Recently, the Washington Post Magazine featured some local friends in the design community; Dana Ayanna Greaves of Artistic Aya, the gentlemen of Hugh & Crye and the lovely ladies-turned-designers at Treasury Boutique. All well deserving of the notoriety, and nice to see some off the radar talent getting real recognition.

Check out this video for ArtAya, Dana Ayanna Greaves newest endeavour and be sure to snag some designs from these talented Washingtonians.

All photos by Chris Svetlik.

Last night, The Pink Line Project presented PM@ The TM: Mod Madness at the Textile Museum.  The event fit nicely with the Textile Museum’s current exhibit of textile designs from the 1950s and 1960s, “Art by the Yard: Women Design Mid-Century Britain”. The Mad Men craze is everywhere you turn and Mod Madness further spotlighted the phenom. Event goers dressed in their best interpretation of the period’s pieces, all competing for the title, “best mid-century dressed.”  The whole glamorous-yet-conservative Betty Draper-look was prevalent, as was the fedora. And, of course, there were cocktails–Gin Rickey’s to be exact. The rain held off as guests poured in, gallivanting around the museum’s interiors and the courtyard, enjoying tours led by WE ARE SCIENCE and music by DJ Jahsonic.

Photos by Tracy Clayton

Last night, a Mr. Jason Wu met his maker—sort of. Last night’s Phillips After 5 event was centered around the connection between Robert Ryman’s current exhibit, Variations and Improvisations and fashion designer Jason Wu. Wu, the White House darling, recently named Robert Ryman’s works as inspiration for his fall 2010 collection for TSE. Neiman Marcus provided Jason Wu and TSE pieces worn by models and attendees were welcomed to participate in a Wu/Ryman scavenger hunt with questions like, “Upon graduating from Parson The New School for Design, Jason Wu Interned For…” and “Find Project Beltway’s Rachel Cothran. Ask her who she is wearing.” (more…)

What exactly is Seersucker?

That was the question I asked myself when I first encountered Dandies and Quaintrelles’ Seersucker Social. It turns out seersucker is an all-cotton fabric made with a slack tension weave that gives it that puckered or wrinkled look. It’s a fabric normally used for spring and summer wear and popular among Southerners. Former U.S. Senator Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) also helped revive its popularity inside the Beltway.

To bring in some good ol’ Southern style into the halls of Congress, Lott started Seersucker Thursday held every June, in which Senators wear seersucker suits. (more…)

Images: courtest of the Phillip’s Collection and New York Magazine.

Needless to say, if you mention the name Jason Wu, Washingtonians swoon. The American fashion designer grew into a household name shortly after becoming the darling of a certain First Lady. Michelle Obama purchased four Jason Wu dresses for the campaign trail and created a frenzy over the now iconic white chiffon one-shouldered frock she wore on  inauguration night. (more…)

Philippa P.B. Hughes of the Pink Line Project is a busy woman, especially this week. The Pink Line Project is behind The Temporium, a design pop-up shop that opens this week in the former R.L. Christian Library also known as the H Street Kiosk. The Temporium will feature some of DC’s best designers including; Derringer Friday, de*nada, Dana Ayanna Greaves , UESAGOODS, Hugh & Crye, Bill Johnson and Kristi Love. Rather than operating within one night, the pop-up shop is extended, stretching into August, blending the line between the temporary and permanent. The opening weekend will feature nightly performances, a chance to meet the designers and of course, the opportunity to shop.

The Temporium stems from the DC Office of Planning’s idea of a temporary urbanism intiative and the Creative DC Action Agenda, working with artists and local creatives to transform urban spaces. The initiative has created a surge in pop-up urbanism and actionomics theory (click here to see our recent coverage of Actionomics).

Interview and additional info after the jump. (more…)

After last week it is clear that Brazil isn’t only getting noted attention in South Africa. On June 24th, Toucan Boutique hosted a fashion rooftop party at The Dovan House to launch their new Brazilian swimsuit line.

