Washington Life’s November fashion shoot was front and center at the Shakespeare Theatre.

By Megan Buerger and Alison McLaughlin

We went behind the scenes at WL’s November fashion shoot at the Shakespeare Theatre’s Sidney Harman Hall to get the real scoop on what happens backstage – from hair and makeup to setting up the shot. Check it out below!

Photography Gary Landsman
Style Cathy Phillips
Shot on location at Sidney Harman Hall, the Shakespeare Theatre
Makeup Dyan Zurick Smith, PR @ Partners
Hair Francesca Mastri, Pr @ Partners
Shoot assistants Megan Buerger, Celine iLang-iLang, Alison McLaughlin, and Kristen Vogel
Models t.h.e. Artist Agency

http://www.vimeo.com/7671708

With a weaker pound and presents to buy, it’s time to make your way across the pond to bring London’s glamour to your holiday gifts.

By Karin Tanabe

The Pine Room at the Alfred Dunhill flagship store displays menswear with old world elegance and style.

Overflowing baskets of port and foie gras, kidskin gloves to fight the cold, a cut-to- covet bespoke suit, red carpet-worthy gowns with all the trimmings – that’s what you’ll find this season in London’s fashionable West End when you indulge in a pre-holiday splurge from Regent Street to Saville Row. Beautiful presents will always be appreciated by those on your holiday shopping list, but if you really want your gift to be remembered, consider something with British cachet. Plan now, make those flight reservations, and don’t forget to take along this little guide to the West End for shopping, dining, and a truly wonderful place to stay.

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A ‘Nautical Affair’ at the Corcoran had a crew of up and coming Washington socialites – so, did the event (and fashion) sink or swim?

By Michael Clements

Amir Afkhami, Hastie Kargar, Chris Boutlier. Photograph by Kyle Samperton

Stormy clouds didn’t deter the seafaring captains at this year’s 1869 Society Fall Fête, held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Indeed, the sheer buzz leading up to the event was like a beacon of light leading the area’s fashionable up and coming movers and shakers safely to the shores of Ernest Flagg’s classic Beaux-Arts style building. The event is one of the highlights of, what we at Washington Life like to refer to as The Young & The Guest List (YGL) scene (the area’s under-40 social set). It lived up to the hype.

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The Carlyle hotel’s Sense spa proves that relaxation is the ultimate luxury

by Karin Tanabe

Whether they board the shuttle from Reagan to LaGuardia, the Acela to Penn Station, or a helicopter to 34th Street, Washingtonians are always heading to Manhattan. The Carlyle hotel, embodying everything that is elegant about New York City, has long been a refuge of choice for the most discerning among them.

Now its siren song sounds even sweeter with the opening of Sense, a Rosewood Spa. A bi-level oasis on the third floor of the Art Deco hotel, the dim light, dark wood, graceful chandeliers, and of course, exemplary service, beckon those who appreciate truly classic style. One of the spa’s coups was arranging to use beauty products supplied by the French manufacturer Sisley (the only other spa in the world to use the line is the Byblos in St. Tropez). Sense opened its doors in late Fall 2008, in the middle of economic turbulence and dropping temperatures. Perfecting the art of escape may be needed now more than ever – even if it’s only for a mere hour or two.
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Paul and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Photo by Kyle Samperton.

By Karin Tanabe

Now that the White House is inhabited by a very well-dressed first couple, is Capitol Hill following suit? Judging from our freshman congress, we have come a long way as far as chiseled features—Rep. Glenn Nye (D-VA), Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) (both single!) and Rep. Martin Heinrich (D-NM)—but what about debonair dressing? Have we have gone into decline, digging an Olympic size hole in the fashion well that reaches all the way to China? Or do we really have a legislative body full of Vogue, GQ and of course, Washington Life readers?

While Tom Ford is not yet camping out on the Capitol steps to scout his next muse, a handful of old guard politicians have been dressing well for decades and the new wave of freshmen is only upping the Hill style ante.

Congressman David Drier (R-CA), has been bringing style to the House since 1981. The sartorial chameleon has suits in grey, blue, black and even sand, so light in color they’re almost Gatsbyesque. Political power couple, Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) and Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL), win points for shirking helmet hair and rows of safe navy blue suits, choosing to look like they’re style world is not confined by the Beltway.

