Bungalow, Home of Scout's Blog

Fashion and Style from Deb Johns, creator of the Scout Collection by Bungalow

Buy Ahead in the Nation’s Capital January 18, 2012

Filed under: Local Flavor,Travel Log — Deb Johns @ 8:32 am
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SALE… Just hearing the word from a consumer-happy friend or reading it in a promo email is enough to make the heart skip a beat… and then sprint off to wherever the sale is! This week we’re featuring some of our own SCOUT products on sale now, as well as other useful items from bedding to beachwear. Here we encourage you to stock up on the good stuff of 2011 before it leaves the ‘SALE’ pages of your favorite web sites!

CROSS PARTY LINES FOR FOOD, FUN AND FASHION:

Clockwise from top right: Prep for DC with a viewing of All the President’s Men (1976, starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford, pictured); enjoy the famed Georgetown/DC classic Wedding Crashers (2005, starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, pictured); two guys who’ve settled their business in DC, the design duo of Smathers & Branson (pictured), make well-priced, great looking needlepoint belts… Sherman Pickey in Upper Georgetown has a wide selection and does special orders; also in Upper Georgetown, visit new store Dalton Pratt (pictured) to pick up a frame to capture your fave DC snapshot or find yourself a cool piece of jewelry; for an avant garde take on DC style, stop into Relish (pictured) in Cady’s Alley, just down from Georgetown’s M Street; Hu’s Shoes & Hu’s Wear are further down on M Street with a fantastic selection of shoes & RTW, respectively, and then directly next to the Four Seasons, M29 has an amazing variety of unique and chic gifts; when you venture downtown, on 14th Street Muleh is a must-see for contemporary and classic furniture and fashion; grab artisanal cheeses from a West coast company that also has a strong following on the East coast, conveniently right here in DC, Cowgirl Creamery (pictured); buy the Hippie Crack from Baked & Wired (pictured) to munch on in between meals; tote party- and partisan-themed favors in SCOUT‘s all-inclusive DC tote (pictured), the Mini Deano in Capitol Fun.

 

Lifestyle Resolutions, 2012: Travel More January 2, 2012

Filed under: Lifestyle,Travel Log — Deb Johns @ 7:50 am
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Happy 2012! All this week we’ll be featuring posts inspired by common new year’s resolutions. Perhaps you’ve been meaning to travel more, or work out more, or be more consistent with giving back… Whatever your motivation in the new year, stick with what makes you happiest!

TRAVEL MORE – TRIPS WITH THE SUN & SLOPES IN MIND:

Clockwise, from left, SCOUT Fast Getaway Roller Bag in Stripe Deux Soleils; Giuseppe Zanotti Cork Platform; Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent Pleated  Maxi Caftan; Roland Mouret Stretch Shift Dress; Miu Miu Bow-Embellished Halterneck Swimsuit; Ana Konder Exclusive for Asos Faux Fur Hat; Aquatalia Weatherproof Fur Boot; Jil Sander Stretch-Jersey Leggings-Style Pants; Vince Camuto Belted High-Gloss Parka.

 

Destination NYE: Times Square December 26, 2011

Filed under: fashion,Travel Log — Deb Johns @ 9:48 am
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It’s almost December 31st, ladies… Do you know how you’ll be ringing in the New Year?

We do! Well, we have some ideas for celebrating. Each post this week will feature a separate NYE scenario with accompanying style of dress. ENJOY!

WATCHING THE BALL DROP, BUNDLED UP GLAM:

From left to right, Sorel Tofino Boots are chic and functional if it ends up snowing; Rag & Bone‘s Galaxy Legging gives your outfit a great burst of color; J. Crew‘s Tissue Turtleneck Tee is perfect for layering over; Juicy Couture‘s Natural Polar Vest with Belt will look great peeking out of your coat; Moncler‘s Long Belted Puffer Coat doesn’t mess around with the brisk temps outside; Portolano‘s Red Cashmere iTouch Gloves will come in ‘handy’ at midnight when you send out a New Year’s Tweet to friends; TopShop‘s Faux Fur Cat Ear hat is just plain fun!

 

Home for the Holidays: Mac n’ Cheese as the Dish du Jour December 21, 2011

Filed under: design,Travel Log — Deb Johns @ 8:41 am
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HO HO Home for the holidays!

Since at this point on the Advent calendar we’re pretty sure most of you have bought or made the majority of gifts for friends and family on your list, we wanted to inspire our hosts and hostesses with old and new Christmas traditions that could take place with everyone under one roof.

