Brand Spotlight | La Coquillette

Brand Spotlight | La Coquillette

How was La Coquillette born?
La Coquillette was born on Instagram in 2021, thanks to the love of cooking and the passion for earrings. Alice, the creator of the brand, wanted to combine her 2 combinations, by offering a multitude of shell recipes, and a sharp selection of earrings, mottled and inspired by her travels. All your parts are handmade in Italy. 
A story of passions: the kitchen...
The passion for cooking, more specifically pasta, comes from my different Mediterranean origins: Sicilian and Lebanese. The desire to share recipes, mainly shells, makes it possible to inspire and delight young and old alike. It is a comforting and regressive dish that can be pimped to infinity! Using quality products, seasonal vegetables, whole wheat... these recipes allow you to enjoy while keeping a balanced diet. These dishes can adapt to all diets and dietary restrictions with a little imagination.
And the earrings!
This combination of fancy earrings and shells, allows me to combine my two passions in one. Earrings are for me an accessory that makes the difference. She renews an outfit in no time. From the turtleneck to the basic white t-shirt, they allow you to sophisticate an outfit. With pearls, wood, hoops, fleas or earrings, multiple kinds of fancy earrings exist. So I try to offer original, colorful collections, which make you want to be worn every day and on big nights. By offering them at low prices, it allows you to offer them or offer them without hesitation for too long. Each outfit has its earrings and recipe for shells.
March 16, 2022 — Christina Lombardi
BRAND SPOTLIGHT | FeFē Napoli

BRAND SPOTLIGHT | FeFē Napoli

FeFè
Worldwide

We are between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Naples is brimming with noblemen who flaunt elegance, refinement, good taste - the famous Neapolitan gagà -; tailor shops and fabric merchants are their second homes. They speak of politics (monarchy or republic), of the developing economy, of women, of life and they usually call themselves with a thousand nicknames and/or epithets, among these the most widespread is FEFÈ.

History of Neapolitan tailoring

Birth

FEFÈ was born in Naples in 2011 from an idea of Francesco Fossari and Serena Famiano, respectively lawyer and architect designer but with a common and boundless love for fashion, made in Italy and excellent Neapolitan tailoring. Francesco and Serena look at the market almost as a challenge and see the possibility of introducing in the world of fashion an extremely simple but at the same time incredibly sophisticated item: traditional pocket squares, revisited in a modern way, revolutionized in style, in presentation, in essence.

Values

The exclusive prints, the essential centrality of a strictly Italian and artisan production,the use of only noble fabrics constitute the foundations on which the company and the ideals of its founders were based from the very beginning.The constant search for perfection, the pulsating attention to every detail and customer requests have allowed the Neapolitan brand in a very short time to be distributed today in about 40 countries around the world, with over 500 retailers and an online shop active since 2012 shipping to every corner of the globe.

 

Sartorial is better

Sartorial is better is the title of an advertising campaign of the brand, so loved by the founders that it became part of the brand in 2017. It literally means: "tailoring is better" and indeed it is enough to try a sartorial garment, born from the hands of skilled craftsmen, to understand the substantial difference that exists compared to a product entirely conceived by a machine - typical of fast fashion.

The hand-made sewing of a jacket, a shirt, a bathing suit or a sock, give the garment another fit, a comfort, a softness in the stitching that an industrial garment will never have."When you wear a garment made entirely by machine, your body has to adapt, while when you wear a tailored garment it will be the garment itself that will be able to adapt to your body".

Francesco Fossarico-founder of FEFÈ

 

Forever made in Italy

Made in Italy is not only a fixed point for FEFÈ but an endless love, a philosophy of life that is the result of a centuries-old tradition, of an indelible passion for craftsmanship. The entire production cycle is born and ends in Italy and more particularly in Naples, where tailoring is almost a reason for living, a mission to share, a constant search for perfection mixed with a note of imperfection that only manual work can donate. Elegance blends with craftsmanship in a perfect balance between tradition and innovation, modernity and quality.

March 12, 2022 — Christina Lombardi
Welcome to Il Mercatino

Welcome to Il Mercatino

WELCOME TO IL MERCATINO

We are so excited to introduce you to our new Italian Marketplace! 