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Karin Tanabe explores Michelle Obama’s modern style and the fashionable women who came before her

Michelle Obama, wearing an Isabel Toledo lemongrass day coat and dress, waves to the enthusiastic crowd gathered on the Inaugural Parade route. (Photo by Justin Sullivan, Getty Images)

Michelle Obama brings a refreshingly modern style to Washington. Loyal, as Pat Nixon was, to American designers, Mrs. Obama has helped lesser known names like Jason Wu, who designed her inauguration gown, and Chicago-based Maria Pinto, make headlines. When her daughters wore J. Crew coats, and she J.Crew gloves, during her husband’s swearing in ceremony, the company’s shares went up 10 percent the following day. At the inaugural balls, Mrs. Obama dressed with appropriate glamour, wearing 61-carat white gold and triple rose cut diamond earrings by Los Angeles-based jewelry designer Loree Rodkin. The jewelry was on loan to the first lady and will be donated to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

While conjuring images of first lady elegance in the White House, fond memories recall the timeless grace of Jacqueline Kennedy and the Hollywood glamour of Nancy Reagan. Mrs. Kennedy exuded chic by wearing the fashions of domestic designers, like Oleg Cassini, and classic French couturiers like Chanel and Dior. Mrs. Reagan was loyal to American designer James Galanos, but also looked across the pond to Yves Saint Laurent and Valentino. Arriving on the heels of one of the most frugal first ladies ever, Rosalynn Carter (who even brought a sewing machine with her to Pennsylvania Avenue), Nancy Reagan dressed with unapologetic glamour. Her wardrobe for her husband’s second inauguration was estimated at $46,000.
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By Karin Tanabe

Artist Shepard Fairey. Photo by Kyle Samperton

Let the inaugural games begin. It’s the afternoon of Saturday the 17th and I’ve just trotted to four different inaugural celebrations in 18 hours—all held blocks apart celebrating the same iconic event, yet every one unique in their atmosphere.

The first fête I clicked my heels Friday evening was the launch of Manifest Hope DC, held in the vast space that used to house Artefacto furniture on M Street. In conjunction with Moveon.org, Irvine Contemporary Gallery, artist Shepard Fairey, SEIU, and our magazine Washington Life, more than one hundred artists displayed work that in one innovative way or another paid homage to our 44th president.

My first thoughts when I walked out to brace for the onslaught of the 14 degree weather and my eyes turning to iceballs were, 1) why don’t we have more events like this in Washington? It would be amazing if this cavernous space remained a space for the arts and the community. And 2) I sincerely hope that very soon to be President Obama ought to be able to see this show.

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Cover Artwork by Shepard Fairey

The New Political Landscape of Washington:
A Spotter’s Guide

Washington Life’s insiders guide to Obamaland is the most comprehensive listing of administration personnel that exists outside the office of the new president’s transition team. Many of the players have held the reins of power under previous presidents; others are newcomers to the capital. There is always great interest in learning more about the men and women poised to govern, especially now, when current economic and foreign policy crises give their efforts a special imperative.

Compiled through exhaustive research, interviews, and discussions with people involved in the transition process, the guide has been fully updated since its initial publication in our Holiday and Inauguration Issue, as well as expanded to include recent appointments and newly added positions. This significant expansion required some reorganization, into general categories, of the more than 200 key individuals of influence in the new administration, which should make them easier to identify. What emerges from each of these issue areas is a snapshot of the diverse group that will be formulating administration policy, plus some biographical background, a few fun facts, and the history of their relationships with the president. We’ve also added a directory of everyone who is included in the guide, making this a useful resource for looking up administration officials and insiders before and after business meetings or social events.

We hope this issue will serve as your essential guide to who’s who and who’s where in the new administration and that it will help you identify all the personalities you need to know in the months and years ahead.

Special thanks to Christina Wilkie, Karin Tanabe, Kelly Fisher, Kevin Chaffee, ?and Bridget Manifold who worked tirelessly on this piece.

Read on to find out about all the key players in the Cabinet.