Pssst. We’ve Got Your Spring Fashion Sneak Peaks!

Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Hello, runway. / Photo credit: Lorin Drinkard

Like they say, fourth time’s the charm.

This week, Crystal City hosts the returning fashion frenzy of an event – Crystal Couture. Through Friday night, more than 40 designers from NoVA, D.C. and Maryland are strutting their latest and greatest spring lines on the runway for our viewing pleasure.

Five evenings of discounted duds, runway shows, hot jams and more. And the best part? It’s all open to the public and you don’t need your wallet to get in. Although after seeing some of the major trunk sales, you will be pulling it out faster than you can say,

“Ooh, love it!” (0:54)

Last night, Philippa Hughes of the Pinkline Project graciously hostessed the runway. While waiting in between model walks, guests browsed the couture racks of gowns, tops and more. Looking to start an arm party? Oodles of bangles and bracelets on display should get you your bauble fill. Other event highlights: complimentary henna tattoos and Paul Mitchell makeovers.

Now, onto the c-l-o-t-h-e-s. Check out snapshots of the Beltway (and beyond!) designers’ hottest looks for after winter. Also known as coming-out-of-hibernation time.

Ibhana Creations
From black and white graphic prints to exposed zippers, this international line (with a local boutique in Bethesda) added simple yet lovely touches to classic styles. Our favorite piece = a drapey, muted green jacket.

A sharp black dress from Ibhana Creations. Photo credit: Amol Pandit

Another Ibhana Creations design on the runway. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

The selected spring collection. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

South Moon Under
With fashion-forward stylings and an eclectic spin on things, South Moon Under showcased some clothes that make us wish all this dreary/almost snowy weather was dunzo. Think tribal + tropic + pops of coral. To find a NoVA store near you, click here.

Tribal pants, anyone? / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

Another warm(er) weather look from South Moon. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

Jeans get a major boost with a flirty top. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

Nude hues + tie-waist shorts. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

Best piece: a vacay-inspired rompsuit (part romper, part jumpsuit). / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

The C.A.T. Walk Boutique
Offering a range of sizes (from 0 to 26) in new and consignment pieces, plus fantastic accessories and shoes, The C.A.T. Walk Boutique represents the D.C. fashion scene. Stripes, purple tones, sequins and black touches make appearances in their runway walk. Bonus: check out the sleeveless grey hooded cape in photo #2. You’re welcome.

One shoulder, stripey goodness. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

Note to self: buy this. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

The C.A.T. Walk's lavender/deep purple look. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

Satin + shimmer. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

Ugglee Collection
Samuel Mintah, the brains behind Ugglee, presented an assortment of looks on the runway. From monogrammed tops and cut-out shoulders to animal print and menswear pieces, Ugglee Collection brings originality and spice for spring inspiration. Hear Mintah share about his designs at this link.

Pastels take center stage. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

Maxi-mum style appeal. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

The Ugglee Collection mixes hearts + stripes. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

A look for men by Ugglee. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

Ke’Chic Boutique
Punchy lipstick, trenches and bridal-wear looks hit the runway to show off this College Park boutique’s collection. We’re loving their sleeveless pieces and mile-high heels. For more stylish Ke’Chic options, visit their website here.

That's a wrap. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

A swingy houndstooth coat from Ke'Chic. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

Calling all brides. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit

For Crystal Couture’s upcoming runway schedule of events, check out their site here.

–Lorin Drinkard

The Scene: Crystal Couture Returning to the Runway

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

Crystal Couture 2010 (Crystal City BID)

Hello there, shoppers! Great news for those who need a little more than the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day and the Oscars to make their February fabulous: Crystal City’s free fashion event Crystal Couture returns to NoVA for the third consecutive year next week, Feb. 1-5.

Nightly from 6-10 p.m., the Crystal City Shops’ former food court will play host to runway shows and 20 pop-up boutiques (including popular local designers Natalia Sanz and Elizabeth St. John among others, and a wide variety of favorite area retailers  like Pacers Running Stores and Persnickety Bride), while participants partake in free snacks, cocktails, makeovers, body art and more. The best part: The new venue means that the event is not only METRO-accessible but, fashionistas, you won’t have to step out into the February elements to get to all the fun.

For the first year ever, celebrity hosts will also add to the festivities. Pinkline founder Philippa Hughes kicks things off as the opening-night emcee. Wednesday welcomes local celebrity and America’s Next Top Model contestant Bianca Chardei back to the runway as host for the evening. DC Magazine’s Editor in Chief Karen Sommer Shallet emcees on Thursday and Sarah Fraser from HOT 99.5 hosts Friday’s special Go Red for Women night, raising awareness for heart disease. The closing of Couture will be led by Bisnow – The Scene.

To learn more, visit crystalcity.org.

Happy shopping!

–Natalie Kaar

PS. Last call for fabulous discounts on facials at Specialicious.

Great Deals to Warm Your Heart and Banish Your Weather Woes

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, February 5th, 2010

Hello, hello shoppers! Natalie and I have been giving you the dish on the best Valentine’s Day gift ideas for your other half, but perhaps you don’t have a Valentine. That’s still no excuse to protest this holiday! There are tons of deals right now so you can treat yourself and feel all the love, without feeling the guilt.