A curated destination where you'll discover a range of must-have products from brands we are loving! 

| all products are exclusively selected by Christina and made in Italy or the USA |

March 04, 2022 — Christina Lombardi
Meet Me in RAVELLO

Meet Me in RAVELLO

Introducing the first style to drop in our latest collection! Meet RAVELLO! Inspired by our best selling NICOLE pump, RAVELLO is a sexy slingback style on a lower, block heel. The perfect spring pump to take you well into summer,
May 13, 2019 — Christina Lombardi
Vacation Look Book

Vacation Look Book

Vacation Vibes Style Guides!!
March 14, 2019 — Christina Lombardi
NYFW 2019 Recap

NYFW 2019 Recap

Check out our favorite looks & trends from this year's New York Fashion Week &  our Christina Lombardi recommendations!
February 15, 2019 — Christina Lombardi
Valentine's Day Style Guide

Valentine's Day Style Guide

Having a hard time finding the perfect Valentine's Day outfit? Let us give you some guidance!
February 01, 2019 — Christina Lombardi
Trunk Show: CHRISTINA LOMBARDI X AMATO STYLE

Trunk Show: CHRISTINA LOMBARDI X AMATO STYLE

Come by Sunday, February 10th anytime from 1:00PM-6:00PM for our Trunk Show with AmatoStyle! Let's accessorize together!
January 28, 2019 — Christina Lombardi
We're staying at the Mall at Short Hills!

We're staying at the Mall at Short Hills!

Our store in the Short Hills Mall will now be open until June!
January 03, 2019 — Christina Lombardi
Come Visit Us in Nolita!

Come Visit Us in Nolita!

@Christinalombardicollections is open in Nolita!
Join us to kick off Spring!
Now through Sunday, April 22nd Get a sneak peak and be the first to shop
what’s new in store!
Stroll, shop, and meet the designer herself!
Just in time to add to your Spring #lookbook

Open weekdays & weekends from 11:00 AM 

April 14, 2018 — Christina Lombardi
April Pop Up

April Pop Up

@Christinalombardicollections is coming to Nolita!
Join us to kick off Spring!
Tuesday, April 10th through Sunday, April 22nd Get a sneak peak and be the first to shop
what’s new in store!
Sip, shop, and meet the designer herself!
Just in time to add to your Spring #lookbook

Open weekdays from 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

          weekends from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Tuesday’s opening will be at 6:30 PM

March 21, 2018 — Christina Lombardi
Best of DC: Modern Luxury Magazine

Best of DC: Modern Luxury Magazine

 

 

WASH January 2018

Feature Best Of DC

The Editors

Our best-of-the-city list is different than most, and it shows: We’ve curated the finest luxur y ideas and diversions in the cit y for 2018. Get ready to indulge!

BEST LOCAL SHOE DESIGNER

When Christina Lombardi (christina-lombardi.com) moved to DC from New York City last year, she brought with her an incomparable style that combines the classics with a modern spin. Yes, she will create custom looks—she has happily designed wedding shoes—but it’s almost overkill since her designs are often so unique the wearer won’t likely see anything remotely similar at a crowded cocktail party. (Our fave: Maiolica tile, $465). Designed in DC and handcrafted in Italy, Lombardi’s creations are also comfortable. “It’s very important for me to strike the balance of glamour, fun and comfort,” she says. “Footwear should always empower women.”

BEST AMENITIES IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT

Living in Shaw has become its own little luxury, especially with the neighborhood’s restaurant boom. And now, 880P—from Roadside Development and Bozzuto, the same team that delivered the hip City Market at O residences—arrives with a bolt of design smarts and amenities we love. We got an up-close-and-personal look at the space during a recent party, and we’re here to say this is one of the finest new developments for putting residents’ needs first. To wit: Private balconies with indoor-outdoor fireplaces, DC’s largest rooftop with a lounging waterfall, a dog park fit for canine royalty and a music room that would fit in nicely at The Kennedy Center. Two- bed/ two-bath units from $3,850, 880 P St. NW, 202.715.1167, citymarketato.com

BEST AT-HOME SPIN

The brains behind Flywheel know their legion of fans can’t make it to class every day—and winter presents its own set of hindrances. So, the brand behind the luxe sweat studio recently introduced a bicycling system for home known as Fly Anywhere. Bonus: Flywheel faithful use the bike in conjunction with a live-streaming source—world-class instructors in New York City, using Method and Power training rides—which means workouts don’t get missed when it’s 15 degrees and sleeting. The bike boasts a flex frame, ergonomically designed handlebars, Bluetooth technology and a front-and-center Torq knob for quick resistance changes. Bike system $1,698, monthly class subscription $39, 829 Ninth St. NW, flywheelsports.com

