Ken Downing’s Holiday Shop Opening
With little more than a month left ‘til Christmas and Hanukkah, D.C. holiday shopping events are in full swing. We stopped by Ken Downing’s Holiday Shop opening at Neiman Marcus in Mazza Gallerie this week. Guests sipped specialty cocktails and listened to classical music as they browsed holiday items hand-selected by Neiman Marcus’ fashion director Ken Downing. Best of all, 10 percent of proceeds from the sales go directly to the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC), a perfect way to alleviate any post-purchase guilt!
Of the 37 items, my personal favorite is the Alexander Wang moto jacket, if anyone has $1,650 and wants to buy it for me! For easy gifts that anyone will love, you can’t go wrong with pajamas. Downing picked Hanro of Switzerland silk pajamas in royal purple or black ($398) and festive cotton Mother & Daughter Gumdrop Pajamas by Bedhead ($65-155).
For the cat-loving fashionista in your life, purple velvet Charlotte Olympia flats ($695) could be the purrrfect gift! Are your friends having babies and you don’t know what to get them? Zubels hand-knit animal hats and dolls ($28-32) might do the trick. I know I’m buying one for each of my friend’s kids.
Other notable gifts include Jonathan Adler quote pillows, a limited edition Chanel manicure set, a colorful Tory Burch tote, a Neiman Marcus exclusive cookie jar and a Jean Patou photography book, to name a few.
If you missed the opening, don’t you worry! The collection will be on display through Dec. 24.
Erica Moody is a Louisiana-born writer who’s called D.C. home since 2010. In addition to fashion writing, she covers social events, edits The Citron Review literary journal and is working on a novel. Erica holds an MFA in creative writing from Antioch University.