Top 5 Places to Get Engaged in DC over Christmas

Ah, Christmas. 'Tis the season for family gatherings, holiday parties, and the constant news feed updates of recent engagements.

Christmas to New Years truly is a romantic time of year, it's no wonder why so many people choose to get engaged during the holiday season. Here are my Top 5 picks for the perfect engagement spot in DC.

No. 5 Bartholdi Fountain

I pass Bartholdi Fountain daily, it's one of my favorite spots in DC. The fountain is quintessentially French, giving you a bit of a Parisian feel right in the heart of Washington. From the Southeast corner you have a gorgeous view of the Capitol Dome and the fountain itself is lit beautifully at night.

Photo courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol

No. 4 Lincoln Memorial

While Lincoln isn't particularly holiday-esque, the view from the steps is classic DC. I would recommend doing this proposal late at night to avoid the crowds and make the moment a bit more private. Afterwards head to the Mandarin Oriental for a celebratory toast.

Photo courtesy of Trend Kid

No. 3 DC War Memorial

This memorial on the national mall is quite picturesque, and quite private as well. I rarely see anyone near this beautiful little structure, but that makes it all the more special. If you are looking for a grand backdrop, but without a ton of people around, this might be it.

Photo courtesy of Gabe Oram

No. 2 Ice Rink at the Georgetown Waterfront

This summer fountain turns into an adorable ice skating rink come December, and with the beautiful surrounding decorations, this could make for a great engagement spot. After your time skating around the rink grab dinner and pop some bubbly at Fiola Mare, recently named one of the best restaurants in DC.

Photo courtesy of Capitol Couple

No. 1 The Proposal Booth at Martin's

What could be more romantic than to pop the question in the very same booth Jack did to Jackie? Martin's is beautifully decorated at Christmas time, which adds to the already charming space. All it takes is a phone call to Martin's for this once in a lifetime reservation.

Photo courtesy of Kate Patterson (originally from the Washington Post)

Cheers!
S.

Truth Tattle: Leggings Are Not Pants

Leggings are not pants.

I posted this thought on my personal Facebook page earlier this week and received many responses such as "Thank you for posting this!" and "There should be public announcements about this!" Well, hello new blog post.

Don't get me wrong, I love leggings. I own a half dozen pair, all in basic black of course, as per 90% of my wardrobe. But leggings are not substitutes for pants.

It doesn't matter how thick your leggings are, how much money you spent on them, or how 'nice' they are...they are still leggings. This modern day leg phenom is meant to be an undergarment for such appropriate pairings as dresses, skirts, or even super long slouchy sweaters.

Here's the rule - if your bum is not covered, put on real pants. That means if your top sits at, or just below your waist, you need to put the leggings down and grab the slacks instead. Example shown below.

Even Olivia Wilde got this wrong, in my opinion

The majority of the population disagrees with this "trend", and I barely even would call it that. It is a misfortunate step in fashion's history that will go down with other trosseau tragedies, such as wearing a leotard over your tights at the gym.

This whole conversation became hilariously relevant as I was watching TV this evening. You see, I never watched Gossip Girl when it was on air, so I've been catching up on Netflix. I'm on the last season and tonight's episode featured a grown up Nelly Yuki working for Women's Wear Daily, interviewing Blair Waldorf about her new line. Nelly recaps some of the things Blair yelled and drilled into her as one of her minions in High School, which ironically enough was, "Tights are not pants!" And we all know Blair was the Dictator of Taste...

Now, it would be unfair of me to kill the idea of leggings as pants without offering you a solution. Therefore, I highly recommend the Sloan Fit Slim Ankle Zip pant from Banana Republic. It is a slim fitting slack that looks great under a pair of boots in the fall and winter months.

Truth be told.
S.

Fashion Firsts: A Styling Appointment at Rent the Runway Georgetown

We have all come to know and love Rent the Runway online. Now a few very lucky cities, Washington DC included, have been graced with the presence of a Rent the Runway storefront.

The brand's new Georgetown store gives us DC Fashiontonians a veritable playground of luxurious textiles and sparkling accessories to choose from.

I went for my first shopping experience yesterday morning, here is my Rent the Runway story.

P.S. Make sure to read my most important shopping tip at the end. It will make your RTR shopping experience near perfection!

10am - Arrive for my Styling Appointment, Check In, Peruse Store

10:15am - Meet with my Stylist, Dasia, and am Escorted to the Dressing Room

Insider Info: You can change the lighting in your dressing room by using the glowing panel on the side of your mirror. Choose from either evening, office, or outdoor to see your options in the perfect light.

10:20am - The Selection Begins

I loved the simplicity of shape and richness of color in this Roul gown, but it felt a bit 'safe' for New Years Eve. Dasia saved it to my Que so the next time I need a gown, I already know which one I love and what size fit. Guess work for future events - eliminated!

Georgina Gown by Raoul

This Badgley Mischka sequin gown is classic New Years Eve. It has a beautiful swooping back, which you can't see in the picture. The problem is this dress is too NYE, I bet at least ten other women would have the exact same dress, which is no fun at all.

Night at the Oscars Gown by Badgley Mischka

Now, this dress. Wow - what a dress! I never would have picked this out for myself but I'm so glad Dasia did. It was incredible, unlike anything I have ever worn before. This would have been THE dress had it not been so uber sexy with the cutouts on the side and back. This is DC, not Manhattan, and we're going to the Kennedy Center, not Lincoln Center. In a somewhat fashion conservative town, I felt this would be too much for the attire level of our New Years event. But this dress is definitely in the Que for a future night out!

Cage Lock Gown by BCBG Max Azria

10:45am: Dress is Selected, Rented, Other Gowns I Love Are Added to My Profile

And no, I'm not posting a picture of the final selection. We'll just have to wait until New Years Eve!

11am: Leave RTR with Swag Bag in Hand

Swag Bag complete with Perfume, Jewelry, Lotion, and More. Loved!

If you take nothing else from this Blog post about Rent the Runway, know this: save yourself some shoppping sanity, book a styling appointment in advance.

You have the option as a Rent the Runway shopper to schedule a Styling Appointment with one of their staff. The rates are very reasonable, $25 for a 45 minute session (single event) or $40 for a 90 minute session (multiple events). I was on the hunt for a single event dress, so I chose the $25 session.

Take my advice, pay the few extra dollars and book the appointment. My stylist, Ridasian (Dasia, for short) was incredible. By filling out my online profile she knew in advance what I was looking for, my size, and event date. When I arrived for my appointment she had a dressing room completely set up for me with heels and accessories to pair with the gowns. Dasia stood outside the dressing room the entire time to help with zipping/unzipping, adding/removing gowns, etc. While other girls were waiting in line for dressing rooms and running around the store, I was peacefully trying on each of my gowns with someone their to assist at a moments notice.

Also, the gowns Dasia pulled for me, I most likely would have never selected on my own. Working with a Stylist pushes you outside your fashion comfort zone, giving you a fresh perspective on your own look.

If you are shopping at RTR Georgetown, I highly recommend Dasia.

Until Next Time, Rent the Runway!

Happy Styling!
S.