BEST OVER-THE-TOP SUSHI-TASTING MENU

Sit down at the small counter at Kobo.to indulge in the ultimate kappo experience, a traditional Japanese tasting prepared as you watch by the Tjan brothers, Piter and Handry. The 12- to 15- course dinner at the restaurant-withina- restaurant inside Friendship Heights f Sushiko is an exemplar of extravagance. A seemingly simple sandwich holds panko crusted A5 wagyu beef with a red rare core. Top winter catches fresh from Japan take center stage. Expect dishes like thin- sliced flounder with ponzu sauce, and monkfish liver pate complemented with yuzu jelly and persimmon puree. Even foie gras makes frequent appearances, perhaps seared in sushi or enriching a decadent panna cotta lavished with huckleberry caramel. Wed.-Thu., 7pm; Fri.-Sat., 6 and 8pm, $160 per person; vegan tasting menu, Mon.- Tue., 7pm, $130 per person; 5455 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., 301.961.1644, kobo-sushiko.com

BEST BESPOKE TAILOR

Recently, a client walked into Sanjay Daswani’s shop and made a not-so-simple request: He wanted a winter driving jacket in cashmere to match his new Ferrari— and the lining needed to have vintage pictures of the Italian auto. “We made the jacket’s body in blue with a burgundy accent, and the buttons matched the car’s wood paneling,” says Daswani, owner of The Tailored Man in McLean, Va. “We finally managed to get the fabrics of the coat in Mongolian cashmere.” And the images of vintage Ferraris for the lining? Check. The cost: north of $4,000. This is typical Daswani magic, whether it’s for an exotic coat, custom suit or velvet jackets. All of his fabrics are imported, and the shop—which looks and feels like a regal English pub—obliges any sartorial whim. 1750 Tysons Blvd., Ste. 130, McLean, Va., tailoredman.com

MOST EXTRAVAGANT FACIAL

When one asks art curator and advisor Peggy Sparks what she likes when it comes to fine art, she doesn’t equivocate: The woman has a gallery to showcase her passions. From pop artist John Stango to internationally renowned photographer Fred Maroon, Sparks has the most diverse yet on-point eye in the city. The good news for companies and individuals who want to populate their offices and homes with beauty? Sparks’ talent is for hire. She believes in the commingling of personal taste and timeless imagery. Artist’s Proof Art Gallery & Consultancy, 1533 Wisconsin Ave.

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Yes, diamonds and gold do more than glitter on a wintry night. At the Four Seasons spa, the Gold and Diamond Facial is an exercise in antiaging and extravagance. Ultrasonic exfoliation and microcurrent therapy are featured in the phase one of treatment, followed by LED therapy to stimulate collagen production. The kicker: Take-home products to continue the anti-aging treatment include the Diamont de Beaute ($600) and Trio of Gold cream ($493). Facials have never looked so decidedly bling. 90 minutes for $465, Fri.-Sun., 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 202. 342.0444, fourseasons.com/washington

MOST EXTRAVAGANT WHISKY EXPERIENCES

All nine whisky sibling duos at The Watergate Hotel’s The Next Whisky Bar (2650 Virginia Ave. NW, 844.617,1972, thewatergatehotel.com) are stellar, but one is a standout. For $500, lead mixologist Rachel Sergi pours an ounce of the rich Macallan M. It’s blended from seven barrels individually selected out of 195,000 in the Scotch producer’s vast cellar that were matured in oloroso sherry casks dating back to 1940. On Jan. 28, Rebellion (1836 18th St. NW, 202.299.0399, rebelliondc.com) hosts a once-in-a-lifetime pairing dinner, where 20 lucky guests—who pony up $1,250 each—will experience the full lineup of uber-rare Pappy van Winkle 10-, 12-, 15-, 20-, 23- and 25-year, and 25-year-old Rip van Winkle (of which only 710 bottles were ever made).

BEST PRIVATE-JET CHARTER TO NYC

When JetSmarter launched last year in the region, many in the DC business and lobbying communities were ecstatic. After all, the company’s members can use an app to book a seat on private charters to New York in a click. “There’s a huge demand for private jets in DC, and there’s a huge demand for private and first class,” says JetSmarter founder and CEO Sergey Petrossov, who counts stars like Gerard Butler as clients. “DC to New York is actually the most traveled heavy-jet market in the world.” The company also offers whole-aircraft charters out of Dulles, where clients take advantage of a private lounge and concierge. Passengers may choose to skip the airport lines and go straight to the tarmac via town car. It’s another perk of the gilded skies. Membership from $15,000, jetsmarter.com

