"Whatever Event Prompts a Knitter to Paint Her Nails"

I laughed so hard when Del posted,

"I hope you had a great time at whatever event prompts a knitter to paint her nails, LOL."

because I didn't go paint my nails as I intended. Why? Because I had to knit some more! So I finished a Lizard Ridge square instead. We're diehards aren't we? I hoped I'd be able to touch up my mani at lunch today and I did. Why use up valuable knitting time at home?

The event Olga and I attended was a lecture at the Corcoran Gallery of Art given by Andre Leon Talley, Editor at Large, Vogue Magazine.

He had a great slide show of his favorite spring fashions and took questions later. He was so entertaining, charming, and funny and not at all imposing in person as he appears in Vogue. Talley dressed simply in a grey suit and white shirt. But he had on black pumps with huge rhinestone buckles, made especially for him. Andre just had to be Andre, I guess. Some of his favorites of the season included Chanel, Peter Som, Versace, Vera Wang, Balenciaga, Missoni, and one of mine, Prada. Here are few shots of the slide show. If you're interested in seeing better photos of the full collections, go to Style.com.

Someone asked what he thought of the movie, The Devil Wears Prada, in which the Merrill Streep character is alledged to be based on Vogue editor Anna Wintor, Talley's boss. He wouldn't even entertain the question. Don't blame him. I'd want to keep my job too! Someone else asked him what effect Project Runway has had on the fashion world, but he said he has never watched it. We were gossiping with some people at the reception afterwards and we figured out that he wouldn't admit to watching PR because Nina (Garcia?) is the editor of Elle, a Vogue competitor.

There were some great looking people at this sold out event. It was good to see that some part of Washington is fashionable and attends these events.

Andre singled a few well-dressed women in the crowd during the question and answer session, including the young woman on the right in the picture below.
I loved the woman in the hat. She was throwing back martinis at the reception later.

She made sure I got one too.

This young Houstonian, Julia, was appalled that there's no dress code in DC. She was shocked that people don't even dress up for church! (Many folks in the South and in Texas still have special Sunday clothes for church.) Julia proudly told us she dresses as approriate for the occasion and volunteered to posed for me. She even whipped out her own camera. I've toyed with the idea of copying The Satorialist, posting shots of well-dressed Washingtonians, but I'm too shy to ask people if I can take their picture.

Really, on the whole, most Texans dress up more than the Washingtonians I see everyday. Not big hair necessarily, but more make up, more jewelry, albeit subtly done. I remember when I moved here from Texas, I was stunned too. Then I began to dress less. I'd feel underdressed when I went home, so I'd put on more makeup and jewelry on when I got to Dallas DFW, so that I'd feel confortable when I landed in El Paso. On the way back to DC, I'd pare down a bit. Now I just do whatever I feel like according to mood - women should feel free to choose. (Talley said, "It's not what you wear, it's what you project.") But I've noticed lately that I'm slowly reverting to my old Texan ways. Decades-old habits die hard! I feel better when I'm dressed and made up, though these days that may mean only earrings, lipstick, blush, powder, mascara, sunglasses, and clean jeans!

Olga and I and another attendee had our picture taken for the society pages of DC Modern Luxury. Our first! I'll let you know if they actually get published.