By Michael McCarthy By Michael McCarthy | September 8, 2022 | People, Feature,
Sophisticated with a dash of swagger— these District trendsetters prove that style is indeed a state of mind.
Ashley Darby photographed at the Viceroy Washington, DC
Take one glance at Ashley Darby’s Instagram feed (@ashleyboalchdarby), and it’s clear the star of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Potomac had a decidedly entertaining summer—glam looks and all. The mother of two kids, both under 4, is also a certified yoga instructor who advocates that balance is about inner peace and outer physicality. “Grateful doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel,” Darby posted on her IG earlier this summer. We can’t wait to see the fruits of this gratitude during the next season of RHOP.
WAKE-UP TIME: DARBY BOYS O’CLOCK— USUALLY 6AM
ESCAPE: THE GYM AND THE BEACH, AND PARADISE IS A GYM AT THE BEACH.
WEAKNESS: WHEN MY KIDS SMILE AND SAY ‘I LOVE YOU, MOMMY.’ #MELTMYHEART
MY FASHION AESTHETIC: FUN, COLORFUL, SEXY. NINE TIMES OUT OF 10, I’M WEARING SOMETHING FLORAL.
UNIFORM: LULULEMON LEGGINGS CHERISHED ACCESSORY: MY ASHLEY & DEAN NECKLACE AND MY DYLAN RING
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH: FUN. I USED TO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT BEING SO JOYFUL, BUT WHO HAS TIME FOR THAT?
WORKOUT: HEATHER ROBERTSON AND POPSUGAR FITNESS ON YOUTUBE, ORANGETHEORY
MOVIE: CLUELESS
MENTOR: MY AUNT MONICA—SHE’S THE SMARTEST, MOST COMPOSED WOMAN I’VE EVER MET.
STYLE ICON: THIS IS SO HARD, BUT RIGHT NOW I’M LOVING EVERYTHING KERRY WASHINGTON.
SHOES: WHITE HIGH-TOP CHUCKS AND NUDE STUART WEITZMAN HEELS
LIPSTICK: FENTY GLOW GLOSS
BEST FASHION ADVICE: KEEP AN OPEN MIND. LIKE LIFE, FASHION IS A JOURNEY WITH MANY STOPS.
PHILANTHROPY: SO OTHERS MIGHT EAT, HEALTHY BABIES
MANTRA: EVERYTHING ALWAYS WORKS OUT IN MY BEST INTEREST. (MY BEST FRIEND, EVE, REMINDS ME OF THIS WHEN I’M IN THE THICK OF LIFE.)
CURRENT STYLE OBSESSION: TAKING RISKS AND TRYING FUN LOOKS THAT MY TEAM, JEFF WRIGHT AND COREY SIMS, PUT TOGETHER.
APP: TIKTOK
COCKTAIL: CORONA LIGHT
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: LA MER MOISTURIZER AND SEA BUCKTHORN OIL
BEDTIME: USUALLY MIDNIGHT AFTER BINGEING LOVE ISLAND
BEDSIDE READING: CURRENTLY READING THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD BY CLAIRE LOMBARDO
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “I’M COMING OUT” BY DIANA ROSS
BAG: MY MOOSE KNUCKLES X TELFAR BAG
SIGNATURE SCENT: GUCCI PREMIERE
Olivia Nuzzi photographed at the Viceroy Washington, DC
A frequent presence on CNN, MSNBC and NPR, Olivia Nuzzi (@olivianuzzix) has written for GQ, Esquire, The Washington Post, Glamour and Politico, among other publications. She’s currently the Washington correspondent for New York Magazine and says narrative nonfiction will always be her first love. “But I have a short attention span and prefer to be doing a bunch of different things at once,” she admits. “I’ve had a lot of fun over the past two years working on documentary projects, but the thing I’m most excited about is a Black comedy I’m writing for AMC called A Message From the State, executive produced by Gina Mingacci of Killing Eve.” We can’t wait to see what this great mind conjures.
