The Girly Girl's Guide to DC

Issue 1: There's No Shame in Mirror Selfies

Welcome to The Girly Girl’s Guide to D.C.

My name’s Evie Fordham, and I’ve been working in D.C. since 2018. I like to think I’ve learned a thing or two in that time … and even if I haven’t, boy do I have a lot of funny stories. I’m not saying I’m Gen Z Carrie Bradshaw, but I’m not not saying it.

I’m writing this newsletter to share some of my experiences finding love, working, and making friends in the Swamp — lessons that definitely extend outside of D.C. 

Advice on living in D.C. from my Twitter followers.

Whether you’re arriving as an intern or moving here 10 years into your career, you can make D.C. work for you. I’ve done it.

I studied political journalism in college, and somehow ended up doing EXACTLY what my major says - writing political news. I met my amazing boyfriend at trivia night at a bar near Federal Triangle, so I guess I can thank the city for at least one good thing.

Tune into this newsletter for semi-practical advice, the best Hill fashion and interviews with women who’ve conquered the city. And to be clear, this newsletter is not just for girly girls - in fact, I would describe my everyday look as tomboy trucker chic.

The author sporting a 70s-inspired look (left) versus her typical oversized jean jacket ensemble (right).

What They Don’t Tell You #1

We’ve all heard the cliche that you become the average of the five people you spend the most time around. And in D.C., which I like to call a drinking town with a working problem, that’s your coworkers. Maybe you fit in with your coworkers. Maybe you like them but feel a bit like a fish out of water. 

No matter what your situation, take stock of your office culture. Does everyone socialize (even if it’s on Zoom)? Do they speak well of each other? Do managers promote work-life balance? 

You’ll want to be able to separate yourself from your office culture and analyze it so you can recognize what’s good and what’s bad. For your own sanity’s sake, I think there’s nothing more important than having friends totally separate from work, even though I’ve met some of my best friends at work! You don’t want to have to talk about office politics all the time, ya know?

The author (center) celebrates her 23rd birthday with friends.

I had a real problem with this at my first job for the sole reason that I was 20 and all my coworkers went out to bars on the weekends. Y’all, I did not know I’d be wishing for a fake ID for my first FULL-TIME JOB. 

Back then, I was thankful I had friends whose social lives didn’t revolve around drinking. We planned hikes and coffee dates, etc. The FOMO fades with time, but good friends can stay for years.

Right now it’s a little hard with limits on social activity, but here are a few ways I have made friends outside of work during the pandemic:

• Joining a church small group

• Social media (slide into those DMs!)

• Asking acquaintances to grab coffee to get to know them better

An Interview with Harvest Prude

Every issue, I plan to introduce you to a woman who knows the ins and outs of D.C. so that you can steal her  ̶i̶d̶e̶n̶t̶i̶t̶y̶  tips.

Harvest Prude is my long-time former roommate who can tell you things like the best places to get boba tea in the DMV. She’s also a dedicated reporter who witnessed the Jan. 6 Capitol riot firsthand and wrote about it here.

What’s your occupation?

I’m a politics reporter for WORLD.

A mirror selfie triptych by Harvest Prude.

What’s your favorite coffeeshop?

My favorite coffeeshop (and a total hidden DMV gem) is Breeze Bakery Cafe in Annandale, Va. They have the best Korean pastries and $1 house coffee in the mornings. If you're feeling adventurous, they also have iced banana lattes. Their upstairs balcony is the best reading spot on warm summer days!

What’s your favorite restaurant?

I don't have a top favorite restaurant, but I do want to recommend the amazing and authentic Ethiopian and Korean food scene in the DMV area. You can find dozens of Korean BBQ spots in Annandale, and there are superb Ethiopian restaurants in D.C. proper as well. 

What’s your quarantine beauty routine like?

Since we all have more time on our hands at home, I've gotten more into skincare and specifically facial massage. You can just use your hands, but I recently got a Gua Shua stone and a jade roller, and I love to use both at night. They feel really cool on your skin and are great for depuffing and energizing your skin.

How would you describe your style?

My style icons are Sade and Audrey Hepburn, and I love anything French, so you can pretty much always find me wearing neutral and minimalistic basics with a masculine twist. I think high-waisted blue jeans were the best article of clothing ever invented, and I'll probably be riding the layered gold jewelry trend until my dying day. 

