Welcome back! If you missed last week’s issue, find it here.
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.
To Wear or Not To Wear
This week, I’m featuring my latest article for Evie Magazine, 6 Items You Should Dump From Your Closet If You Want To Be Taken Seriously.
Why is it that everyone wants to be something they’re not? Our youth-obsessed culture is constantly advising women on how to appear younger… but what about those of us who actually want to appear older?
I graduated college and started working full-time at age 20, so it was very important to me that how I dressed didn’t give away that I was younger than some of the office interns. I wasn’t sure how to build my wardrobe, but I did know that avoiding revealing clothing and neon colors was probably a good start. (Hearing a friend in a management position complain about her own intern whose interpretation of business professional was wearing a blazer over a low-cut bodycon dress helped my thought process, too.)
Women in their twenties often want to look more mature for many reasons: to be taken more seriously at work, to make a good impression on a potential landlord, or even just to feel more confident in their style. The “wear whatever you want” fashion landscape of the 2020s doesn’t exactly help with that. So if you look in the mirror and wonder why your outfit doesn’t seem put together, or are annoyed by people assuming you’re years younger than you really are, keep reading to find out what the culprits in your wardrobe could be…
Click here to read the rest of my story for Evie Magazine.
Interview with Lindsey Curnutte
Every week, I introduce you to a woman who knows the ins and outs of DC. This week, that woman is Lindsey Curnutte! Give her a follow on Twitter and keeping reading to learn more about her experience living and working in DC.
Know a lady I should interview next? Shoot me an email at girlygirlsguidetodc@gmail.com!
What does your life look like right now?
I moved out of a townhouse on Capitol Hill with a few friends last summer and have been living in a studio apartment in Navy Yard since then! I also left my job as a comms director for a House member to work as Heritage Action’s press secretary at the same time, so 2021 was full of change for me. I’m enjoying my time seeing friends on the weekends and trying new restaurants, finding cute decor for my place, traveling for work, trying to work out more, and hanging out with my kitten Bisou, who is the most adorable thing ever.
What's your favorite coffee shop or restaurant in the DC area?
Ugh, that’s such a hard question to answer! I’ve lived in the DC area since high school and have seen the city change a lot, so it’s been so fun trying new restaurants and coffee shops in different neighborhoods.
Junction Bakery is a great coffee place I go to a lot since it's near where I work. I love Residents in Dupont for cocktails and tapas-style bites. I just tried Nara-Ya, a new sushi place at The Wharf, which was amazing! But I'd say my comfort favorite is this tiny hibachi place in Alexandria called Samurai Hibachi & Sushi where I’d go to with my friends in high school.
What is the best piece of career or job hunting advice you've received?
A piece of advice that has been so important for me is to go for new opportunities that are outside my comfort zone. The most impactful opportunities I’ve explored have been roles where I thought I had no clue what I was doing or didn’t think I was experienced enough. Those positions ended up being very transformative and have led me down new paths where I was able to work with great people!
Every 20-something woman in DC has to pick up a copy of Dana Perino’s book Everything Will Be Okay. I read it when I was transitioning to a new role and new stage in my life, and her lessons and experiences were so helpful! I also just love Dana Perino, so it was a treat hearing about how she became so successful.
What’s your beauty routine like?
I’ve been really into skincare since college and I've developed a pretty strict nighttime regime. I’ve been loving the under-eye caffeine solution from The Ordinary and Mark Jacobs Youthquake face moisturizer, but my holy grail is the Laneige lip mask, a must for the winter! My skin gets so dry in the winter, so I apply the lip mask like every hour on the hour.
For makeup, I keep it pretty simple but I love a winged liner and like trying new products! The Soleil Tan de Chanel (now called Las Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream) and Rare Beauty liquid blush (a little goes a very long way) are both great.
How would you describe your style?
I've been getting so tired of my wardrobe full of Zara/J. Crew/Loft pieces that I have for work and have really wanted to work on buying quality pieces I love. So I'd say my aspirational style is a mix of 60s/classic American vibe. I love a classic white button-down shirt, a well-fitting blazer, and good denim. A goal of mine for 2022 is to choose quality over quantity and invest in pieces I'll have for more than one season. My style icons are Jackie Kennedy, model Elsa Hosk, and Jane Birkin, they're all over my Pinterest boards.
The Haps
Another DC Drama Is in the Works
New York magazine journalist Olivia Nuzzi is a familiar face for many of us in the Twittersphere, but it appears she’s taking on a new role: TV writer. Deadline reports that Nuzzi is creating “a pitch-black satirical drama set in Washington, DC for AMC.” If you’re a fan of both political thrillers and a certain spy show starring Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh, you’re in luck: Killing Eve executive producer Gina Mingacci is attached to the project. Nuzzi’s show “follows a young reporter in DC who defects from the mainstream media,” according to Deadline. Let’s hope this fictional reporter meets a better end than Zoe in House of Cards.
The Sex Lives of College Girls: Watch or Skip?
I think all of us can agree that Mindy Kaling is an icon. However, her latest project misses the mark, Madeline Fry Schultz writes in her review of Kaling’s new show The Sex Lives of College Girls. The show centers on college roommates Kimberly, Bela, Leighton, and Whitney as they navigate life and love at their East Coast school. Read the review by clicking here, and read my recent interview with Madeline by clicking here.
Congrats & More
CATHERINE OLOHAN celebrates her birthday on Jan. 16. Make sure to wish her a happy birthday!
LOOKING FOR A JOB? Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s campaign is seeking a capable, reliable communications assistant for the 2022 campaign in Austin, Texas. This is a paid position with benefits. The communications assistant will contribute to every aspect of the comms team including press, policy, and digital. The ideal candidate will have some previous experience on campaigns. This will be one of the most watched campaigns of the 2022 cycle. Email resume and cover letter to press@gregabbott.com today.
Ask Evie
Have a question you want me to answer in the newsletter? Click this link to send your question anonymously!
I can’t promise to have all the answers, but I will consult with the experts, a.k.a. the plotlines of my favorite 2000s romcoms.