Capitol Fashionista Outing: KAS Collection Debuts WET

Designer Kenneth Flanagan introduced DC to his latest collection, WET (With Exceptional Taste) for the "grown and sexy" on Sunday night at The Shadow Room in downtown DC. Flanigan is looking to up the anty on what is considered fashionable amongst the urban set. Looking to move the DMV towards a more sophisticated look that can easily go from work to play, Flanigan's collection contained a mixture of suits, dresses, jackets, vests, and jeans. Flanigan cleverly made good use of texture including leather, suede, and various fur trims. WET also includes a line of handbags, t-shirts, tops and sunglasses. You can see the entire collection and add your favorites pieces to your closet at the Wet Boutique.





My Favorites

Of course, I had my favorites including this fab suit with its fur sleeves, a gorgeous multi-colored satin gown with its high ruffled neckline, an amazing fur coat (expressly available for the fab BBW set), and for the sexy men in your lives - this amazing suede jacket and the fab orange shirt underneath with its intricate detailing.

Local Designer Spotlight: The Ecofabulous Uptown Redesigns

Uptown Redesigns is the brainchild of Sandy Philpott. Founded in 2009, Uptown Redesigns reflects her style and practicality, but also demonstrates her resourceful practices that limit waste and reduce unnecessary consumption and stress on our environment. All of Uptown Redesign’s bags are made of previously used leather coats, jeans, and other materials. These items are brought into the studio, cleaned, conditioned, and then redesigned into beautiful and unique products. Ecofabulous, right? I totally love the idea of recycling leather into something as amazing as these bags. Here are my favorites. See her entire collection of eco-friendly bags here.

Local Designer Spotlight: Natalia Sanz

I met the lovely and talented jewelry and clothing designer, Natalia Sanz, at Crystal Couture last week. She was so sweet. Her earrings are so dainty and girly - love that. She has just released new designs on Smashing Darling. Here are my favs. Check out her entire collection.

DMV Fashionista Event: Crystal Couture Week

Crystal City is poised to join the ranks of top fashion destinations along with Milan, Paris and New York City. For one week in February, Crystal City will be the center of fun and fashion during the second annual Crystal Couture. Building on the success of last year’s similar event, The Crystal City Business Improvement District will turn available retail space into an exotic runway, boutique and night club – featuring trunk shows, live theater, DJs, specialty drinks, food, comedians, dancing and more.

Dubbed “Jungle, Jeans, Tats and Tees,” (a.k.a. festive animal/island prints, denim, body art and t-shirts), the event is designed to bring great retail and runway straight into the hands of attendees - whether seasoned fashionista or eager newbie.

The creativity does not end on the runway – fashion designers of all skill levels may submit proposals for cutstom T-shirt and/or jean designs. All submissions will be presented on the Crystal City BID Web site and through digital projection at the event. Audience members will vote on a winner – on Tuesday night, voting for the T-shirt design will take place and on Wednesday, voting for the jean design will occur. Prizes will be awarded.

Local non-profit groups will also be on site to collect donations of new or gently used clothing and footwear. Go Red for Women will also have a presence at the event.

Move over New York City, here comes Crystal City!

What: Crystal Couture – a week of fabulous fashion, fun and festivities, runway shows, local DJs, body painting, dancing, open bar, free snacks, free makeovers from makeup artists and hair stylists, prizes for best themed and more. T-shirt and Jeans Design Competition. Entry form and more information can be found here

Who: Bianca Richardson, finalist on America’s Next Top Model and dozens of other local models and fashionistas.

LaNorma, Boutique Mix, Stella & Dot, The Jeans Whisperer, Ibhana Creations, Poulet, Brand of the Free, Bernos, Holland Cox, Aidah Collection, Thembe Fashions, JZ Bags, CG Originals Jewelry and ADMK Jewelry

Where: A storefront will be turned into a fashion hotspot at 23rd Street and S. Crystal Drive (across from Jaleo); Arlington, VA

When: February 1 – 6, 2010, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. every night

Tickets: No ticket is necessary - the event is free and open to the public

Local Designer Spotlight: Darrell Cortez and Capetown

You can tell when a designer has put in his time. When you go to a fashion show and the clothes are impeccably finished and the fabrics are amazing, you know that the designer has been involved in just about every aspect of the fashion industry. Working as a design assistant at DKNY, DC native Darrell Cortez has seen it all. He knew that his life would in some way revolve around fashion. Cortez, the youngest of five, was mesmerized my his older brother's stylish garb. His brother wore Burberry and Polo and Brooks Bros., just to name a few. Cortez would happily accompany him on his shopping trips. These shopping trips made an indelible impression on the 7th grader who would later graduate from the Visual Arts program at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.



But New York was calling and Cortez initially enrolled at Pratt Institute but later transferred to the Fashion Institute of Technology majoring in what else - Fashion Design. But his real studies began at DKNY. As a design assistant, he was privy to that special insider knowledge that one only gets at a design house. He was researching information, running errands, working with designers to get the fabrics that were sent back from the buyers during their travels, helping with model fittings for shows, as well as, doing whatever was needed to help DKNY designers get ready for Market Week (which are the shows/viewings by the buyers that occurs after Fashion Week). He learned things about the industry that he would not find in his textbooks at FIT.



After 2-1/2 year year stint at DKNY, Cortez came back home. He immediately began to build his clientele. But in order to pay the rent, he worked as a costume designer with the renown costume designer, Reggie Ray. Not bad for a job to pay the rent. But NYC was calling him and calling him. It wasn't long before he moved back to NYC to work with celebrity stylist June Ambrose on everything from Busta Rhymes videos to Puffy videos to touring with Missy Elliott. Life was good. Well, almost good.

Back in DC, Darrell's sister was fighting for her life. Funny how life will put things quickly into perspective for you. She was fiercely battling Lupus. Even though it had seemed that she was winning her battle, the Lupus has unexpectedly re-appeared in 1990. He continued to travel back and forth from NYC to DC to support his sister. But in late 1990, Darrell received that one phone call that he had been dreading - come home now. Darrell returned to DC to have those last precious moments with his sister. She passed away in September 1990. In honor of his beloved sister, Cortez became an advocate for Lupus.

His advocacy is a big part of why he became involved with NOVA Fashion Week, set to happen some time in March 2010. The Lupus Foundation is one of the beneficiaries of the week's events. Cortez will be showing his Resort 2010 Collection during NOVA Fashion Week and will also be working feverishly on his Fall/Winter collection for a September debut. Cortez is also focused on styling some of the city's rising stars including Tameka Jones, Kyonte, and Fatso Skinny.

I was fortunate enough to attend his debut of his Spring/Summer 2010 Collection entitled "Capetown," inspired by the Janet Jackson video of the same name. The pictures included in this post are from his Capetown collection. The collection was fabulous. All of the clothes were impeccably finished and his fabric choices were superb. I loved how he mixed patterns - a total risk in this city. The yellow striped jacket is my favorite thing in the collection. Not for my man, but for myself! LOL. But I am a woman who loves a well-dressed man. In DC, that can sometimes be hard to find. So Cortez is focused on helping to change what defines a stylish man in D.C. Yeah! Please do.

Local Fashion Spotlight: See by Chloe at Hu's Shoes

Totally want these bronze beauties. DC Fashionistas, pick up your See by Chloe sandals at Hu's Shoes in Georgetown.