WAKE-UP TIME: VOLATILE
ESCAPE: THE AMERICAN WEST
WEAKNESS: PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC WELLNESS TRENDS
MY FASHION AESTHETIC: SUMMER GOTH CROSSED WITH THE MATRIX CROSSED WITH BASIC INSTINCT CROSSED WITH SPORTY SPICE CROSSED WITH EASTERN EUROPEAN INFLUENCER CROSSED WITH ’90S STAND-UP COMEDIAN-CORE
UNIFORM: BLACK SHIRT (REFORMATION), BLACK PANTS (AYR), BLACK BOOTS (PRADA)
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: MY LATE FATHER’S ST. CHRISTOPHER AND MY LATE MOTHER’S VIRGIN MARY YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH: BLACK JEANS
WORKOUT: SOLIDCORE, REFORMER PILATES, HIKING
MOVIES: BURN AFTER READING, ITALIANAMERICAN, THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, SLEEPER, THE PARALLAX VIEW
MENTOR: OH, I’VE BEEN SO LUCKY WITH MENTORS. MAUREEN DOWD, SALLY QUINN, LISA MILLER, JACKIE KUCINICH, TAFFY BRODESSERAKNER, MAGGIE HABERMAN, JUDITH REGAN, KARA SWISHER…
STYLE ICON: CHARLOTTE RAMPLING
SHOES: MARION PARKE’S MITCHELL
LIPSTICK: YSL TATOUAGE COUTURE LIQUID MATTE, NO. 25.; CHARLOTTE TILBURY SUPERSTAR LIPS, PILLOW TALK; FRESH SUGAR LIP BALM, ROSE
BEST FASHION ADVICE: WHAT WOULD LAUREN SANTO DOMINGO DO (WWLSDD)?
PHILANTHROPY: I AM SO IMPRESSED BY THE WORK INVISIBLE PEOPLE IS DOING, USING TRADITIONAL JOURNALISTIC STORYTELLING METHODS TO BETTER INFORM US ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND THE PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE IT.
MANTRA: AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.
CURRENT STYLE OBSESSION: FILING MY NAILS INTO SHARP LITTLE CLAWS
APP: MINDBODY
COCKTAIL: MEZCAL ON THE ROCKS WITH LIME JUICE AND SALT
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: MOISTURIZER
BEDTIME: LATE
BEDSIDE READING: CURRENT STACK: WHORE OF NEW YORK BY LIARA ROUX, MCGLUE BY OTTESSA MOSHFEGH, WITHOUT FEATHERS BY WOODY ALLEN, HOW TO SURVIVE THE LOSS OF A PARENT BY LOIS AKNER, ONE RECENT ISSUE OF NEW YORK AND ONE RECENT ISSUE OF THE SPECTATOR
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “YOU WANT IT DARKER” BY LEONARD COHEN
BAG: I’M NOT REALLY A BAG PERSON, BUT I KEPT LOSING CREDIT CARDS AND OTHER PERSONAL BELONGINGS, SO NOW I PUT EVERYTHING IN A BLACK QUILTED YSL.
SIGNATURE SCENT: VANILLARY BY LUSH
Eun Yang photographed at the Viceroy Washington, DC
When the rest of us are in a second or third cycle of REM sleep, Eun Yang (@eunyangdc) is rolling through the morning—all before 3AM. As the brilliant morning anchor at NBC4 Washington for the past 12 years, she’s on the air at 4:30 each day, sharing everything from breaking overnight national and international news to major stories about the DC region—garnering her several Emmys. Born in Seoul, Yang moved to the DC area at age 3. The mother of three is a University of Maryland grad (she attended Paint Branch High School) and has previously worked at the National Geographic Channel. We couldn’t imagine dawn without her.
WAKE-UP TIME: 2:20AM
ESCAPE: NETFLIX
WEAKNESS: BAKED GOODS
MY FASHION AESTHETIC: CLASSIC UNIFORM: DRESS
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: MY MOM’S BEADED EVENING BAG YOU CAN NEVER
HAVE ENOUGH: GRATITUDE
WORKOUT: PELOTON
MOVIE: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
MENTOR: DOREEN GENTZLER
STYLE ICON: ZENDAYA
SHOES: HEELS… STILL
LIPSTICK: BOBBI BROWN LIP TINT
BEST FASHION ADVICE: KNOW YOUR ANGLES.
PHILANTHROPY: POSSE FOUNDATION AND THEARC
MANTRA: BE PREPARED.
