Heat Wave

It's going to be an absolute scorcher this weekend, Washingtonians.  I know we should be used to the oppressive humidity and the paralyzing heat but it's impossible.  For those lucky enough to have a pool, the morning hours should be bearable but if your pool is anything like mine, prepare for it to be bathwater by noon. 

Rather than hide out inside all day, I'm going to spend most of my time at The Corcoran.  I know I'm always trying to get you guys there and there is no better time to take advantage than with Free Summer Saturdays.  Go look at Hopper's Ground Swell and think about World War II (seriously, this painting is spoken of in this context) all the while enjoying the frigid, controlled gallery temperature.  

If you've already been, DC has a lot of great (and free) exhibits to checkout this summer.

Yves Klein: With the Void, Full Powers

May 20, 2010 - September 12, 2010

The Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Beat Memories: The Photographs of Allen Ginsberg
May 2–September 16, 2010
National Gallery of Art

Links:

Yves Klein: A Master of Blue - Time 

Allen Ginsberg's Beat Family Album - Smithsonian.com

The New Look

I tend to be a little obsessed with 1960's Americana.  The history, the fashion, the personalities, the way it completely changed the country - everything.  For years I've collected books on Jackie Kennedy wishing I could emulate her signature coif.  I've walked past the beautiful home on P Street that she shared with Jack.  I've eaten at Martin's Tavern where he proposed (best French Onion Soup I've ever had) all the while trying to get a sense of what Washington, DC was like when it was Camelot.  

As part of this obsession I've also spent years waiting for ladylike, feminine style to return so I could dress the way I always assumed real ladies dressed.  Imagine my surprise when Mad Men became a bonafide hit and women's RTW began to look more and more, well, vintage.  I can't wait until it becomes fashionable to wear those delicate little gloves again. 

Whether you're a Betty or a Joan, a Marilyn or a Jackie you'll appreciate this article from Mad Men Unbuttoned (one of my Top 5 Favorite Websites on '60's culture) all on the creation of this iconic style. Thank you Mr. Christian Dior for the New Look.

Mad Men Unbuttoned: A Romp Through 1960's America by Natasha Vargas-Cooper; June 1, 2010
Martin's Tavern
The DC Traveler; A Tour of JFK’s Camelot

The Sisterhood of the Destructive Sororities

Thanks to a friendly email this afternoon I was brought up to speed on an epidemic facing Ohio universities and the Greek Life that calls them home.  The epidemic is stupidity and it's completely undoing a system that I give a lot of credit too.

Yesterday afternoon some college (and current) friends of mine were watching the worst movie ever, Sorority Row.  Besides the SPOILER ALERT murdering valedictorian, there were a lot of untruths.  Keggers in a Sorority House? Dream on.  Gun-totting House Mom? Doubtful.  Renovations on a new wing? Hahahahahaha.  We got a new couch once. 

Anyway, we found ourselves wondering how Panhel deals with these movies? What do they do when they're offended by how Greek life is portrayed?  I was offended that any house, even a fictional one would ever let Audrina from the Hills wear their letters! 

Back to Ohio. I've been out of college almost four years and in that four years I feel as if the demographics of sororities has completely changed.  Sure we had our sluts and our lushes but that's just college.  I tend to think that the ABC Family show Greek is a great representation of Greek life at today's universities, minus the elaborate theme parties - we had them but we were pretty makeshift. 

Maybe that's not the case anymore.  Four Ohio Sororities are in big trouble for not only vandalism at every party venue between Dayton and West Virginia but also for VERY public sex and other nasty things that should really be kept private.  Two of those Sororities are at Miami, one at Dayton and one at my very own Ohio University where one sorority is being sued almost $50K. 

Way to keep it classy ladies. 

Greek Life Death Watch at Ohio University

Sigma Chi

SAE

Phi Mu

Delt

Fiji

and coming soon, Pi Phi

Links:
Third Ohio sorority in trouble over wild partying, The Associated Press
Sorority Girls Gone Wild, The Smoking Gun

Kiss On My List

Over the weekend I went and saw the screening of Letters to Juliet. I’m a hopeless romantic, following in the order of Nora Ephron, the Patron Saint of Rom-Com’s. Due to the lack of actual romance in my life, I get my fix from 80’s and 90’s staples as well as from some of the classics, The Apartment (“Shut up and deal,”) Roman Holiday and Sabrina.

