01.01.10

01. 01. 10

the DISTRICT relaunch coming soon...

Kelly is Always Following Bey's Lead...sheesh

Kelly Rowland is ALWAYS following Beyonce Knowles lead! Since Beyonce read our post about ILORI sunglasses boutique and decided to go shopping there in a recent post, Kelly also decided to check out our beloved blog!

Kel took her inspiration from the District fan Kelly and Lala Vasquez's battle royale "Who Wore it Best". Kelly Rowland loved the post so much she decided to get an Adam romper as well.

Singer, television host, and former member of Destiny's Child, Kelly Rowland was seen in this ultra popular Adam jumper at her performance at Tao in Las Vegas last night.

Thanks for reading the District Kelly!

Didn't want to say it but....WE TOLD YOU SO!

I didn't want to say it but...WE TOLD YOU SO! Recently DistriCt staffers reported on a shopping event at new area sunglasses boutique ILORI. We promised that this boutique offers the most exclusive sunglasses shopping experience.

Yesterday, Superstar recording artist Beyonce Knowles was seen shopping at ILORI on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles with her nephew taking part in ILORI's expertly crafted shopping experience for exclusive shoppers of stylish frames.

I knew Beyonce read the DistriCt....

If you haven't had the opportunity to check them out, and have the experience yourself, head to ILORI Chevy Chase located at the Shops at Wisconsin in Chevy Chase.

Shop Op: ILORI

Yesterday I attended an amazing after hours event at new area sunglasses boutique ILORI. The champagne reception to celebrate the opening of their newest location in Chevy Chase was well attended and the knowledgeable Style Consultants were on hand to not only supply the savory bubbly but to provide an unparalleled personal shopping experience.

ILORI even gives its clients the opportunity to host their own private shopping events. You can arrange it with the store to invite a a small group of friends to come in to privately shop for shades with a personal style consultant.

Or just stop by, take a seat, enjoy the smell of fresh flowers and prepare to be launched into an exciting experience where Style Consultants will help you discover the right sunglasses that best suit your facial features and teach you the basics of building a sunglass wardrobe.

ON THE RUNWAY...

ILORI boasts exclusive frames like these Lanvin sunglasses (above) .

These frames were shown on the runway in Lanvin's Resort 2010 collection (below)

ILORI not only carries Lanvin, but other designer frames like Balenciaga, Badgley Mischka, Prada, Tom Ford and many more. The boutique showcases designs by fashion visionaries and features exclusive styles as well as limited edition frames.

THE SPACE...

ILORI is designed as an expertly curated space. Instead of coming into a space where sunglasses are behind a glass, store manager Megan Wray says ILORI “works the opposite”. The space acts as a museum exhibit of sorts where clients can touch and explore the merchandise in what feels like a style exhibit.

Check out more pictures of the space below...

TRENDSPOTTING...

From left to right: Chloe, Persol, Oliver Peoples

Clear resin frames seem to be all the rage this season. These fashion forward frames will propel you lightyears ahhead of the masses.

STAFF PICKS...

ILORI Manager Megan loves these loves these Lanvin frames

Style Consultant Tonisha looks fetching in these futuristic frames

The event was also to help a good cause. ILORI's Trade In and Trade Up promotion allows you to trade in your old pair of eyewear and receive $50 off the season's must-have sunglass styles! Donated frames will be given to OneSight, a family of organizations devoted to helping those in need.

Visit them at the Shops at Wisconsin Place 5330 Western Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815

http://www.iloristyle.com/

The Look: Essence Music Festival

Over the holiday weekend I couldn't attend the 15th anniversary of the Essence Music Festival, however DistriCt fan Kelly (above) was in attendance representing for the District family and attending the events.

Kel attended NBA star Chris Paul's CP3 Foundation charity event wearing a pink ADAM jumpsuit. That same weekend former MTV VJ and VH1 Charm School host LaLa Vazquez wore the same ADAM jumpsuit to another Essence Music Fest event.

The ADAM 100% silk jumpsuit is bubblegum pink with a draped shawl collar neck.

The jumpsuit retails for $345 and can be found at Intermix
So who wore it best? DistriCt fan Kelly or television personality LaLa Vazquez? Take the poll.

Shop Op: Mint Condition

Looking for priceless items that look fresh from the mint? The head to Mint Condition, a new area consignment shop, in Arlington, VA. The converted row house with its mint green walls hosts a bevy of top designers with price tags suitable for penny pinchers with a passion for fashion.