Sade (left) and Audrey Hepburn (right).

What does your job look like during quarantine?

I spend a lot more time doing phone interviews and monitoring C-SPAN from home, but when I do go to Capitol Hill I always budget some extra time to navigate the layers of Congress' security apparatus that have sprung up since January. I can't say I miss networking events, but I do miss grabbing coffee with staffers and other journalists, so I'm excited for those to come back. Whenever that happens, hit me up on Twitter or elsewhere. :)

The Haps

So, uhh, is it too early for me to send TeenVogue my resume for that editor-in-chief slot? In case you missed it, Axios reporter Alexi McCammond (who was dating a Biden spokesperson and never publicly disclosed it during the 2020 campaign) is going to take charge at TeenVogue. But there’s a catch - the staff doesn’t like that she tweeted racist things years ago, and they want her GONE.

Brian Flood @briansflood

Cancel culture hits Teen Vogue: Editor draws backlash over decade-old tweets she already apologized for foxnews.com/media/cancel-c… #FoxNews

foxnews.comCancel culture hits Teen Vogue: Editor draws backlash over decade-old tweets she already apologized forThe left continues to eat its own. Cancel culture hit Teen Vogue on Monday when staffers erupted over decade-old tweets their incoming boss deleted and apologized for years ago.

Seriously, TeenVogue, hire me instead. The closest thing I have to a designer bag is a black Coach tote I got at Goodwill for $28, but I still have my copies of the magazines from my high school years when Lorde and Zendaya were on the cover! Now that’s vintage. Less politics, more Prada on those pages, please. 

Royal Pains

Everytime I open social media, everyone’s still arguing over Meghan and Harry’s recent interview with Oprah. Guys, that was like five days ago!

I have nothing intelligent to add to the conversation, but I wanted to share the work that most deeply acquainted me with the British Royal Family: the inimitable 2014 television drama “I Wanna Marry Harry.”

Now tell me if you think Meghan Markle watched it or not.

Here’s a few more links to what I’m writing and reading these days:

• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is under fire from both Republicans and Democrats - quite an accomplishment - after ordering nursing homes to accept coronavirus patients in March. My latest story looks at a similar order his administration made regarding homes for people with developmental disabilities.

• If you live on the same side of the Potomac as me, you may want to check out my interview with Virginia gubernatorial candidate Kirk Cox.

• WORLD’s Harvest Prude (interviewed earlier) writes about Republicans and Democrats’ battle for Hispanic voters here.

Don’t be a stranger!

I want this newsletter to be about you, the amazing ladies who make life in the swamp bearable. Send your bad date rants, your coworker’s cute outfits, or the tea on whether TJ Ducklo and Alexi McCammond are still together by replying to this post. 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t include some of the amazing answers to my Twitter inquiry: what do you wish you had known before moving to D.C?

My favorite responses:

Lindsey @SerendipLC

@eviefordham Basically everyone you meet whose job seems intimidating and cool was a MASSIVE nerd in HS and everything they say makes more sense when you realize they’re just trying to make up for it now. They’re still that insecure little smart nerd at heart.

Carolyn Bolton @carbolton

If you’re going to use dating apps, background check every prospective date. You’d be shocked the things I’ve found and bullets I’ve dodged.

Evie Fordham @eviefordham

LADIES - what’s something no one told you before you came to DC that you had to figure out for yourself? Any topic.

Katrina Haydon @katrinabhaydon

@eviefordham You need something on-hand to wear for unexpected: -galas -professional cocktail parties -casual bbqs with colleagues

Carrie Cordero @carriecordero

“Networking” is a waste of time. The friendships & professional relationships you build by working together on hard problems over long hours and some laughter will last decades.

Evie Fordham @eviefordham

LADIES - what’s something no one told you before you came to DC that you had to figure out for yourself? Any topic.

Melissa Lyttle @melissalyttle

@eviefordham It’s a much more liveable and likable city than you may realize. There’s so much more to DC than downtown, the National Mall and politics. Rock Creek Park is twice the size of NYC’s Central Park. And the Ethiopian food in DC is second-to-none.

From the Sketchbook: “The First Date”

Artist’s note: The gentleman does not have a martini so that he can inform the young lady that he is doing keto.