Toucan Boutique was established when a mother and her daughter wanted to bring their Brazilian styles to the upper east side of America. Their boutique features a variety of “new generation of designers” who are both American and international. (more…)

The newly founded Worn Magazine is hard at work planning the Fall/Winter 2010 issue. However, in order to actually see a Fall/Winter issue, Worn needs your help. Sunday, June 27, from 4-8pm, Worn Magazine will host the Worn Magazine Summer “Scotch Hop” Fundraiser. The event will be held on the rooftop of Kalorama Lofts and will feature music from DJ Keenan, enough PBR to satisfy your soul and dangerously delicious punch concocted by Lukas Smith of Marvin. Your $10 ticket sets you up with free cocktails and a complimentary magazine. If you already have Worn Magazine, you can pick up a copy for a friend.

On the off chance that you have been living under a rock for the past few months and don’t know what  Worn Magazine is, now is your chance to check it out. The part art photography, part fashion print magazine and blog is the intrepid venture from editor-in-chief, Nicole Aguirre and photographer extraordinaire Joshua Yospyn. Worn’s aim is to bring greater fashion, art and style to the District. Certainly something some DC residents balk at, the magazine is an earnest attempt to broach sartorialist photography and commentary to the often stifled and reserved DC fashion scene.

Come out and support the arts on June 27th.  You can purchase tickets at http://wornmagazine.eventbrite.com

Source: Worn

Words by Jordan + Matt

Photography by Max Cook

This past Saturday, hundreds of DC residents gathered in Meridian Park, toting their finest velocipedes and dressed in their most breathable seersucker, to participate in the first Seersucker Social organized by the Dandies and Quaintrelles. Riding on the success of last fall’s Tweed Ride, this past Saturday saw over 300 riders who came out to battle the suffocating DC humidity, traveling from Meridian Park to the bountiful grounds of Hillwood Estate.

Roughly 450 seersucker wearing Washingtonians came out for the Social portion of the day, which encouraged DC’s finest to sip on delectable Hendricks cocktails, take a turn through the Japanese rose gardens, show off their best putting techniques and socialize over friendly games of croquet. The questionable DC weather miraculously held off for the event, allowing the hundreds of attendees to gather on the beautiful lawn of Hillwood Estate to people watch and chatter while their bicycles (or heaven forbid, automobiles) remained parked out front.

The Seersucker Social proves a point; DC is poised and ready for events that embody more than just a party for a party’s sake. Sir Eric Channing Brewer’s event fused the thriving DC bicycle culture with the creativity of fashionable DC residents. So a hip-hip hooray and all that jazz for a successful Seersucker Social and a toast to future rides around this fine town put forth by the Dandies and Quaintrelles.

– Jordan (the non-rider aka cheater)

Photography by Max Cook

by Jim Darling

Amidst the World Cup fervor that has swept DC, did you notice an air of dandiness leisurely wafting around the District on Saturday? The fine gentlemen and ladies from Dandies and Quaintrelles are the folks responsible. Parlaying off the success of the widely acclaimed Tweed Ride, these purveyors of retro-forward styling organized the first ever Seersucker Social Bike Ride and Lawn Party, an event that helped to bring out the southern charm in all of us.

Departing from Meridian Hill park, the dandified participants headed off through the city,down into Rockcreek Park, and finally culminated the ride at the exquisite Hillwood Estate in Van Ness.  Upon arrival wheelmen and ladies were greeted by bike valet services provided by the lads from Hugh and Crye.

Despite cycling at the most leisurely of paces, most participants were well in need of some cool refreshments upon arrival.  In keeping with their graceful manners, D&Q had delicate finger foods, and a variety of imbibables readily at hand.  Mixologist’s from Hendrick’s Gin were busy hand crafting delicious cucumber cocktails while Me n’ Yu served up a refreshing and bubbly punch.  Some party goers enjoyed matches badminton and croquet, while others opted to leisurely peruse the Estate’s twenty-five acre grounds, or relax and listen to the live music.

Fantastic time was had by all and a heartfelt thanks to Dandies and Quaintrelles for putting on yet another memorable social cycling event.

– Matt (the rider)

Photography by Jim Darling