Barbie Convention

Today I went to the Barbie Convention. I somehow convinced my editor to let me do an article about it, so that comes out tomorrow, and it was one of the most fun articles I've ever done, since I got to talk to someone who actually designs Barbies. And then I met up with him today and we talked about how much we love vintage Skipper and Midge.

Here are some pics of the convention, from a VW designed for Barbie (you can't see the compact in back in lieu of a trunk) to shots of vintage dolls.

This is the original Barbie design, but this one is made with tons of tiny diamonds. So pretty.

Lots of doll accessories — I recognize some of the hats and purses.

Skipper is so cute, and my mother has this PJ set and stuffed cat.

I love Midge (Barbie's best friend), and my mother also has this dress. It was always one of my favorites.

The Generation of Dreams dress. It has pictures of lots of old Barbies.

Big Barbie cases that you could get your picture taken in.

The VW car designed for Barbie.

Parked outside the hotel.

If you want to go to the convention, public day is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's at the Marriott Wardman Park and admission is $7.

Senate Seersucker Thursday

From the file of ridiculous press releases, I've just learned that there's a day called Senate Seersucker Thursday, and this year it's on June 18.

Via the release:

Senate Seersucker Thursday, annually commemorates when your United States Senators trade in their heavy suit for a more breathable alternative. Trent Lott, Mississippi's U.S. Senator, revived Seersucker Day in 1996 as a deep-rooted southern tradition and a welcomed return to the Senate's sartorial tradition. Every June, the Senate picks a day to encourage all U.S. Senators to wear the time-honored fabric, reminding them of a season of renewal and rejoice. Today, Senators agree on just one thing: sporting seersucker makes a classic fashion statement in the spirit of unity.

Through a little more research, it seems that most people who partake in this are Republicans, but Dianne Feinstein is a proponent and gave outfits to other women Senators. I love seersucker and have an amazing pink blazer that I wear a lot, but have been wanting to add a skirt to wardrobe lately. Any other writers want to start a new sartorial tradition? Media Madras Mondays?

Bethesda Fashion Event

Click here for more info about the three-day fashion event.

"You picked a president, now pick your discount!" Inauguration Week Sale @ Junction

Junction, the awesome vintage and resale boutique on U St., is holding a special sale to commemorate the inauguration. At checkout customers will draw from the discount "ballot box" and receive 15% to 40% off their entire purchase.

The store has a newly expanded children's section and also dresses if procrastinators still need ball-wear.

Inauguration week hours of operation are Friday and Saturday, 12-7 p.m., Sunday, 12-6 p.m. and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 3-7 p.m. Junction is located at 1510 U St., NW.

Twin Lobsters from J. Crew

Glass-beaded lobster necklace

Enameled lobster-pendant necklace

Best worn while summering in Maine, with a side of real lobster.

Confection Perfection

Parisian Macarons (I had a wonderful one of these at Sweet Charity last week, but of course I can't remember who made it) from Williams-Sonoma

Patisserie ring from the MoMA Store

Pineapple Bobbie Sundress from J. Crew

Imperative for Outdoor Summer Activities

Perfect for Tanglewood, Jazz in the Sculpture Garden, Screen on the Green, or any outdoor event that requires wine and cheese.

Steady Stick Table and Wine Holders

Audrey's Little Pink Dress

I caught the flu that every else has and spent all weekend at home not doing much. I did watch a lot of movies, including Breakfast at Tiffany's, one of my favorites. I never really noticed this pink cocktail dress until today, but now I love it. It sold last spring for $200,000.

Design Your Own Marimekko Bag

Marimekko, a great store in downtown Silver Spring, holds a lot of events, including one to design your own bag. I did this in June, when I ended up with a cute hobo (below, from my first blog post). The event will happen again on February 17, and I'm tempted to make another bag in one of Marimekko's signature bright patterns.

Environmentally-Friendly Happy Bags

Via the mother, b. happybags — ridiculously cute bags designed to use in lieu of grocery bags, thereby helping the environment. Perfect for the Columbia Heights grocery store, which has a high preponderance of attractive/fashionable/environmentally conscious people.

Happy 2008!

We're giving a party tonight, and where better to seek inspiration than from Breakfast at Tiffany's and Tender is the Night?


“I want to give a really bad party. I mean it. I want to give a party where there’s a brawl and seductions and people going home with their feelings hurt and women passed out in the cabinet de toilette.” — Dick Diver, Tender is the Night

Capote's Black & White Ball

Truman Capote’s famous Black & White Ball was held on this day in 1966. Capote’s biographers say that his party was inspired by a scene in My Fair Lady.


Here's a black and white tribute to Capote. And this article includes the guest list and a recipe for a dish that was served at the party.

A nod to Today in Literature for alerting me to the party's anniversary.

Après Peau

Tonight I finally went to Après Peau, a fabulous little gift shop on K St. I'm not sure how I haven't been before, but thanks to a heads up from BabsieD, I made it for the stationery launch of a new Washington line by R. Nichols. His cards are so cute, and I picked up boxes of the Washington and Jefferson monument cards.



Then I stopped by Naan and Beyond on L St. (there's also one on P St.), where I always get the paneer tikka naan, before coming home and watching Elizabeth. I'm going to the courtyard opening at the American Art Museum tomorrow morning to cover it for DCist, so I'll link to that when it's up.

Gerald and Sara Murphy

The Williams College Art Museum has an exhibit on Gerald and Sara Murphy (artists, bon vivants, and the models for Fitzgerald's Dick and Nicole Diver). The couple were friends with Cole Porter, Fernand Leger, Pablo Picasso, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and other people involved in art and literature who lived in France in the 1920's.

The New Yorker has an article and slideshow dedicated to the Murphys, who are a fascinating couple. Two of their children died very young, Gerald apparently stifled his homosexual tendencies, and Sara wore her pearls to the beach since they "wanted sunning." The pair also have impeccable style — unsurprising given their literary incarnations in "Tender is the Night."

My interest in the Murphys comes from a class I took at Amherst College in spring 2006. "Americans in Paris," taught by Allen Guttmann, is a class that I have fond memories of.

The exhibit at Williams College runs through November 11.