APP: INSTAGRAM
COCKTAIL: CHAMPAGNE
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR
BEDTIME: ALWAYS TOO LATE
BEDSIDE READING: MIN JIN LEE
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “JUST FINE” BY MARY J. BLIGE
BAG: CELINE
SIGNATURE SCENT: MOJAVE GHOST
Tatiana Pastukhova photographed at The Watergate Hotel
When ARTECHOUSE (@artechouse) launched five years ago, it forever changed the digital art landscape in Washington. For each of its mind-bending exhibits, the Southwest venue (now with locations in Miami and New York City) reveals how art’s dimensions can push the boundaries of beauty and, ultimately, human understanding. Its co-founder, Tatiana Pastukhova, is the consummate arts advocate, spending the past decade showcasing the works of numerous multidisciplinary artists as well as nurturing the relationship between art and technology. Which means that ARTECHOUSE also is an incubator, as Pastukhova believes her space is the future of not only the arts, but also science and business. Unintended bonus: The gallery founder created the finest Instagram spot in the city. And how could we not love her for that?
WAKE-UP TIME: 7:15AM
ESCAPE: BEACH
WEAKNESS: FRENCH PASTRIES
MY FASHION AESTHETIC: RALPH LAUREN
UNIFORM: ANYTHING BLACK AND WHITE
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: THEOTOKOS PENDANT YOU CAN NEVER
HAVE ENOUGH: DRESSES
WORKOUT: PERSONAL TRAINER
MOVIE: FORREST GUMP
MENTOR: MY PARTNER
STYLE ICON: AUDREY HEPBURN
SHOES: PRADA SNEAKERS
LIPSTICK: NONE
BEST FASHION ADVICE: LESS IS MORE.
PHILANTHROPY: SILENT GIVING
MANTRA: NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.
CURRENT STYLE OBSESSION: EVERYTHING LINEN
APP: SLACK
COCKTAIL: BELLINI
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: GOOD NIGHT SLEEP
BEDTIME: MIDNIGHT
BEDSIDE READING: SAPIENS
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “THAT'S LIFE” BY FRANK SINATRA
BAG: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN HEROINE BLACK LEATHER MINI CROSSBODY BAG
SIGNATURE SCENT: NATURAL, SCENT-FREE
Tara PALMERI
For someone who isn’t even 35, Tara Palmeri (@tarapalmeri) has become one of the most tenacious and respected political reporters in Washington. Before joining startup Puck News (@puckdotnews) earlier this year as a senior political correspondent, Palmeri worked for Politico (where she was the lead author of Playbook), CNN and ABC News covering the Trump White House. Currently, she’s the author of Puck’s The Washington Mall, an insightful series of columns reflecting the intersection of Capitol Hill, the West Wing, the lobbyists and law firms of K Street and, searingly, the media machine that covers the never-ending conversation and intrigue. Naturally, she’s never at a loss for stories in this town.
WAKE-UP TIME: 6:30AM
NEMESIS: TOO MANY TO NAME
ESCAPE: MONTAUK
WEAKNESS: CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
MY AESTHETIC: BOLD CLASSICS MIXED WITH UNIQUE PIECES FROM MY TRAVELS
UNIFORM: WORE THEM IN SCHOOL, NEVER AGAIN.
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: IRENE NEUWIRTH BRACELET YOU CAN NEVER HAVE
ENOUGH: PICKLES
WORKOUT: SOLIDCORE
LAST MEAL: TUNA STEAK WITH SALAD
MOVIE: BROADCAST NEWS
MENTOR: CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN
STYLE ICON: CAROLYN BESSETTEKENNEDY
SHOES: MANOLO BLAHNIK CAROLYNE SUEDE MIDHEEL SLINGBACK PUMP IN EVERY COLOR
LIPSTICK: PILLOW TALK BY CHARLOTTE TILBURY
BEST ADVICE: LET THAT SHIT GO.
PHILANTHROPY: SAVE THE CHILDREN
MANTRA: GET IT DONE.
CURRENT OBSESSION: RUGS
APP: ASTROLOGY ZONE
COCKTAIL: SKINNY MARGARITA
SOULMATE: CHRIS COLLINS
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: SPF
BEDTIME: CAUDALIE VINOPERFECT
BEDSIDE READING: MANHATTAN BEACH BY JENNIFER EGAN
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “MY SILVER LINING” BY FIRST AID KIT
BAG: MANSUR GAVRIEL TOTE
SIGNATURE SCENT: DIPTYQUE CAPITALE
Photography by: Tony Powell