MOST NOTORIOUSLY LUXE HOTEL SUITE

Don’t look for G. Gordon Liddy to approve, but everyone else will love the new Watergate Scandal Room 214. Cocreated by Emmy-winning costume designer Lyn Paolo from Scandal, the room captures the infamy of the property’s 1972 break-in that led to Richard Nixon’s resignation two years later. Paolo and Rachel Cohen, Watergate’s senior vice president of the design and development, included historic touches in the luxe space, including 1970s furniture, walls of news clippings, a typewriter and binoculars. And the views of the Potomac are stunning. $800, 2650 Virginia Ave. NW, 202.827.1600, thewatergatehotel.com

 

MOST SWOONWORTHY AFTERNOON TEA

Inspired by acclaimed Danish chef Rene Redzepi of Copenhagen’s groundbreaking restaurant Noma, garde manger chef Kiril Stavrev will offer Nordic Tea Saturdays and Sundays in January and February at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner. For $68 per person, sample savory bites like bone- marrow fudge sandwiches, herb toast with turbot-roe emulsion and chicken-liver mousse with trumpet mushroom powder and a crispy potato nest, followed by sweets including apple goat- cheese galette and almond cake with kefir cream. The hotel’s curated selection of teas are used in cocktails like Hot Herbs, where mint tea is mixed with a shot of dill- and caraway-infused Absolut vodka; The Great White North, where anji white tea is served with a shot of Aquavit; and Garden, a chilled libation with blue garden tea and Finlandia vodka in a cocktail glass rimmed with lingonberry and bilberry powders. 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, Va., 703.506.4300, ritzcarlton.com

BEST PRIVATE TRAVEL ADVENTURES

Oh, how we love Jessica Pociask, founder of DC-based WANT Expeditions—she has mastered the perfect trips that blend luxury and legit adventure. Both National Geographic and the Travel Channel have lauded her private tours, and for good reason: They include everything from luxury helicopter harp-seal-pup encounters in the Gulf of St. Lawrence; French Subantarctic Island journeys; and mountain gorilla treks in Africa’s oldest national park, Virunga. For each adventure, think private chef, exclusive accommodations, distinguished wildlife researchers and guides, and award-winning photographers hanging out to record every magical thing that happens. And if Pociask isn’t the most insightful, intrepid and happiest person you’ll meet this year, we want to meet your friends. “Every day, I never cease to be amazed by the fact that I’ve manifested my dreams in reality,” she says. $1,000-$5,000 per day, wantexpeditions.com

BEST MEMBERSONLY MEDISPA

When Dr. Arleen Lamba recently opened the third branch of her fabulous medispa Blush at The Wharf, Washingtonians sang to the heavens. Lamba has created a venue that features VIP face- and body-beautif ying treatments like facials, wrinklesmoothing laser sessions and stress-free chemical peels. The brilliant twist? Customers pay a monthly fee. “We’re trying to disrupt the industr y,” says Lamba. “So many of our customers don’t have a lot of time—or downtime —so coming in for tuneups is perfect for th em .” $70-$175 per month, 40 District Square SW, Ste. 215, 877. 632. 5874 , blushmed.com

BEST BESPOKE FRAGRANCES

 

Walk into Le Labo at The Shay and become entranced by the very idea of buying a scent that will feel at once custom and incredibly memorable. Tradition perfume’s blaring top notes take an olfactory backseat to middle notes—known as the heart of fragrances—like a rich lavender or cardamom. They’re long-lasting and memorable, and this is the anti-perfumery mindset behind a brand led by co-founder Fabrice Penot. The small bottles that line the shop’s shelves list all of the ingredients of the scent, and, to ensure freshness, each bottle is made to order in front of you. There’s a cost for such extravagances (bottles can fetch up to $600), but the result is a bouquet of scented soul that remains smart and true. 1924 Eighth St. NW, Ste. 120, lelabofragrances.com

MOST INDULGENT MEAL

It’s $595 just to sit down at one of the two tables in the kitchen at The Inn at Little Washington. Each grants up to six diners the ultimate up-closeand- personal experience. “Guests said it felt like dinner and a movie, so we thought we’d play on that,” says chef Patrick O’Connell. Accordingly, meals begin with red-and-white-striped carnival boxes brimming with popcorn, topped off with a snowfall of freshly grated truffles. It’s the first of a flurry of decadent amuse-bouches preceding the intensely indulgent tasting menu. Choose between an ever-changing array of classic dishes, contemporary innovations and vegetarian options. In the cold-weather months, the chef takes advantage of the fireplace, where he likes to roast whole truffles in the embers. Generous shavings are served over a salad of wintry greens, which accentuates their heady fragrance and earthy richness. It’s decadence incarnate, which is O’Connell’s specialty. 309 Middle St., Washington, Va., 540.675.3800, theinnatlittlewashington.com

