedy, an old school chum, began wearing Lillys and as First Lady was featured in Life Magazine wearing a Classic Shift. Then, of course, everyone wanted one and Lilly Pulitzer became a fashion sensation.

Through the sixties and seventies, the Lilly Pulitzer line was the unofficial uniform of the affluent at play. Lilly Pulitzer stores sprang up in the favorite resorts of the jet set and Lilly's pink and green colors became the banner of the preppy lifestyle. In 1984, however, Lilly closed her doors to settle into retirement with her second husband, Enrique Rousseau (her marriage to Peter had ended in 1969) and to enjoy her grandchildren. For the rest of the decade, Lilly devotees were left to scour flea markets and re-sale shops to find their beloved vintage Lillys.

In January 1993, the Lilly Pulitzer line was revived. Now, Lilly Pulitzer is more popular than ever! The Lilly Pulitzer line is now available in 75 Signature Shops, major department stores, and fine specialty stores nationwide. Its popularity continues to grow among those who knew it years ago and those who have just discovered the timeless fun of Lilly Pulitzer apparel.

Lilly is alive and well today. She often entertains her various family members and friends in her home in Palm Beach, which she affectionately calls "The Jungle."

Jim Bradbeer and Scott Beaumont acquired the Lilly Pulitzer trademark in 1993 and are now the company's owners. Distribution is by way of about fifty specialty shops, a catalog (available only at the specialty shops), select department stores, and through the company's new Web site.

Congratulations to Re-Lilly!

The brilliantly successful re-use concept Ms. Sue started for Lilly Pulitzer is being celebrated today, because the Re-Lilly page has reached 2,000 fans! For those of you who aren't familiar with Re-Lilly, it was created for Lilly Lovers to gather and Re-Lilly! reduce~ reuse~ re-lilly. Many fans have been recycling their favorite Lillys for generations, but now there is a portal specially designed where you can post photos of your Lilly pieces that you wish to swap, sell or give away. Your Lilly pieces should be in excellent pre-loved (pre-owned) condition or new with tags. Re-Lilly is also THE Place to also hear about Lilly Via & Specialty Store Sales! All store owners are invited to post promotions & sales here. Congratulations to Re-Lilly!

In honor of the record-breaking numbers this month, Re-Lilly is kindly hosting a lovely giveaway celebration. Entrants should visit here to become a fan of Re-Lilly and participate in the celebration!

Fall Wardrobe Sale!

Diane von Furstenberg wrap shirt dress - $100 shipped

Brand new, worn once and drycleaned. Consider wearing light color stockings (in light beige or nude) and a top underneath to perfect the working look. Originally $425 at Bloomingdales.

Lilly Pulitzer Saemus Colorblock Dress (brand new with tags!) - $135 shipped

Vibrant contrast trim offsets a pretty silk mosaic of seashells. Caftan neckline, long blouson sleeves. About 19” from waist to hem. Silk lining. Currently in stores for $248.

Bobbi Brown Bath almost Eau de Toilette , 1 oz. - $18 shipped

I just purchased this two weeks ago thinking I liked the scent, but when I got it home, on me I’m not very fond of it. Retails for $40 at Neiman Marcus and Saks.

Vineyard Vines of Georgetown invites Washingtoniette readers to attend a party our Georgetown store on Wednesday, September 15th. Lisa Birnbach, author of True Prep, will be there signing books and there will be plenty to eat and drink and loads to shop! Hope to see you there!

Love the Georgetown Cupcake Sisters!

Down-to-earth, genuine, full of smiles -- the Georgetown Cupcake founding sisters Sophie and Katherine happily take the time to truly connect with their customers face-to-face, even when the line of eager cupcake connoisseurs was stretching the entire city block back from M street last weekend. For me, it was so refreshing to see how their celebrity reputation has not tarnished their good intentions and heartfelt business whatsoever. Their show is turning the women into famous faces nationwide, yet their personalities continue to shine through, just like the success of their cupcakes and rapid growth of their business concept has never hindered the taste and quality of every cupcake that comes out of the oven.

Amidst the overabundance of distasteful reality shows airing these days, the sisters' show DC Cupcakes stands apart as a genuine glimpse of the lives and careers of two special sisters who share the stories inside their kitchen adventures and the behind growth of their business. Watch them Fridays at 10pm, and then at 10 the next morning stop by their shop where you might just see them bringing fresh cupcakes out of the oven!