Céline Spring/Resort 2012 Trunk Show at Hu’s Wear

Not many fashion houses are able to instill a frenzied cult following quite like the French house of Céline. The beauty is in the simplicity, craftsmanship, and uber-chic execution – a combination that ensures covet-ability and emptied-out boutiques. All orchestrated by the talented Phoebe Philo.

Last weekend we had the opportunity to see the Céline Spring/Resort 2012 trunk show at Hu’s Wear. I swooned over the impeccably constructed clothes as Dwayne showed me all the marvelous little details: delicately sewn pleats, laser-printed fabrics, and sorbet colors. Despite my love for the clothes, I gravitated towards the bags; Especially the colorful Trapeze bag, its royal-blue flap being one of my favorite colors.

Our photos:

Céline’s incredibly desireable Trapeze bag - I was happy it looked so harmonious accompanying my tiger-orange Proenza Schouler jacket that I bought at Hu’s Wear:

Pleats, translucence, elegance and desirability:

Oversized-floral print suit jacket, a refreshing departure from Phoebe’s minimalist style - we love it paired with this asymmetric-pleated blouse:

The now-iconic and highly-coveted Céline Boston bag:

Ginger is the guardian of Hu’s Wear:

The larger-sized Céline Trapeze bag looks great paired with Dwayne’s green hi-tops:

Examining details of the Céline Trapeze bag:

Céline Python Phantom bag:

Ginger hoping to be rewarded for all her hard work:

Ginger Root Design - Tailoring & Design Studio Opening

Our second visit to Ginger Root Design in the past week was an eye-opening and exhilarating experience. Though talented owners Kristen Swenson and Erin Derge have been tailoring and designing clothes from the English basement of 1530 U Street for awhile now, the opening of their dedicated tailoring and design studio on the second floor of the same building represents a significant step, not only for Ginger Root, but for Washington DC as well. Stylish DC’ers now have an appointment-only destination for tailoring and clothing re-design and Ginger Root has the infrastructure to kick things up a notch. Old clothes from your closet and found thrift or vintage items can now be turned into exactly what you hoped and dreamed they would be when you bought them. What we saw at Ginger Root is a testament to just how serious, hardworking, and organized an operation they are running. This is an exciting time for style in DC.

Our photos:

Kristen Swenson and Erin Derge of Ginger Root Design:

A sewing machine ready for work in the new sewing room:

Our favorite photo, a rainbow of thread spools:

Inspirations in the sewing room:

A work in progress:

We loved that Ginger Root Design produced a book with examples of their custom work:

Eric Channing Brewer of Dandies and Quaintrelles with Nicole Aguirre:

Eric’s fantastic messenger bag:

The gift bags were so cute, with illustrations by local artist Elizabeth Graeber and a measuring tape bow pin:

Butler + Claypool Pop-Up Shop at Ginger Root Design

This past Saturday we attended another successful Butler + Claypool pop-up, this time in the newly-renovated upstairs of Ginger Root Design. Nothing is more encouraging and inspiring to us than the continued success of creative businesses in Washington DC; Butler + Claypool recently completed their appointment-only showroom in Capitol Hill and Ginger Root Design is expanding their booming tailoring business (and making more room for their similarly booming retail business downstairs).

Here’s our photos from the pop-up:

Holly Thomas of Butler + Claypool is also the Washington DC Editor of Refinery 29 and one of our favorite people:

We absolutely loved Holly’s handmade shell-casing and coral necklace (we hear B+C might have more of these in stock soon):

Erin Derge is one-half of Ginger Root Design; she is wearing a necktie of her own design and earrings made by a local designer and sold at Ginger Root:

We are powerless not to photograph Cheralee Lyle of Lyle Style - even her camera strap is stylish!:

Old Friends and Style Moments at The WW Club

Last night Kate Warren of Go Kate Shoot and Elise Peterson of It’s Vintage Darling threw a great party at The Water Street Project. Live music (salsa!), performances, and great drinks. We were delighted to see so many friends!

Our photos:

Event co-organizer Kate Warren in her natural habitat:

We missed Kimee’s style and were so happy to be reunited:

Camo is going to be huge in menswear - we love the not-so-subtle message of Quincy Jones’ shoes:

Michelle of neon V magazine with Naseya of The Seventh District:

Cheralee of Lyle Style - one of our favorites:

Krystin of Be Loud Be You and 8 Vintage having a moment:

Carlis of Spicy Candy DC got new shoes:

Lauren Clark of Immortal Beloved:

Yigal Azrouël Spring 2012 Preview at Hu’s Wear

Effortlessly chic are the first words that come to mind when I think of Yigal Azrouël’s designs. The strategically placed colors, draping, and silhouettes he’s become known for are the same ones that made me a fan of his line a few years ago. Fittingly, I smiled with glee when I was invited to preview his Spring 2012 collection and get a chance to chat with him at Hu’s Wear.

Here are our pictures including some of the thoughts Yigal shared with me when showing me his clothes:

Yigal talked excitedly about his collaborations with various artists and the opening of his CUT25 flagship store in Soho, home to his latest line aimed at a younger consumer and designed by Dror:

Models Leah Øsnös and Ashley Thomas Turchin wearing strikingly contrasting colors:

A classically beautiful dress modernized with a cutout back and pleating details:

Yigal draped his cropped blazer over my shoulders (a look he loves). It was one of my favorite pieces!:

Marlene, owner of Hu’s Wear, wearing Azrouel’s cashmere and silk pleated dress, chatting with Yigal’s girlfriend:

Leah wearing a red halter dress and highly-coveted sunglasses:

Yigal tried on his removable hooded leather jacket with an old-t-shirt-soft modal cotton lining:

One of his soft spray-paint-knits for men; I told him that any girl would love to steal it from her boyfriend’s closet:

The Water Street Project

Outside The Water Street Project the temperature was 68 degrees, inside was another story. Yes the crowds added copious body heat to the venue, but it felt like the energy and optimism of the night added a few extra degrees. Growing up in the Washington DC area, events like this simply did not exist. We plan on never taking them for granted!

If you missed the grand opening last night don’t worry: the Water Street Project has another full lineup of bands tonight from 8PM to 2AM. See the schedule HERE. - UPDATE: The events tonight (4/21) have sadly been cancelled.

Our photos:

Love Brandon Hill’s Moxie - wish it existed in necklace form:

One of our favorite pieces, by Drew Storm Graham:

Our enthusiasm for Kelly Towles’ work is well documented:

That’s the work of James Kerns of Corehaus DC on the center support:

Great color in this piece by Tariq Tucker:

Yigal Azrouël at Hu’s Wear

We have long admired the sleek simplistic yet elegant and utilitarian designs of Yigal Azrouël. The opportunity to meet the Israeli-born (but NYC based) designer and see designs from his Spring 2012 collection can’t be missed. Even better, this is happening in the chic environs of Hu’s Wear, one of our favorite stores in Washington DC.

Hosted by Kelly Doolan and Fashion Washington, the Yigal Azrouël Personal Appearance and Spring 2012 Collection Preview is tonight, April 19th from 6 to 9 PM. A portion of the evening’s sales will benefit Only Make Believe.

Here are some of our favorite looks from Yigal’s Women’s and Men’s Spring 2012 Collections:

See our past Yigal Azrouël posts HERE