It’s that time of year again, and Neiman Marcus has slashed prices on fall/winter items to welcome the new spring lines. Both in stores and online, Neimans currently has designer pieces from Stella McCartney, Nicole Miller, 3.1 Phillip Lim and other top designers marked up to 75 percent off! If you shop at their online store, you can even get free shipping for orders totaling over $200 with the code “FEBSHIP”. Neimans is also having their Pink Sale, which means that you can snag great deals on luxurious home goods like linens and flatware, too. It couldn’t be easier to indulge!

With Neiman Marcus on the brain, my mind quickly considered their offspring, and my favorite, Cusp. You can receive free shipping from their online store for any purchase with the code “CUSPLOVE”. I can certainly welcome spring with this new pair of DVF sandals (reg. $280, on sale for $65) or this Tory Burch pair (great neutral color; reg. $395, now $198) on my feet.

Rampage Swimsuit from South Moon Under

If you need something to team up with your sizzling new sandals, I recommend checking out South Moon Under. They’re having a killer sale featuring dozens of smokin’ items. You can even find some spring-worthy duds like sundresses and swimsuits offered for less than you’d expect. You know you’re going to need them in a few months, so why not take the plunge today at such a steal? I spotted the hot little Rampage number to the right for only $31.20. That’s 70 percent off their original price of $104! Enter the code “EXTRA30″ and you can get an additional 30 percent off sale items. With that deal, the suit is a must at only $21.84!

For those of you who are looking forward to warmer weather (everyone, right?), I also suggest heating things up by popping over to Bebe at Tysons Corner Center soon. The Kardashian sisters have teamed up with Bebe to design an exclusive line for the store that will debut in NoVA on February 11. With the sisters owning Dash stores in California and Florida, hopefully some of that heat will find its way to our frozen tundra.

I hope you stay warm this weekend with dreams of tropical weather and pina coladas. And if that doesn’t work, result to retail therapy and hit up some of those scorching sales on your computer.

Unfortunately, this weather has had some impact on the amazing events that were planned for this weekend. Here are some quick updates: As Natalie mentioned yesterday, next weekend you can look forward to the Old Town Boutique District Warehouse Sale, which has been rescheduled for February 13. The Engaged! Bridal Event that was originally scheduled for this evening has been rescheduled for March 28.  And as for Crystal Couture, keep following their tweets at  twitter.com/ccbid for updates on the events scheduled for tonight and tomorrow.

– Devon Carter

Events Planned Prior to Snow Predictions

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Hey there, shoppers! Is today’s weekend forecast making you a bit blue? Same here, especially because there just about couldn’t be a better weekend in terms of the variety of events scheduled. (My heart goes out to all of the event organizers and presenters — what a headache the weather is to them!)

First, of course, Crystal Couture is scheduled to continue each evening through Saturday. I just called The Crystal City BID to see if any decisions have been made yet regarding Friday and Saturday evening. I was told that they expect to make a decision tomorrow by 2 p.m. Check twitter.com/ccbid for updates.

Fox 5 reports on Crystal Couture:

As for the legendary Old Town Boutique District’s Warehouse Sale, it’s already been rescheduled for Feb. 13, same time, same place.

When it comes to bridal events, first, there’s the Engaged! Bridal Event planned for tomorrow evening, from 5 to 10 p.m., which is to offer attendees the chance to explore four of D.C.’s top wedding venues (The Four Seasons Hotel, The Hay-Adams, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis Hotel and The Willard Intercontinental Hotel), see how each looks when all set up for a wedding and chat with the vendors who make all the magic happen. There are even to be limo buses on hand to take guests from venue to venue, thanks to Reston Limo. Tickets are $65 and are only offered online in advance. So far, it appears to be still on, but I’d call (703-485-4878) and check the Web site tomorrow to see if that’s still the case.

Also, a friend just told me about another exciting bridal event that’s planned for Saturday to which Once Wed is offering FREE tickets (reg. $25 each): The Washington D.C. Couture Wedding Consortium’s 2nd Annual Luxury Bridal Show at Decatur House. From 1 to 4 p.m., the event is to feature the latest couture designs from The Cotton Bride and Punk Rock Bride, the opportunity to chat with over 20 vendors and more. I called the Consortium (1-800-768-8814) and left a message to see about whether or not there has been a change in plans … no word yet.

Hopefully whatever plans are squashed for this weekend will be rescheduled for another time soon, in Warehouse Sale fashion.

Looking ahead further … Gossip on 23rd and Break the Cycle Young Professionals are hosting a trunk show next Thursday evening featuring the latest Gossip fashions at the neighboring Tortoise & Hare Bar & Grille. The event will honor Dating Violence Awareness Month and the Have a Heart Campaign. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, and proceeds will benefit Break the Cycle, a nonprofit dedicated to combating abuse. Gossip is also donating 20 percent of profits from the event. Complimentary appetizers will be served, and Tortoise & Hare is offering various drink specials plus 20-percent discounts on all food purchases. Plus, there will be a prize drawing to win one of 10 Gossip gift bags (valued at $30 to $50). Reserve your spot today.

