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Fashion Tips

May 22, 2012 10:40 AM EDT

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Study The Hyperbalist's Sinful Eveningwear Philosophy

By Us

Looking for yet another take on the right way to prep ourselves for an epic night out, we turned to Alina Gonzalez, whose diary of fashion, food, and fun — The Hyperbalist — stole our eyes some time ago. Turns out, the D.C. looker has some pretty strong opinions on the issue, favoring high-impact over high-elegance and preaching against all things cute for after-hours dressing. Dig in below.

AlinaGonzalez

Alina Gonzalez, blogger, The Hyperbalist
"In my humble opinion, what you wear to go out should always be sinfully fun and sexy. 'Romantic' is for getting engaged in a prairie field, 'sophisticated' is for daylight, and 'cute' is for brunch. As such, my no-fail, go-to 'going out' ensemble is a cropped, crisp tuxedo vest (preferably '90s vintage DKNY) paired with vintage, high-waisted, distressed Levi’s cut-offs and a metallic d’Orsay heel. Because of they way they magically elongate the legs, I whip out d’Orsay heels every time I’m dressing to impress. I think distressed denim shorts are totally underrated when it comes to eveningwear — I truly wear my Levi's every time I’m going out, dressing them up with a super-tailored top like the tuxedo vest. And because tuxedo vests give you that cool, masculine vibe, I like to keep my hair down with messy waves to play up the bedhead sex appeal. A pop of color in the form of a red vintage Moschino belt certainly won't hurt your look, along with a slight peek of a neon pink bra through your sleek vest. Jewelry-wise, I’m very minimal. One bangin' cocktail ring and a thin gold bangle, and I’m ready to go!"

Diy And Tips

May 21, 2012 6:00 AM

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7 So-Smart Tricks For Styling Summer Shorts — The Chic Way

By Holly E. Thomas

Even diehard denim fans who rock skinny jeans all summer long eventually start to feel stifled—especially come the muggy, steamy middle of July. And while we've always been smitten with cute skirts and flowy dresses for hot temps, we're also loving the fact that stylish shorts have reemerged on the scene. From classic cutoffs to tailored options and blousy silhouettes, we've racked up an impressive collection—but sometimes, we get stumped on how to style them.

Luckily, Washington has a chic crew of bloggers who can help us out. Click through to peep seven extra-stylish ladies in their summer finery, and then master their styling tips to refresh your own bevy of bottoms.

Diy And Tips

May 7, 2012 4:00 PM

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We Found It: The Most Incredibly Easy DIY You'll Ever Try

By Holly E. Thomas

We're never ones to shy away from a DIY project, but we'll admit it: Sometimes, we're lazy, and ambition alone isn't enough to propel us through a complicated 20-step process. If you know the creative doldrums we're speaking of, you'll appreciate this — the fastest, most dummy-proof DIY you'll ever come across.

Crafty blogger Geneva of A Pair & A Spare got inspired by the Jil Sander fall men's runway during a last-minute wardrobe crisis and whipped up a handy folded clutch from a white paper shopping bag. Yep, you read that right — you can make a perfect-in-a-pinch handbag with just two supplies. Click on over for the full run-through (but we're guessing you can probably figure this one out without a tutorial). (A Pair & A Spare)

Diy And Tips

Apr 30, 2012 12:15 PM

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Get Your Bra Know-How Directly From An Oprah-Approved Guru

By Holly E. Thomas

"You're wearing the wrong bra!" is probably one of the most panic-inducing fashion statements you can possibly hear. Once a well-intentioned expert plants that bug in your brain, you start to question whether you're actually a 36D or a 32A. Have you, in fact, been strapping yourself into the wrong underpinnings every day for, well, your whole life?

Washingtonian got the inside scoop from Susan Nethero, founder of lingerie retailer Intimacy, and the woman Oprah dubbed "the bra whisperer." Having met (and been fitted) by Nethero in the past, we can attest to the fact that she knows her biz. She dished her top five tips for nailing the perfect fit over on the Shop Around blog, and we suggest you take notes. Who knows? The right bra might just improve your life— or at least your look. (Washingtonian)

Diy And Tips

Jan 19, 2012 11:10 AM

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Cutest DIY Ever: Tick Tock Vintage's Painted Clutch

By Holly E. Thomas

We love a good DIY project — especially when we're crafting up something we can actually use on the regular. After all, knickknacks are cute and all, but at the end of the day, they take up precious space in our pads and they're working for the enemy in our war against clutter.