 Today’s idea is a macaroni n’ cheese baking contest…

“Macaroni n’ Cheese has become the boutique ‘home spun’ food of our generation… there are three popular NYC eateries that feature gourmet flavors of macaroni n’ cheese, two of these have built menus surrounding the dish, Smac and Mac Bar, while the third, Delicatessen, devotes a significant portion of its menu to contemporary spins on this favored classic – including a Reuben-flavored one as well as smokier versions. Why not create your own cook-off where members of the family can think up the craziest and most-far reaching ideas for ingredients and combinations for new takes on this classic.”

 

Products to inspire, from left to right, the key to any successful batch of mac n’ cheese is a good Gruyere, we love Zingerman’s Mail Order Antique Gruyere Cheese; a classic pasta brand is De Cecco, we like their Fusilli Bucati; for great presentation, serve your batch in Staub‘s Mini Round Dutch Oven (higher price point); we also love De Cecco’s Orecchiette; a lower price point is the Lodge Cast Iron Mini Skillet, available at Crate & Barrel (lid sold separately); another pasta option is De Cecco’s Pennoni Rigati.  

 

Three Cities, Five Days: Where to Shop, Gifts & Home November 18, 2011

Filed under: Lifestyle,Travel Log — Deb Johns @ 8:26 am
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IN PARIS: Maison de Vacances has custom cashmere and leather pillows and throws, located in the Palais Royale; for an exotic/old world spice and kitchen store, try Izrael Epicerie du Monde in the Marais area; Jamin Peuch for the ultimate over-the-top accessory – no doubt a collector’s item – located in on Rue Vieille du Temple; Fragonard began as a perfumery and now sells amazing linens, scarves, travel bags… perfect for gifts, located on Saint Germain down from Café Flore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN MILAN: Fornasetti has a beautiful new location on Via Bazzina and features a range of homewares and gifts – from pillows to ceramics – and also houses an impressive collection of Fornasetti work from the last 50 years; the basement of Rinascente Department Store (also open Sunday) has become the Design Supermarket, which features a wide range of international homewares and gifts; Laduree has a brand new location in Milan, on Via Spadari, and while it is great for breakfast and lunch it is also perfect for gifts… their gift boxes of macaroons are the perfect small treat for friends and family. We should note that Milan is the capital for contemporary and innovative furniture design, and many outposts are located throughout the city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN LONDON: Begin at the basement of Selfridges department store, conveniently located on Oxford Street, a shopping ‘Mecca’, featuring a carefully edited spectrum of home and gift pros from around the globe; Conran’s, located in South Kensington, still offers some of the best furnishing to gift options in the city… stop in at Bibendum Oyster Bar; Designers Guild on the Kings Road has two shops, one featuring upholstery and wallpaper, the other home furnishings, linens, and gifts… if you need a little sunshine on a rainy British day, this is your destination; Villandry, a ‘restaurant, bar, and foodstore’ is not to be missed, and is conveniently located in Soho/the theatre district.

 

Three Cities, Five Days: Where to Shop RTW November 17, 2011

Filed under: fashion,Travel Log — Deb Johns @ 8:16 am
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IN PARIS: Colette is still the most avant garde fashion concept store in Paris… visit especially to have a ‘museum’ experience, as you may do more looking than buying; Merci is a fashion/home store with two cafes that was started by the owners of Bonpoint and is conveniently located near the major shopping streets in the Marais; for the epitome of salon or atelier shopping, Dries van Noten is the destination… as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the fabulous clothing, and they’ve recently opened a men’s shop next door; Victoire, located at Place de Victoire as well as the Left Bank features contemporary very wearable fashion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN MILAN: Corso Como 10 is still the best concept store for fashion, gifts, and home in Milan and features a café and a restaurant… added bonuses: it’s a great walk from the Brera area, and it’s open on Sunday – rare in Europe; another one of our favorites is Aspesi which is an outerwear resource for men and women, and they’ve recently added RTW collections… located in the heart of luxury shopping on Montenapoleone (rarely available in the US – a must-visit!); a new player in the edgy fashion realm is Wait and See, located on a quaint ‘spider web’ street, Via Santa Marta, it is a must see for young and old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN LONDON: London is a very spread out array of boroughs, each of which features its own shopping district and unforgettable gems. A few of our favorites include: for the best overview of European and British fashion, Liberty of London is your destination (connects with Regent Street and Soho, two standout shopping areas)… also includes great home and gift options, as well as a fantastic café; Dover Street Market continues to be the ultimate concept/fashion store in London, owned and run by Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons, she features her sister-in-law’s café Rose Bakery on the top floor (located near Bond Street, a luxury brand shopping area); Jeffrey, with locations around the city (including Westbourne Grove near Notting Hill and South Kensington), looks great again as a blender of high end European, Asian, and American brands for women. Be sure to check out stores in these areas we’ve recommended and find your own favorite – these are all strong browsing areas of the city!