Letters to Juliet begins with a lovely montage of classical art portraying The Kiss. Yes, The Kiss. Capital “T” Capital “K”. I immediately swooned, because, as noted above I’m a hopeless romantic. My hand goes to my cheek and my heart flutters. I’ve never looked at myself in a mirror while watching a romantic comedy but I’m pretty sure I blush as well. I literally can’t handle myself.

This got me thinking about a recent class I took talking about early film. One of the first films shown commercially to the public was called, The Kiss.  The Kiss (1896)  is 47 seconds long and was directed by William Heise for Thomas Edison. May Irwin and John Rice re-enact the final scene of the stage musical, The Widow Jones. The film was considered a scandal and one critic even wrote that “The spectacle of the prolonged pasturing on each other's lips was beastly enough in life size on the stage but magnified to gargantuan proportions and repeated three times over it is absolutely disgusting.” I guess someone didn’t have enough kisses in his life.

The Kiss was the most popular film produced in 1896 and in 1999 the Library of Congress deemed the short “culturally significant” and it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Admittedly, the kiss is slightly awkward and could use a crescendo that usually comes with a romantic soundtrack.  As the Edison catalog noted, “"They get ready to kiss, begin to kiss, and kiss and kiss and kiss in a way that brings down the house every time." Imagine how Victorian audiences would have reacted to the beach kiss in From Here to Eternity?

Watch The Kiss Here: The May-Irwin Kiss (Edison, 1896)
And just for the heck of it, here is the beach kiss in From Here to Eternity: YouTube - From Here to Eternity

And a Silver Sixpence for Her Shoe...

I apologize to all 15 or so of my loyal blog readers. I know once a month updates just don’t cut it and I promise to try and be better. I guess I’ve been lacking inspiration lately. Either that or I’ve been so desperate to find it that I don’t leave time for much else. In either case, I’m terribly sorry and am making a conscious effort to update three times a week.

What have I been up to? In case you haven’t noticed – it’s wedding season and I’ve been having lots of fun planning with friends the wonderful things we’re going to do for the brides in our life. Naturally, this has me thinking about my own wedding which is still firmly on the Someday List. I don’t know the who, where or when but I do know the important things such as the flowers (hydrangeas) and the perfect little Bridesmaids pick-me-up…

Essie Wedding Collection Nailpolish

I know my obsession with nailpolish is incredibly well documented and I surely won’t be giving up my favorite accessory when it comes time to walk down the aisle!

These pretty hues are simple, elegant and just plain lovely. I love a good neutral and these will be tenderly placed in the hands of all the pretty ladies who no doubt will be helping me get to the Alter. Or, more likely, City Hall.

Get the collection here: Essie.com
Always a Bridesmaid? Check out this wonderful article from someone who wasn’t: The Bridesmaid's Survival Guide By MP Dunleavey

P.S. For more Wedding etiquette, check out the 5th Edition of Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette. It’s the definitive guide and makes a great gift for the newly engaged. 

Come on Baby, Do the Locomotion.

Do you know Eadweard?  Eadweard Muybridge that is. 

The first retrospective exhibition of this murderous (yep, he killed someone) photographer is on display at the Corcoran through July 18th. This fascinating look at animal locomotion as well as America's expansion into the west is something you must see, even if you just stop by for a look at the panorama of 1870's San Francisco. 

Helios: Eadweard Muybridge in a Time of Change
Corcoran Gallery of Art
April 10 - June 18, 2010

In Bloom

In 1912, Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo gave the city of Washington, DC 3,000 Cherry trees. In a simple ceremony on March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two trees from Japan on the north bank of the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park.

In 1915, the United States Government reciprocated with a gift of flowering dogwood trees to the people of Japan. A group of American school children reenacted the initial planting in 1927 and the first "festival” was held in 1935, sponsored by civic groups in the Nation’s Capital.

