Nina McLemore: Dressing the power elite (and the creator of Hillary's horrid jackets)

An interesting article appeared in The Examiner today, shocking, I know. Part of their weekly Power Profile, Whitney Blake spoke with Nina McLemore, of her namesake line for the power elite as well as the founder of Liz Claiborne Accessories in the '80s. And while I am not personally a fan of the line (or many of the women who wear it, but that's a whole other aside), I find her takes on fashion, business and women in both very fascinating.

“I’m very angry at the fashion industry,” she said. The industry has “no respect for accomplished women,” viewing them as “sex objects, not smart and capable.”

Her line, mainly “jacket driven,” also includes pants and blouses for business, casual and evening attire. She targets businesswomen with high net worth, female politicians — most notably Sen. Hillary Clinton — and what McLemore calls “community women” who are involved in philanthropy or who have husbands in powerful positions. ... (Know we know where Hillary found her amazing taste - and her $795 quilted coats!)

... Clinton prefers longer jackets, and her signature colors include blue and coral, which McLemore said brings out the highlights in her hair. ...

McLemore’s clothes come in five fits to accommodate all body shapes, and she designs them herself with natural fabrics primarily made in America. She recommends bold, vibrant colors for women who often appear in public or on television. McLemore picks versatile styles that can be worn anywhere, and she uses wrinkle-free materials to allow for easy traveling. ...

... McLemore has a keen sense of her customers’ tastes. Women in law, government and business “dress more understatedly and conservatively” compared with women in New York. At the same time, Washington women have an international flair and often pick textiles and colors from, say, Southeast Asia and Kenya. ...

To read the entire article, which talks a lot more about the business side, click here...

– Examiner/Greg Whitesell

These Shoes Are Made for Stalking

"Days spent chasing lawmakers on the Capitol’s marble floors can be a challenge," Jonathan E. Kaplan says in an article this month in Washingtonian. "The hard marble puts pressure on knees and backs and even makes for slips." Well, we knew all that, so the interesting part? His short piece takes a look at Congressional correspondents and their preferred footwear - and I have to say poo-poo to most of them!

I wear at least 3.5-inch heels on the Hill on most days, and do I complain? No! Why? Because they are feminine and dress- and location-appropriate, and I manage to find ones that are actually pretty comfortable.

Big props to "shoe addict" Susan Milligan of the Boston Globe (pictured above right), she "toughs it out wearing flashy stilettos. She admits they 'kill' her back, but they also get her noticed. One Massachusetts Democrat routinely comments on her shoes." Nice job and I love the flash of color - something way-too lacking under the Dome.

Some more tidbits - some of which frankly scare me:

“Rubber soles are a must,” says Anne Kornblut, who often tracks the movements of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (who wears low heels) for the Washington Post. Kornblut says she’s found a shoe-repair shop that will add rubber soles to her leather shoes. (This is key! I make sure to have no-slips and rubber soles on my shoes to avoid falling, and more importantly, to avoid making loads of noise with each step.) ...

... CNN congressional correspondent Jessica Yellin prefers clogs because they’re good for posture and are more attractive than many other ergonomically friendly shoes. (There's a photo with the story that I would be happy NEVER seeing again!)

Juliet Eilperin, a onetime congressional reporter for the Post who now writes about the environment, says former majority leader Dick Armey, a Texas Republican, taught her that cowboy boots are best for pounding the marble floors. (Do I even need to say anything here?)

To read the entire article, with a lot more about journos' secret lives, click here...

– Jay Clendenin/Washingtonian

Dressing Michelle Obama

I just love finding out where pols have their duds made. That's why today's WWD feature on Chicago designer Maria Pinto, who dresses potential-first lady Michelle Obama, was so interesting. Obama dresses so young and chic, while staying within the bounds of conservative Washington, just like her husband. If somehow they make it into the White House, I think there could be a big change in D.C. style. Plus those little kids are just too cute!

To read the article you need an account, so if you do, click here...

– AP Photo/Ed Reinke from 2004

Fenty runs for a cure, store promotion

Mayor Fenty is often seen jogging the streets of D.C. and this weekend was no different. The long-time runner and health promoter (one of the few things he and his predecessor have in common) ran the National Race for the Cure 5K in the early a.m. of Saturday, and he did it in just over 19 minutes. And the reason this tidbit is making the blog? Fenty ran the race sporting a not-so-attractive running jersey sprawled with the name of his parents’ Adams Morgan fitness-wares store, Fleet Feet.

Fenty was just one of more than 45,000 participants of the 3.2-mile race/walk, which raised nearly $4 million. Also there was Rep. Jim Moran and CBS news anchor Katie Couric, among others.

Dressing VIPs in McLean

The Washingtonian's Leslie Milk discovered an interesting tidbit:

First Lady Laura Bush wasn't the only one to have a dress designed just for the White House white tie dinner for the Queen. But while Laura went to New York for an Oscar De La Renta, Second Lady Lynne Cheney has a designer much closer to home. Kwon's Boutique in McLean has been designing her gowns for years. Kwon also designs for Janet Langhart, wife of former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, and lots of other A-listers.

Kwon's Boutique
1350 Beverly Road #102
McLean, VA 22101
703-827-0700

Clothes That Work

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)

Her Capitol Hill look: “Updated tradition­al—suits by Ellen Tracy or Elie Tahari with straight skirts or trousers. For warmer weather, I really like a pink light-wool skirt
suit I have.”

What she’s buying for spring: “White shirts by Brooks Brothers or Calvin Klein, and I’m looking for a new basic khaki trench coat.”

Work carryall: “A brown leather Furla tote—it’s a good size for holding files.”

Signature jewelry: “A gold necklace or strand of pearls.”

Where she shops in Washington: “I’ll run into Filene’s Basement or Loeh­mann’s—I prefer to buy things on sale. After all, I’m a conservative.”

What she's wearing: Blackburn buys good-quality, tailored pieces,
like these two old favorites: a wool and silk Féraud pantsuit and a
silk blouse by Gasp.

–Photograph by Matthew Worden; text from April Washingtonian magazine