On July 29, 2016 at 6:30p.m. The Fashion Group International® of Greater Washington, DC, Inc. will present The Art of Buying with Ken Downing, Fashion Director & Senior VP of Neiman Marcus.
FGIDC Regional Director Elaine Mensah will lead an intimate discussion on the ins and outs of buying in the fashion industry with Ken Downing, the famed tastemaker who oversees women’s and men’s trends for Neiman Marcus, manages a team of fashion editors in the company’s New York office, and provides a vision for over 200 merchants on the season’s trends.
“Mr. Downing is widely recognized as one of the most influential personalities in fashion. We are so honored to host him and bring his energy and multi-faceted knowledge of the fashion industry to our members and the Washington DC area fashion professionals interested in joining our organization,” said FGIDC Director Elaine Mensah.
Downing rose through the ranks of Neiman Marcus after starting with the company in 1990 in the Visual department of the Beverly Hills store. His experience covers the worlds of visual display, public relations, buying and trend analysis. Downing is a graduate of Seattle Central College and The Fashion Institute of Technology and has a degree in apparel design.
The event will be held at a location to be announced before the event on Friday, July 29, 2016 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm and is open to all at $25 for FGI Members and $40 for non-members. Downing has generously agreed to sit down with 4 FGI members & DC based designers for one-on-one discussion and collection review. Individuals interested in this opportunity can email rsvp@fgidc.org for more information on how to secure one of these coveted spots. For tickets and more information on The Art of Buying, visit fgidcxkendowning.eventbrite.
Haute Haus Agency hosts Rock the Runway DC, an original couture NY-Fashion Week preview of headlining designer Marchesa. Musical accompaniment to collections convey the aesthetic of a designer’s work in ways which presenting the collection on its own, cannot, so a live performance will be paired with the original runway production to artistically convey that creativity is style. Live music is now adding to the manifestation of runway; the shows of many major fashion houses now like concerts, its musicians their muse.
Guests will be presented with an original couture fashion show, live concert, Kendra Scott trunk show, two open bars, haute gift bags, and more. Proceeds benefit Music Unites, a 501(c)3 charity that supports music education around the world.
VIP guest: singer/songwriter Traci Braxton (Braxton Family Values) and hosts HeyFrase/FOX5 hosts Sarah Fraser and Samy K; live entertainment to be announced soon.
WHAT: SMITHSONIAN at 8 presents “PostSecret Revealed: A Party at the Postal Museum”
WHEN: Friday, July 29, 8 to 11 p.m. (7 to 11 p.m. for VIP ticket-holders)
WHERE: National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Nothing spices up a party better than spilling a few secrets—and Frank Warren knows more than a million of them. That’s how many postcards from around the world have filled his mailbox since he started the wildly popular PostSecret project in 2004. The anonymous confessions—silly, moving, surprising, provocative, and sometimes disturbing—have already provided the material for six books. The Postal Museum’s exhibition PostSecret: The Power of a Postcard is the perfect reason for a party.
Guests can join Warren for an inside look at the PostSecret phenomenon, as he speaks exclusively with VIP ticket-holders from 7 to 8 p.m. The celebration continues with opportunities for guests to try their hand at crafting their own mail art, and post or tweet a secret they’ve been wanting to tell. They’ll also enjoy music by DJ Alkimist, cocktails, and more as they wander through some of the museum’s fascinating exhibits after hours.
PostSecret: The Power of a Postcard includes hundreds of thousands of postcards sent to Frank Warren. The exhibition tells a contemporary story of mail and the postal service, highlighting the aesthetics of the artfully decorated cards and the contrast between their anonymity and the shared experiences Warren creates with them. It also demonstrates the timeless yet modern quality of postcards and reflects the overlap amongst personal communication, digital technology, and social media at the heart of the PostSecret phenomenon.
Who knows what secrets might be revealed—or created—during the evening?
Copies of Warren’s six PostSecret books are available for sale and signing.
SPECIAL FEATURES FOR VIP TICKET-HOLDERS: Enjoy an exclusive conversation with Frank Warren from 7 to 8 p.m.
General admission $25
VIP admission $30
All ticket sales are final. No refunds or exchanges.
Must be 21 years old with valid photo ID to attend.
For tickets and further information the public may call 202-633-3030 or visit www.SMITHSONIANat8.com
7 a.m., 8 a.m. Lattes with Lincoln
Get caffeinated with the 16th commander-in-chief and learn how legislation signed by Abraham
Lincoln during the Civil War is considered by many to be the birth of the National Park System!
Meet the park ranger at the kiosk at 10 Henry Bacon Drive (north of the memorial).
9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Living National Park Service Emblem
Be a part of the world’s largest National Park Service emblem created on the grounds of the
Washington Monument on our 100th birthday! More than 1,000 participants will be assembled
into a living Arrowhead using brown, green and white umbrellas; once the Arrowhead is formed,
an aerial photograph will be taken and shared with participants on the National Mall and
Memorial Parks website and social media pages. The first 1,000 participants to check-in will
receive a t-shirt commemorating their participation in this historic event, as well as get to keep
their umbrella. Assemble at 9 a.m. on the west side of the Washington Monument grounds.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Rangerpalooza
The green and gray uniform and ranger’s “flat hat” are among the most recognized features of
the National Park Service. Celebrate 100 years of the National Park Service by learning about
the men and women who care for the national parks. Children of all ages can try on National
Park Service uniforms, see how the uniform has evolved through the years, earn a junior ranger
badge, and learn about the many jobs in National Park Service that protect America’s scenic
wonders and historic sites. Lincoln Memorial
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. America’s Front Yard Family Festival
Featuring live music, storytelling and other activities, this festival looks forward to the next
century of the National Park Service, highlighting today’s youth as the future stewards of our
national parks. Grammy-nominated rock band for kids Milkshake headlines an entertainment
lineup that also includes acoustic guitar and vocals by Ellis Woodward; Uncle Devon; lively
children’s sing-alongs with Yosi & the Superdads, the Great American Indian Dancers;
magic, music and juggling with the Wes Holly Balloon Magic Show; vocalist Erica Wheeler,
and YAP, who delivers national park themes through hip-hop music and culture. Constitution
Gardens
The festival also includes face painting, juggling, a corn maze and lots of other fun activities for
kids of all ages. Exhibits by more than 20 National Park Service partners will include Lego
models of national parks, virtual reality park tours, 3-D printing of National Mall monuments
and memorials, natural flora and fauna found in urban parks, and much more!
On Saturday, September 17 from 8pm – 10pm, Shinola (1631 14th St NW) will partner with The Social Club Grooming Company to host an in-store ShopTalk event
Please note that though this event is public, an RSVP email to RSVP_DC@shinola.com
- At this shopping party, you can score stylish handbags, shoes, apparel and more from coveted designers like Chloé, Valentino, Tibi, Maje, The Kooples, Derek Lam, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin, Oscar de la Renta and GANT—all at up to 80 percent off retail.
- While stocking up on fall’s hottest designer trends, enjoy award-winning SOTO sake.
- Be sure to leave your bag and jacket at home to skip the coat-check line. Then, head straight through the FastPass entrance to navigate the constantly replenished racks.
- Stay hydrated while power shopping with organic iced tea refreshments from the Pure Leaf Tea House Collection.