Because of the yo-yo weather this year, the trees should be at their peak bloom tomorrow and Friday. If you have the time, please fight the crowds and stop to enjoy the beautiful trees.

Happy Easter everyone.

About Face

Vintage photo from Vogue Magazine, March, 1950

With every new season I like to update my “face”. My basic makeup routine remains fairly even throughout the year but small adjustments can instantly refresh your everyday look. Below are my favorites for Spring 2010.


Nailpolish: Chanel Le Vernis Particuliere

This color was seen last Fall on the runways and has been blogged about and coveted ever since. It’s often described as a “putty” color but I consider it a clean “greige”. I like neutral nail polish, especially this time of year when the weather can be unpredictable and your wardrobe fluctuates from bright and light to dark and heavy. As far as neutrals go, I think this is one of the best.
Chanel Le Vernis Particuliere, $23. Chanel.com

Face: Benefit Posietint

Benefit is known for coming up with cute and quick solutions to everyday skin problems. Posie Tint is a darling poppy tinted blush all that I can’t live without. The hot pink liquid can be intimidating at first, but brush a little onto your cheek bones and blend for an instant flush that makes you look sunkissed and rosie without looking like a clown. Posie Tint also doubles as a lip tint and even goes great on eye lids for a dewey look.
Benefit Posietint, $28. Sephora.com

Lips: Chanel Rouge Coco Égérie

This is my first grown up lipstick and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Égérie means a rebellious and daring spirit who never loses her sense of elegance and sophistication. I don’t proclaim to be rebellious or even very daring but this beautiful coral goes on smooth and makes me feel like I can take on the day. Lipstick is hard to find and I tried on about 15 or the 30 new Rouge Coco shades before deciding on Égérie. The cream like texture of the lipstick is perfect for a generation used to gloss and Chanel knows how to train their associates; I learned how to apply lipstick properly and they sold me on a gloss.
Chanel Rouge Coco Égérie, $30. Chanel.com

How to Apply Lipstick

If lips are dry apply a chapstick, not a gloss. I recommend Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment. If you use a lip liner apply now, if not, skip!

After the chapstick apply the lipstick. They recommend a brush but for a lady on the go, it applies nicely from the tube.

Blot by folding a tissue over and pressing your lips to it, like a kiss without the pucker. After you do this your lipstick will be matted.

Follow up with another layer or lipstick and top off with a gloss. I stick to a clear gloss but you can experiment with different colors to change the shade.

Hair: Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo

My hair changes drastically from Winter to Spring. I think it gets confused and tired and gives up until around the end of April when it returns to life. In order to combat hair fatigue this year I decided to attempt to train my hair and the amount of oil it produces. In order to do this I had to commit to not washing every day, so I opted for every other day. Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo is a lifesaver! It zaps up excess oil and gives hair a wonderful lift making it look like I just dried it. I usually zap it with some heat and style as usual. It took about two weeks but my hair produces far less oil and feels a silkier. This white powder blends in with any hair color and comes in a great travel size too! Perfect to keep in your desk for a pre-happy hour refresher.
Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo, $11. Sephora.com

Go Get Pretty! 

My Spring Fling

As we approach the official start of Spring with beautiful weather and temperatures reaching the 70's, I decided to share my list of spring favorites!  For the next few weeks I'll highlight what's making me smile through March, April and May!

XO

Heather

Healthy Eats

Somewhere between snow days and Olympic glory, I forgot to blog!  As spring inches near my time is spent less in front of a computer and more, well, everywhere else.

One of my favorite spring volunteer activities is the Junior League Kids in the Kitchen, an annual kids health fair!  The event is this Saturday from 10 - 2 PM at the YMCA near St. Matthew's Cathedral.  I'll be there, hopefully face painting (fingers crossed) and assisting in the myriad of activities available!

If you, or anyone you know has children please bring them to this FREE and FUN event! 

Hope to see you on Saturday! 

Kids in the Kitchen

Saturday, March 6, 2010

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

YMCA National Capital

1711 Rhode Island Avenue, NW

Washington, DC

LINKS:
Junior League of Washington Kids in the Kitchen
AJLI Kids in the Kitchen Initiative
Information Flyer