Owner Toni Henderson has adopted an organized shopping style for customers where pieces are organized by type, then size and then color, making it easy for shoppers to pick out a pair of Paige Denim jeans or a Catherine Malandrino dress.

The shop is also consigner friendly as they split profits fifty-fifty, regularly mail checks, and gives people a week to claim items after the selling period before they’re donated.

Check them out at 114 South Royal Street, Alexandria (703-836-6468)

shopmintcondition.com

Beach Bumming...

Divorces are messy so its pretty understandable that singer Kelis decided to hit the beach to get away from the hoopla surrounding her pregnancy and recent separation from rapper Nas. According to TMZ.com things aren't going well in splitsville, Kelis is running into financial trouble as her estranged husband was the primary breadwinner.

Kelis said, "My survival is based on [Nas'] will at this time. If he does not want to pay for an expense, it does not get paid."

Kelis also said she's entitled to maintain the lifestyle to which she became accustomed during their marriage -- they have five homes, fly first class, go to fancy restaurants, and on and on.

"There were many expensive pieces [of jewelry] such as a princess-cut diamond tennis bracelet that was recently appraised for $190,000. My engagement ring is an approximately nine-carat cushion cut solitaire. I have numerous watches...such as Cartier, Rolex, Frank Muller and Chopard."

That may explain why Kelis sported a Forever 21 swimsuit (above) at the beach with her friends...

The swimsuit Kelis is wearing if Forever 21's Geo Studded Bandeau top and Bikini bottom. Both pieces retail for $12.80.

This summer Forever 21 introduced swimsuits to their collection of low-cost fashion goodies. Check out some more 80's retro swimsuits below that wont break the bank.

Flashback Bandeau Top and Bikini Bottom ($12.80 each)

Neom Fun Trim Monokini ($22.80)

Peacock Feather Monokini ($22.80)

Jumping Around Solo

My favorite fashionista and up and coming songstress Solange Knowles is continuing to strike out on her own! She was seen performing on stage alongside rock band Chairlift at Tennessee's 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Outfitted in a one-piece Rapscallion by Samantha Peet jumper, Solo rocked out at the four-day, multi-stage camping festival which is held on a700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee every June.

You can pick up your own Rapscallion jumper at your nearest Urban Outfitters. The one Solange wore retails for $58.00.

While your there, pickup a few more...

Like this BDG Strapless Button-front Jumper ($58)

Or this Ecote Strapless Smocked Jumper ($58)

Or this Kimchi Blue Strapless Tie Front Jumper ($58)

Or this Silence & Noise Knot Front Jumper ($48)

Emerald City at MTV Movie Awards

Dressing for the MTV Movie Awards is never a really straight-forward situation. Its not ultra-glam like the Oscars or rock & roll like the VMAs. The Movie awards, one of the lesser watched award shows has everyone from actresses, to models, to musicians present.

British Actress Sienna Miller was right on the money in a money-green long sleeved sparkling mini-dress. The dress is from her own line Twenty8Twelve

The dress boasted a plunging-V in the back and Swarovski crystals. Sienna was definitely seen in green on the red carpet this week.

D you want to recreate the look? Head to American Apparel in Georgetown and pick up the Foil Print Nylon Spandex Micro Mesh long sleeve mini dress in Metallic Teal (below). The dress retails for $48.

Boutique Scene: Passport

PASSPORT

2003 11th Street NW

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Seriously. If you could take your passport and go anywhere, WHERE would you go? How about home. That's what the owner of DC boutique Passport, Kourosh Chitsaz, did. When he wanted to open up a boutique in the U St. area with an international feel, he decided to open it up in his home.

That's right Kourosh renovated his home in Northwest Washington, DC and made it into a hip and trendy boutique with a unique concept. After working in the UK in the fashion industry, Kourosh found himself in Washington, DC living in a historic row house next door to his family owned restaurant and club Bohemian Caverns.

From his conveniently located home, he managed the DC landmark. After Bohemian Caverns underwent a management change, Kourosh decided to turn his home into "Passport" which opened May 4th, 2008.

The DistriCt interviewed Kourosh Chitsaz about Psssport, here's what he had to say:


DISTRICT: How did you come up with the name Passport

KHOUROSH: Well, in order to travel every person needs to carry a passport. It's a form of personal identification, but the pages also tell a story about where that person has been and what they are about. A passport is a reflection of a persons individuality and that is what the Boutique is all about: Individuality.