Ps. If you’re still feeling blue, I suggest ordering yourself or your sweetie something nice at Gilt today; shipping is free with guaranteed delivery by Feb. 14!

Exciting News for Area Brides-to-Be Plus Super Sales for All

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

(www.dailycandy.com/weddings)

Good morning, shoppers! Can you believe we’re to get more snow today? Ugh. Fortunately, there is happy news to share when it comes to another subject having to do with white stuff … Daily Candy has just unveiled their latest site, Daily Candy Weddings! And, not only that, but they’ve teamed up with Crate & Barrel to offer the $100,000 Ultimate Wedding Contest! All of the details are here, including the scoop on the seriously awesome prizes for the runners-up, including the honorable mention winner.

That’s not the only good news to share today, though. Get a load of these sales:

Bluenile.com: The code “JEWELRY10″ will score you a 10-percent discount on the site’s Top 10 Valentine’s Day Gifts.

Chickdowntown.com: The code “CD70″ equals 70-percent savings on regular-priced items, and the code “ADD40″ means an additional 40-percent discount on already-reduced items through 11:50 p.m. this Thursday. NOTE: All sales are final.

Esteelauder.com: The site is currently offering a free gift (worth $125) with any purchase of $39.50 or more.

Shoptheshoebox.com: Everything site-wide is selling at up to 50 percent off! (Dear hubby, I spy some leopard Stuart Weitzman pumps and embellished Kate Spade flats with my name on them.)

Skinstore.com: The code “LUV20″ will snag you a 20-percent discount on a boatload of skincare and other beauty items site-wide. Speaking of skincare, if you haven’t entered our Sensational Winter Skin Contest, do so now. For simply sharing your winter skin saviors, you could win a $100 gift card to Beau Totale Salon & Spa!

Oh, and a few reminders:

First, remember Crystal Couture is happening this week. Were any of you able to check out the first-night festivities last evening?

Second, ladies, don’t forget that this Saturday is the Old Town Boutique District’s Warehouse Sale! You DO NOT want to miss it!

Third, the wait is almost over. Tomorrow night, we’ll be able to shop the winning line of Launch My Line at 10 p.m. on Rue La La, right after the show (Bravo, 9 p.m.)!

Ps. Speaking of fashion-focused television, did any of you catch the premiere of Kell on Earth last night?

Almost Catwalk Time in Crystal City

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, January 25th, 2010

(Crystal City BID)

Good morning, shoppers! Here’s hoping you all had a fabulous weekend and aren’t too tired from celebrating the Saints’ victory last night. After all, you’d better be ready to celebrate again very soon. Crystal Couture is back in Crystal City next Monday, Feb. 1, through Saturday, Feb. 6 — 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily!

Building upon the success of last year’s Crystal Couture debut, The Crystal City Business Improvement District will again transform an open retail space (at the corner of 23rd St. and S. Crystal Drive) into a runway, boutique and night club — complete with trunk shows, live theater, local DJs, body painting, dancing, free snacks, an open bar, complimentary makeovers and more. Over 30 designers/boutiques will be presented on the runway nightly, over 50 overall. And there will even be appearances by two contestants of America’s Next Top Model. The best part: The entire event is FREE!

This year’s theme is “Jungle, Jeans, Tats and Tees” (think animal/island prints, denim, body art and t-shirts), and you’re invited into the center of the action. The event organizers are calling for fashion designers of all skill levels to submit proposals for custom t-shirt and/or jean designs now.

For the full event scoop, click here. And, make sure to keep track of late-breaking updates by following The Crystal City BID on twitter at twitter.com/ccbid.

Ps. Today is the last day to save 50 percent on winter bedding at smartbargains.com. You may also snag three pairs of select Calvin Klein women’s underwear for just $24 and save 20 percent on orders of $75 or more at bananarepublic.com with the code “BRSAVE20″.

Marking the Calendar for Crystal Couture

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

Northern Virginia Fashionistas, boy, February has become a busy month for you! Not only is the start of NOVA Fashion Week just 11 days away; Crystal Couture, a FREE and fabulous two-week extravaganza of fun and fashion for the whole family, starts in just two days!

From this Friday, Feb. 13, through Saturday, Feb. 28, 2450 Crystal Drive in Arlington will play home to a whole host of exciting events — from sample sales to trunk and runway shows hosted by designers, local boutiques (including Pink & Brown, Farinelli’s, Gossip on 23rd and many more) as well as area salons. What I’m really looking forward to are Crystal Couture’s themed evenings, such as “Glam Garments Gone Green” (2/16, 6 to 10 p.m.), and “Metro Men Monday” (2/23, 6 to 10 p.m.), featuring unique beverages and bites in addition to exciting fashions and lively music.

The best part: You don’t even need a ticket to attend; aside from a cash bar, the event is free! Yes, free!

For the full schedule, parking information and more, click here.