 

Three Cities, Five Days: Where to Eat Dinner November 16, 2011

Filed under: Local Flavor,Travel Log — Deb Johns @ 8:12 am
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IN PARIS: Frenchie has classic French fare in a hip atmosphere; Spring, as the name suggests, has a market-menu that features the freshest pick or catch… make your reservation early!; La Societe off of Boulevard Saint Germain is a hot destination for an international crowd – the place to be on a Saturday night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN MILAN: Obika is a casual yet hip mozzarella bar located on top of Rinascente department store, where you can dine al fresco for a great view of the Duomo; Clandestino Milano is a restaurant at the hotel Maison Moschino serving food from chef Moreno Cedroni; after a day of luxury shopping, try one of two restaurants conveniently located in the Grand Hotel et de Milan, the Caruso and the Don Carlos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN LONDON: Le Trois Garcons in Islington, a feast for the eyes and the stomach; located in the center of Mayfair, the Greenhouse is luxury dining at its finest, “where creative European cuisine emerges from a classical French background”; Arbutus and the Sugar Club are terrific before or after theatre meals.

 

Three Cities, Five Days: Where to Eat Breakfast/Lunch November 15, 2011

Filed under: Local Flavor,Travel Log — Deb Johns @ 8:38 am
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IN PARIS: Laduree for not only tea but also lunch, visit the Left Bank location, at 21 Rue Bonaparte; try Les Deux Abeilles Salon de The, for refined French ladies who lunch with their daughters in a contemporary yet warm setting.

 

 

IN MILAN: low-end is Princi for amazing Foccaccia pizza; high-end is Bagutta, for great people-watching and fabulous Italian; the Corso Como Café has great smaller bites and even better people-watching.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN LONDON: Madsen on the Old Brompton Road is a light and airy loft space that serves up healthy continental food with a twist; Ottolenghi is a market/restaurant with irresistible fresh offerings and the largest meringues on the planet.

 

Three Cities, Five Days: Where to Stay November 14, 2011

Filed under: Lifestyle,Travel Log — Deb Johns @ 8:48 am
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IN PARIS:

Mama Shelter, designed by Phillipe Starke… amazing deal, though location is not ideal, since it lies outside the center of the city; a great price and awesome location in the midst of renovation is the Hotel de l’Universite; for the total hipster, Hotel Thoumieux is located in the 7th arondissement and features creative use of color and pattern throughout the building, delicious food downstairs and to die for baked goods next door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN LONDON:

St. Martin’s Lane is still one of the quintessential yet contemporary London hotels… plan to shop at Saville Row, also the theatre is a must-see nearby; the Zetter is a very affordable, very hip young hotel in Clerkenwell, near Islington… look for edgy shopping and cheap eats, the real bohemian kind of look; Number Sixteen has just been renovated yet again… always a new facelift, always looking fabulous, as is the area surrounding it, South Kensington.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN MILAN:

The Four Seasons is the epitome of luxury and location… embedded in the luxe shopping ‘Mecca’ of Via Gesu, the building is a ‘reborn’ 15th century convent, which lends to its overall modest setting when compared to other Four Seasons locations; for the fashionistas, Spadari is right across from Laduree and in a great eating and shopping location; a hidden gem is 3 Rooms, at Corso Como 10, which is comprised of three individual suites.

 

Window-Shopping in Europe: Down and Quilted Outerwear and Accessories November 11, 2011

Filed under: fashion,Travel Log — Deb Johns @ 8:07 am
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Down has now gone from strictly utilitarian to fashion utility and is featured in outerwear to accessories throughout the market. The best looks in outerwear are in subtle, matte neutrals, often channel or diamond-quilted to high-shine brights with fur trim. Watch for toggles, exaggerated zippers, decorative buttons, and structured belts to add a finishing touch to these looks. Vests are emerging in quilted and down constructions as perfect layering elements for the season. Totes take on a new dimension in quilted nylon, and often feature the same details that can be found on coats and jackets like strategically-placed zippers, webbed straps, and channel quilting.

 

GETTIN’ DOWN WITH DOWN:

 

 
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