DC: How do you decide what designers/merchandise you carry?
KC: The designers are hand picked from all around the globe in order to give the customers a sense of uniqueness.Therefore, I try to pick designers that are not in the mass market.When a customer buys a piece from Passport, they generally will not see anybody in Washington DC with the same style.


DC: What's the most fabulous piece/item you have in the store right now?
KC: Well for ladies, I have a gorgeous yellow dress from an Australian designer that is to die for, it is perfect for the warm weather.As for men, it is hard to identify one piece, there are so many... I would have to say the linen jacket with the funky layered collar by one of the European lines.

DC: How do you stay ahead of the competition?

KC:I stay ahead of the competition by not following trends and continually looking for styles that our outside the box.


DC: What can a shopper expect from a "Passport" experience?

KC: Customers can expect a relaxed atmosphere without pressure and there is always a martini or espresso waiting to be served. For the busy ladies and gents, Passport provides a Personal Shopping Service, this allows the customer to sit back and be pampered.

Check out pictures of Passport's unique space below...

Kourosh's former living room now serves as the men's floor Upstairs on the women's floor, Khourosh has kept the exposed brick indicative of DC row houses

Every space of Passport is used as merchandising space

Kourosh does a great job with using unique merchandising techniques; like this distressed leather trench on the back of this rocking chair.

The second floor bar allows customers to have a drink while they shop

Cool details like antique chairs adorn the space.

Street Chic: Easter Egg Hunt

This weekend I was shopping in Georgetown and as I pillaged the sale section of Urban Outfitters this Easter egg-colored DistriCt resident caught my eye.

23-year old Kenny is an Urban Outfitters employee and was looking especially great on this bright and sunny Saturday. He made sure to play off the color palette of his buffalo plaid shirt.
With a pink G-Shock watch (below) and purple high-tops (below)

Its all in the details for our boy Kenny who describes his style as "laid back, chill, real easy".

Glad we were able to hunt down this Street Chic look!

Street Chic: Weekend Ed.

So I was at Zara Georgetown this weekend shopping for the latest designer knock-offs and I spotted Ty. She piqued my interest because people are always asking me how to rock harem pants casually well take a cue from this DistriCt resident.

Ty, a 19-year-old college student form Northwest paired the pants with a pale pink tank and a heather grey cardigan.

Ty who describes her styles as "Sophisticated-classic-vintage meets modern" was right on the money! She looked weekend glam and ready for a shopping day

Matthew Williamson for H&M May 14th!

H&M kicks off another capsule collection at its stores this Thursday with its Matthew Williamson for H&M collection. The collection which launched at select stores over the past month will be at all H&M stores this Thursday.

Williamson who is known for his prints said this about the collection


“I wanted to create a strong urban collection fused with the brand’s signature symbols and shapes. It’s been fascinating to search back through my archives to isolate the most iconic pieces, then rework them for H&M. Colour is one of the defining aspects of my signature style, I focused on the iconic peacock motif seen across my collections to develop a palette of blues, chartreuse and emerald. The spirit of the collection is both covetable and precious"

Celebs are already big fans of the Williamson capsule collection. Check out Katy Perry at an H&M event in the peacock dress with black tights (above)

Style maven Mischa Barton is also a fan of the dress. She achieves a more casual look with retro frames and Alexander McQueen sling back peep-toe booties (above)

The biggest supporter of all seems to be Nicky Hilton she also has the peacock dress (above) as well as many other pieces from the collection.

Here she is in the bronze motorcycle jacket (below)

And here she is in the fuchsia peacock cardigan (below)

Head to your nearest H&M this Thursday (as early as possible) so you can snag a few pieces from this collection. The pieces go from day to night and from casual to glam.

Sheer Genius!

The film X-Men Origins Wolverine opened this weekend and screen siren Halle Berry was seen at the premiere last week rocking this black sheath Herve Leger dress with sheer insets. The look was SHEER genius as it gave a lot of sexy while hiding a lot of skin.

Looking to recreate this $1300 piece, head to your nearest American Apparel

American Apparel's Sweetheart Two-Toned Mini Dress retails for $46. The sexy mini dress features a sweetheart neckline, where sheer Nylon Spandex Micro-Mesh (on top) and form-fitting Nylon Tricot (on bottom) meet.

You may be able to catch an X-MAN or two in this get-up, as your EX-BF will be wondering why you two are no longer together when he catches a glimpse of you in this.