The Girl's Guide to DC
Issue 27: It's Still Spooky Season to Me
Welcome back! If you missed last week’s issue, find it here. Make sure to read my interview with Madeline Fry Schultz below — she has some exciting news!
I want this newsletter to be about you, the ladies of DC, so send me your Capitol Hill celeb sightings and bad date stories by replying to this email.
What They Don’t Tell You
I asked, you guys delivered. Thanks to everyone who sent in their thrifting tips, and tune in next week for my tips!
Harvest Prude’s Thrifting Tips
Harvest writes: My advice to beginner thrifters is to pick a store and be patient! It can be an overwhelming experience at first, so hit a store a few different times before writing it off. Sometimes stores will be really picked over on the weekends, but you might just strike gold on a weekday after they restock.
Don’t overlook the houseware, outerware, dresses, and sleepwear sections. Oftentimes, sturdier garments like coats and jackets tend to be in better shape than tops or pants, so I often head straight for those sections. I've also found beautiful vintage robes and nightgowns from Calvin Klein, Victoria Secret, and other brands at one of my favorite stores.
An easy way to find find winning items is to keep an eye out for specific colors, textures, or styles you love.
My best advice is to have a good pump-up playlist, swap your heavy purse for a fanny pack (I wish I was kidding!) and wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
Read my interview with Harvest in Issue 1 of Girl’s Guide here.
Ellen Dunlavey Says Consignment Saves the Day
Ellen Dunlavey (read my interview with her here) has found special occasion dresses and a beloved leather Dooney & Bourke bag at Secondi, a consignment store that’s a staple in Dupont Circle.
I (Evie) am also a huge fan of Secondi. It’s a great place to get your favorite designers and brands at a big markdown. I’ve bought a pair of Hunter boots and a classic black velvet headband by Lele Sadoughi at Secondi and love browsing their items, which often include items ranging from Bottega Veneta to Nanette Lepore.
Check Secondi out on Instagram for updates on what they have in stock! Although a lot of the items are pricey, consignment shops like Secondi are a great place to get investment pieces that will last for years.
Liv Johnson Says Don’t Forget Homeware
Liv and her husband recently moved into their first house and are busy making it their own! Liv is a renaissance woman with an amazing knack for making spaces elegant and inviting at the same time.
Some of her favorite finds include the mantel she found for $100, a vintage Ethan Allen hutch she paid $145 for (that retails online for $1,500), and mid-century pieces including a vintage blue velvet couch that cost $100 from a Salvation Army in her home state of Illinois.
On the weekends, you’ll likely find Liv at the Laurel Thrift Center or The Antique Center at Savage Mill.
Interview with Madeline Fry Schultz
Meet Madeline Fry Schultz, a writer and editor who is expecting a baby boy with her husband Michael next year — and no, they’re not just having a kid so she could be a “pregnant pause” for Halloween. Follow Madeline on Twitter and read her latest piece by clicking here!
Why do you love your neighborhood?
My husband and I just moved to Alexandria, Virginia, from our one-bedroom apartment in the H St. Corridor of DC. I loved living just north of Capitol Hill and being able to walk to most of my favorite neighborhoods. Now, I love not smelling trash on the street and actually getting to put my grocery bags in a car. Plus, Alexandria is super cute and family friendly, and Old Town is better than Georgetown. (I said what I said!)
What does your life look like right now?
I'm the assistant contributors editor at the Washington Examiner, and I'm also five months pregnant. So right now, life is a lot of editing, reading, and eating — all the time. I'm trying to get into home improvement and will be painting the baby's nursery sometime really soon, which is what I keep telling myself.
When is baby Schultz due?
Our baby is due on February 22, and I'm going to try very hard to persuade him to wait to come out until his due date. 2/22/22 would be such a cool birthday!
What are your favorite spots in DC?
The Wydown in DC has the best pumpkin spice latte I've ever had. And if you're not basic like me, it also has good drip coffee. Also try the cinnamon oat milk latte or lavender latte. Chez Billy Sud in Georgetown is the coziest spot for fall happy hours/dinners. Across the Potomac, you have to try Barca in Old Town Alexandria. Amazing tapas, cocktails (I've heard), and a beautiful view of the water.
Do you have a favorite DC memory?
This has to be the night I met my husband. We met at a friend's apartment, and our group went out to 18th Street Lounge (RIP!). A random guy asked me to dance and promptly told me I was the worst dancer ever (his exact words). Then Michael asked me to dance and assured me that I'm not the worst dancer because, actually, he is. (This was sweet, but not true.) I remember feeling like that night was full of potential, which I think represents the best of what DC can be for young people.
What’s your beauty routine like?
I've had basically the same beauty routine since high school, so take any advice with a grain of salt. I usually clean my face with Thayers Rose Petal Facial Toner and apply L'Oreal True Match foundation. That plus a generous amount of concealer, some blush and highlighter from Ulta, and good black eyeliner, and I'm good to go.
How would you describe your style?
I've always thought I wanted my style to be more Anthropologie and less LOFT, but I'm learning to accept that I actually want a fairly classic/professional style, and that's okay. Staying at home during the pandemic has inspired me to mix more casual and dressy items together with an eye toward comfort. I've always loved monochrome and neutrals, but I'm a sucker for a good pink statement piece or a pair of patterned statement pants. I'm really just trying to look like Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman: 1984.
The Haps
The Hottest Trend This Fall? Vests
Ah, the power of the finance bro vest. Is it what propelled Glenn Youngkin to victory in the Virginia governor race? We may never know. However, his commitment to The Look™ did not go unnoticed — President Biden called him out for it while campaigning for Democrat Terry McAuliffe. Even Virginia’s version of The Babylon Bee made light of Youngkin’s love affair with vests — check it out!
Kim Kardashian “Intrigued” by Pete Davidson
STOP THE PRESSES! Kim Kardashian may be bouncing back from Kanye West with none other than gangly funnyman Pete Davidson. While neither have confirmed the dating rumors, one of Kim’s friends told Page Six the star is “intrigued” by Davidson. It’s the situationship that’s launching a thousand thinkpieces, including this one from New York Post declaring Pete Davidson the new Warren Beatty.
Good Tweet, Bad Tweet
I’ve never seen “Succession,” but their casting of Red Scare podcaster Dasha Nekrasova may mean I have to start watching. Check out this GQ interview with Dasha about how art imitates life as she plays a cynical PR flack in the hit show. H/t Harvest Prude
Trick or Treat
Thanks to everyone who sent in their Halloween pics! It seems that political costumes were ascendant this year — never change, DC.