BEST CUSTOM FURNITURE DESIGNER

For his new collection for Baker Furniture, the crown prince of elegant aesthetics, DC’s own Thomas Pheasant (thomaspheasant. Com) says he was inspired by artists like Richard Serra, Ellsworth Kelly and Tony Smith. Their “modern works speak to beauty through simplicity of form,” says Pheasant, who has now done five collections for Baker (3330 M St. NW, bakerfurniture. Com). “I worked with remarkable ateliers in Florence, Milan and here in the United States to oversee all aspects of the collection,” he says. “The result of attention to every detail, finish and the imaginative use of materials helped me bring a unique sense of luxury to each one of these sculptural forms.” Much of what Pheasant creates is custom, and he’s even launched STUDIO (thomaspheasantstudio. Com), which is his collection’s limited and custom furnishings.

HOTTEST WATERFRONT PROPERTY ON THE MARKET

 

With unmatched views of the South River—which feeds into the Chesapeake Bay—this impeccably renovated historic home in Edgewater, Md., is a perfect example of a getaway that could double as a permanent residence. After all, it’s a mere hour from downtown DC. The home boasts five bedrooms, 6 1⁄2 baths, a waterside pool and a guesthouse. It also features gorgeous gardens and a sloping lawn leading to 850 feet of private waterfront and a deepwater pier. $6,200,000, 36 Shadow Point Court; listing agent, Georgeann Berkinshaw, 443,994.4456, coldwellbankerluxury.Com/property/36-shadow-point-court

BIGGEST SOCIAL EVENT OF THE SEASON

During a gala season that boasts a bevy of crescendos, the Heart Ball is one that makes the philanthropic community’s collective chests flutter. Held at the Mandarin Oriental on the Southwest waterfront, this stunning affair brings together the region’s medical, corporate and community leaders to continue the fight against heart disease in our region and the United States —all through raising money for research and programs that lead to healthier lives. Bonus: The party is absolutely a roof-raiser, which is just what the doctor ordered in the middle of winter. Feb. 24, tickets $1,000, table for 10 $15,000, dcheartball.com

MOST EXCLUSIVE DESIGNER

There are many things we love about architect and designer Deborah Kalkstein—including her modern flair for impeccable lines in every space she creates—but perhaps our favorite is the ability to see her curatorial style every day in Georgetown. She’s the woman behind Contemporaria in Georgetown’s Cady’s Alley. Venture into her lush lair to see the latest in European designs (think Italian brands like Minotti and MDF Italia)—much of which will end up in the next exquisite spaces she designs for VIP clients. Kalkstein is making DC even prettier, one imaginative room design at a time. 3303 Cady’s Alley NW, contemporaria.com

BEST LUXE GARAGE FOR WEEKEND DRIVES

Washingtonians with too many toys and a yearning for weekend cruises in the country now have a place to store their extras at a high-end garage on Main Street in Marshall, Va. Owned by Fauquier County Supervisor Holder Trumbo Jr.—who also has a half-dozen racing Porsches to his name—H&H Auto Garage provides climate-controlled storage and a la carte services—including light maintenance of luxury, antique and Sunday-driving cars—for those who’d rather not take their Ferraris down dirt roads to Hunt Country homes. “The horse people keep their horses out here, even if they live in town, because of the beautiful ride out of town,” Trumbo says. “This is a gathering place for people who are just as enthusiastic about automobiles.” $200 per month, 8382 West Main St., handhautogarage.com

BEST PRIVATE GIFT-BUYERS

 

Ashley Bronczek and Candace Ourisman have figured out something extraordinary about their friends—and now high-end strangers in DC: They often don’t have time to buy the perfect gift. The duo launched Secretly Gifting (secretlygifting.com) last year, and the entrepreneurs have the perfect eyes for one-of-a-kind items that are often difficult to find. (Think antique jewelry, vintage clothing, custom art and more). “We both have a love of traveling and a love of adventure,” says Ourisman. “It’s that curiosity—plus travel and culture immersion—that’s already a part of our lives, and it exposes us to new designers, new concepts and new retails spots.”

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January 08, 2018 — Christina Lombardi