Fashion for Paws

If you know me in real life you know I love animals. Sometimes more than people. I love puppies and am always stopping to pet a dog on the sidewalk. When I’m PMSing I spend my time on The Dodo reading sob stories and basically throwing my money at humane society’s halfway across the world. But when I have the option to help the animals in my own city you best believe I’m jumping at that opportunity.

Nearly two years ago we adopted our dog Butch from the Humane Society, and are always donating and finding ways to help them. When they announced their annual Fashion for Paws runway show and gala I knew it was the perfect marriage of my two loves. I donned a gown from Rent The Runway and my handsome arm candy and I made our way to the party!

Cynthia Vincent dress via Rent The Runway (rent it here)
H&M holographic clutch (similar)

I had such a blast and the whole time I kept thinking how much fun it would be to walk the runway one year with my Washington Humane Society rescue pup! I’m thinking maybe next year. Want to do your part? Click here to donate to the Washington Humane Society and help animals like Butch with the opportunity to find loving homes!

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Work of Art

You can make a fantasy a reality
Because you’re creating your own masterpiece

Art and fashion go hand in hand, whether it’s art influencing fashion a la Yves Saint Laurent’s Mondrian collection or fashion inspiring art like Bob Mackie, or even the collision of the two parallels as seen in Alexander McQueen’s Spring ’99 presentation. When my friend Beth asked me to join her at Rent The Runway’s latest field guide on Art Collecting I was ecstatic. Z and I love art in our home and consider ourselves pretty artistically knowledgable. It was a wonderful evening of wine, cupcakes, and art in what can only be described as an artful interior. Gorgeous, well merchandised dresses line ornate walls like the above blue marbled and the below brick with galleried mirrors.

The knowledgeable and worldly Peggy Sparks of Artists Proof Gallery in Georgetown led the way through our field notes lesson explaining why we should invest in art, how we should invest in art, and a little bit of some art history. Personally, I learned that I shouldn’t make executive art decisions because it matches something else or just because I want art; any piece I invest in should be one I’ve had an unequivocal connection with. Much of my art and prints in my home are just “pretty”; the animal prints in my living room fit the theme and my personality, while the dainty prints in my office inspire me. The next time I make a large original art purchase, though, I’ll be sure to choose a piece that I would mourn if I lost it.
Another great lesson was to purchase art smartly. Many places sell reproductions or prints and price them as originals, yet they don’t carry the same worth. I know for me I enjoy running my fingers along grooves of thick paint as an added feature to original art that you don’t get in a reproduction. My favorite things to have learned were the websites to check for emerging artists and artist research. Exhibition A and ArtSpan are some worth checking out!
Now, for the fun part; what I wore. For this event I decided to go trendy. A short but structured dress over classic trousers and heels felt very “Chelsea Art Gallery Consultant” to me, even if I’m just a DC girl with an interest in free wine and pretty things.

Do you have any originally art works in your home? What’s your favorite way to buy art?

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Rent The Accesories!

Remember Rent The Runway? The first post I ever did, and now, as of just today, they have begun to carry/rent high end jewelry.

screen shot from RentTheRunway.com

You can rent bracelets, earrings, and necklaces from a number of high end brands including Badgley Mishka Jewelry and Rachel Leigh.  Similarly to the dresses, you can narrow your search down by designer, style, color and occasion. Prices on these pieces are more than you’d pay for a bargain piece at Forever 21 or H&M, but are a fraction (usually about 1/10th) the retail price for these namesake pieces. Prices for the jewelry start at a rental fee of $10 and go as high as $150 (for Janis Savitt Swarovski encrusted sterling silver necklaces). Personally, I love the “edgy” section under style; beautiful classy yet edgy-refined jewelry for the edgy fashionista right there!

Also new to our favorite site, same day delivery for NYC residents! So go on the site, sign up if you haven’t already, and start looking fab for cheap!