Blonde in the District

When I moved to Old Town Alexandria 1.5 years ago, I was SO excited. I was excited for a new neighborhood, new restaurants, new experiences, and ultimately- all the amazing shopping I was going to be close to! Old Town has some of the best local boutiques and I was so excited to have them all at my fingertips. That said, I quickly learned that clothing shopping was not going to be easy for me, given the fact that many of the Old Town boutiques don’t offer extended sizing. I’v

I recently worked with OkCupid on their DTF campaign, which empowers women to flip the otherwise derogatory term to make it something that women are *really* down for! One of my DTF moments is 'Down To Find Inspiration in Art'. I shot the campaign imagery at the National Gallery of Art with Arielle, and it made me think of the Museum Hack tour I did a few years ago. I still remember the tour to be SO fun and is PERFECT for a date! I decided to re-share my experience and give

Just 2 days away from Christmas, and according to a handful of people I've talked to, they are still shopping for holiday gifts. And I'm in the same boat!! Today I'm focusing this guide on all local DC/VA shops that are open today for last minute shopping!! A few are also ideas for gift cards or online pruchases, which makes it even easier so you don't have to go anywhere! Last Minute Gift Guide: VA & DC For her: - Custom CEO Skirt or Blazer from my favorite local bespoke des

This year for Small Business Saturday I teamed up with American Express to promote shopping small and shopping local! Founded by American Express, Small Business Saturday was created to rally shoppers, small business owners, and organizations across the country in support of small businesses that make their communities vibrant. Photo by Arielle Lewis at my go-to local hair salon, Illusions of Georgetown As a small business owner of BITD myself, and the wife of a small busines

I am always up for shopping local. In fact, if presented the opportunity to shop a local brand or mainstream brand, I will almost always choose local. This goes for all shopping, but specifically regarding local boutiques, as I really love to support the local fashion community. Top from Undeniable Boutique One of my favorite local shops is Undeniable Boutique, located in Mosaic District and Fairfax Corner. Undeniable Boutique is a well curated boutique where you will find so

When I started my blog in 2014, one goal I had was to "make it into a Washington DC publication." This goal is something that I always strived for, as it was my very first long-term goal. To me, it means hard work and growth, and I knew that if I ever made it into a DC publication, that would mean I have worked hard and grown as a brand. Today I am so ecstatic to share that my goal/dream of making it into a DC publication is here. I am honored to have been included in Washin

By now I’m sure you’ve seen my recent post about LOFT. LOFT has been a store I have shopped at for many years, and their launch of the plus line is legit life changing for me. I can now fit into items that were off limits like pants and jeans, and the new styles fit me perfectly. Last Thursday night I co-hosted the LOFT Plus Pop-Up Party at the Tysons Corner location. This event is one of eight in their pop-up events around the country. Currently the plus line is only availab

If there's one thing I look for in an item, its the versatility of it, especially with jewelry. While I do love costume/in-your-face pieces, I will almost always opt for jewelry that I can wear all the time to get the most value out of it. When it comes to clothing I'm pretty picky about price points, but when it comes to jewelry I'm willing to spend a little bit more especially if I can wear the piece daily and its a timeless design. Last year, I was introduced to Sophie Bl

Shopping local. It is something that I always value doing to support the community. My husband is a small business owner and I have seen first hand everything that goes into running a business, and the number one thing we depend on is business from the community. Having seen this first hand and having gotten to know a number of small business owners in DC <some of which I can call friends!> I am a huge advocate for shopping small. When presented the opportunity, I will <almos

Last week I was invited to a preview of the Spirit of Autumn at the new art phenom, ARTECHOUSE. ARTECHOUSE is the first technology based innovate art space in DC. The exhibits are completely immersive and interactive with viewers, making everyone part of the art. The space opened over the summer with the XYZT: Abstract Landscapes, which I unfortunately didn't get to see. When I saw the preview invite for the newest exhibit, entitled Spirit of Autumn, I jumped on the opportu

For the record, this week has been one of the hardest to cope with. Its the week back to reality after NYFW, and I have a serious fashion hangover. Going from the stylish NYC streets and energy of NYFW to the rat race of DC, my heart and mind have both been longing for the style and buzz that embodies fashion week. Luckily, I have a light at the end of the tunnel. This Saturday I'll be walking in the Fairfax Corner Fashion NoVA event and fashion show. If that isn't a fashion

Last night I attended Diner en Blanc for the first time. I was extended an invitation from Angelica Talan of Angelica in the City and Clarendon Moms and I was so excited to finally see what all the fuss was about! I had seen other friends attend previous years, but I didn't know the full scope of the event until this year. Diner en Blanc is a tradition that started in Paris, France in 1988. The supper club tradition started when the founder, François Pasquier, wanted to have

Its been awhile since I've done a FAB Friday, so todays is coming in hot with The Embassy Row Hotel! The Embassy Row is a hotel I have always liked and known since it opened. Not only is it known for their angel wings mural, but they have one of the best rooftops in all of DC. I'm pretty sure its even been voted the best roof in DC. When I was approached to work with the hotel on a promotional video, I jumped at the chance to work with them and build a relationship. The conce

I know, I know, my blog name is "Blonde in the DISTRICT," but given that we are in the DMV area, the "district" to me me

I've been milling over this post for quite some time. Its taking me awhile to truly open up about what I'm calling my 'hair journey' that I've been dealing with since January. My entire blog namesake is based on my hair. It is my brand, and who I have become. In January, I had a terrible hair incident that threatened my entire brand, and resulted in a obstacle filled hair journey. My partner in this hair journey, has been Illusions of Georgetown and Shirlington, who has held

Two weekends ago I was invited to a tasting dinner at Golden Samovar Restaurant in the Rockville Town Square for a tasting menu. My friend and blog partner, Rita of Rituska Inc, is friends with the owners of Golden Samovar and we made a double date out of the evening and brought our husbands for a fun night out. I had never been to the Rockville Town Square, so it was a nice change of scenery for the night. Side note- who knew Rockville Town Square had a Vogue mural!? My outf

Collaboration. You've heard the word here on BITD a few times now. Today's collab is a whole new perspective, heated around the upcoming MEET THE CURATOR "WELCOME TO THE WAKEUP"event happening next Friday, April 21. Before I go into event specifics, I want to highlight what "Welcome to the Wake Up" means. The "Wake Up" is symbolic of what made you take a leap of faith to go after your goals and dreams- an awakening of self. This collaboration was all about the coming together

Collaboration. verb col·lab·o·rate \kə-ˈla-bə-ˌrāt\ collaborated; collaborating intransitive verb 1: to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor. (from Merriam-Webster) It's no surprise that here lately, I've been focused on collaborations with local area creatives. I have found with blogging, that one of the best things to do is grow and meet other like-minded individuals, and one of the best ways is through collabs. Not only do you le

Like most people I have met through blogging, I met the owner of Rituska Inc on Instagram. I received a message from the owner, Rita, introducing herself and asking if I'd be interested in receiving a custom floral arrangement. I visited her page and said, ummm heck yes! I loved her paper flower creations and knew they'd be perfect for blog photo flatlays, backdrops, and various events! Photo from Rituska Inc Rituska Inc specializes in custom paper floral arrangements. Think

I can't say this enough- I LOVE ELOQUII. Seriously. I will sing it from the rooftops for all to hear- and I'm not even a singer. While I only recently became an avid ELOQUII customer, I am officially hooked on this brand. So, today's FAB Friday is my love note to ELOQUII, plus I'm throwing in some details of the Fashion for Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation event I'm hosting with ELOQUII on April 6. You can see my other ELOQUII posts here and here. After knowing the brand (can