So, we were pumped when we came across this oh-so-adorable hand-painted geometric clutch from Philadelphia-based blog Tick Tock Vintage. It's on-trend and extra-useful — who doesn't have an old handbag that could use a facelift? We dig the vaguely tribal design, the spring-friendly color palette, and the fact that you could try this project with basically any size bag. What do you think? Will you try your hand at making your own painted purse? (Tick Tock Vintage)

Photo: Via Tick Tock Vintage

News

Dec 25, 2011 8:30 AM

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Your D.C. Editor Answers Style Qs, Via The Interwebs!

By Holly E. Thomas

On Thursday, your D.C. editor (that's me!) joined The Washington Post's Going Out Gurus to field your holiday fashion and beauty questions in real time. In case you missed it, you can catch the preview here and read the full transcript online, but here are a few excerpts that might come in handy for a last-minute holiday bash.

Q: "My friend is getting married on New Year’s Eve (late afternoon wedding in a church, dinner and dancing to follow), and all of my formalwear happens to be either summer-weight or black. I’m planning on buying a dress, and potentially shoes, too; the only part of the outfit I have figured out is my necklace, a pink-and-gold flower on a pearl strand. Do you have any suggestions for me?"

A: "I just posted about winter weddings, so you might find some inspiration there! But if you don’t want to buy something new, you can definitely make a black dress work — a cream tuxedo jacket or a faux fur capelet over a simple black shift would look stunning. Add some metallic pumps and a fun clutch, and you’re all set."

Q: "I only have a week left to find shoes to go with my New Year’s Eve dress! The dress is covered in gold sequins. I never wear gold, so I have no idea what colors are a good match. Help!"

A: "Fun! I’d go with pumps or ankle boots in black patent, suede, or velvet, to create interest with texture. If you want to add color, incorporate a single jewel tone, like emerald green or deep purple — those deep, rich hues coordinate beautifully with gold. Just look in your jewelry box for proof! One more tip: Steer clear of anything metallic, unless you want to look like tinsel."

Photographed by Julia Lola Wang

Outfits

Dec 19, 2011 8:27 AM

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1 Dress, 3 Ways: Winter Wedding Edition

By Holly E. Thomas

Getting a save-the-date in the mail is a truly sweet moment — it means one, maybe even two, of your pals have made a major life decision, and they want you to be a part of it. Pretty awesome, right? Sure. Except then you're faced with a major decision of your own: What are you going to wear? Winter weddings are particularly tricky, since you want to look polished and pretty but still keep it seasonally appropriate — and warm. Plus, if you're at that point where it seems like everyone is getting married, you probably have more than one wedding on the books. So, here's a little bit of joyous news of a different sort: We found the perfect dress to wear to any — yes, any — wedding, and we've styled it three different ways — so whether your pals are getting hitched in a country church, at city hall or at a black-tie shindig, all you need to find is a gift.

Shopping Guides

Nov 14, 2011 8:30 AM

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Put A (Vintage) Ring On It: Local Pros School Us On Secondhand Baubles

By Holly E. Thomas, Photographed by Jane Pierce

Ahh, the thrill of the hunt — is there anything else like it? Anytime you're looking for something just right — a love interest, some great boots, the perfect winter coat — there's a crazy-addictive rush that comes with, you know, actually finding it. (Which explains why we're elbow-deep in thrift-store racks every weekend — to each her own, right?) One of the easiest, most satisfying treasure hunts you can undertake is scouring your local shops for out-of-this-world secondhand jewelry. But to make the whole process even easier for you, we stopped into our favorite local vintage boutiques, snapped some of our must-have pieces, and picked the brains of the shop owners and buyers. What did we learn? Some extremely handy trade secrets — so, take notes, and then go forth and conquer, um, we mean, save.

Street Fashion

Nov 1, 2011 5:12 PM

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The Perfect Outfit: A Work Blazer That's Anything But Basic

By Holly E. Thomas

The savvy Washington woman knows a thing or two about how to dress for work without sacrificing her personal style. Need proof? Take a peek at this recent look from the blogger behind District of Chic — it proves that a tailored-yet-trendy jacket can elevate your workday wardrobe, and help you make a seamless transition from office meetings to after-work drinks. Check out our picks to recreate this easy ensemble from scratch.

Above, from left: District of Chic, image via District of Chic; Zara Skinny Jeans, $59.90 at Zara; TopShop Quilted Cross Body Bag, $45, available at TopShop; Ladakh Salute Jacket, $108, available at Nasty Gal; Valentino Two-Tone Leather Espadrille Wedges, $659, available at Saks Fifth Avenue.