Yep Im Stylish

By invitation. Dinner. Outside. Wearing all white. That’s it in a really small nutshell, but Diner en Blanc is infinitely greater than that.  It is an experience, a destination, a feast, a fashion show and a fete unlike any other. And the preparation can be as much fun as the evening itself.

2017 will mark my third year attending Le Diner en Blanc in Washington, D.C. #DEBDC. I truly meant to chronicle my planning and preparation for the last two years, but got so caught up in it that I didn’t have the time.  So now, with experience under my belt, I can step through some of what I have done before, and am doing now as I get us, meaning #squad, ready for another #DEBDC.

The biggest challenge is what makes DEB fun, and that’s your journey there — both the literal and the figurative.  Proper planning will result in both being stress free so here are a few basic things to remember as you plan. Rules of the game, so to speak.

1. You must wear all white. Period. Full Stop. White. Not ivory, off white or cream. No accents or accent colors. White.
2. You must bring everything with you for your dinner and that too must be white.
3. Everything means everything — table, chairs, linens, table settings, none of which can be plastic, all of which must be white.
4. You must be able to transport everything via metro and walking to the secret location.
5. The location is SECRET. So don’t ask. Half the fun is not knowing and trying to figure it out while bonding with your fellow #DEB goers on the journey.

Keeping those rules in mind, this is my road to Le Diner en Blanc. Follow along and perhaps you may pick up a tip or two.

STOP ONE: The Fashion

The first thing is to curate your all white look.  The sky is the limit so don’t be afraid to push the proverbial envelope with your look and make a bold statement. This is where you can pull out all the stops and wear something that you might not otherwise come out in unless it’s Halloween or you’re going to a costume party. Think wigs, hats, masks, boas. . . The men can get just as creative as the women.

This year, I am going with Mr. Perfect which adds an extra piece to the clothing puzzle as a lot of men don’t tend to have all white attire hanging out in their wardrobe, and if they do it probably doesn’t add up to a fashionable or fashion forward look in keeping with what you will see at a Diner en Blanc.  If you are lucky enough to have a beau or a hubby or a significant other who is open to having some fun with this then go for it, as your look is just as much a part of this event as anything else.  Mr. Perfect definitely appreciates the art of dressing well, but had to confess that he did not have much to choose from in the white department especially to support an appropriate look for a dinner outside in August.

For this southern girl, white in August means white linen and, per my directive, for Mr. Perfect it means a white linen suit. You might be thinking white linen suit like Colonel Sanders? Well… yes, and if you’re not careful that’s how you will end up looking, but we are going to keep it current and classy. Yes he will probably sweat, but that’s what linings and dry cleaners are for.

When it comes to white in the summer, your best bet is to shop early otherwise you may not find what you need. What you will find if you are shopping in July is great summer sales, and if you’re lucky, sales on things in your size that you like. Either way, start online especially if you are challenged for time, oh and by mid-summer, the pickins are slim in the stores.  My go-to website is shopstyle.com.  Shopstyle is one-stop shopping for whatever you may be looking for in clothing for men and women. It sourced a pure white linen, slim fit, Calvin Klein suit for $199 via Amazon.  For a white linen shirt, JCrew.com to the rescue with a classic button down for $69 and an additional 25% off because it was a Monday! Love that! Finally, shoes. Unless your man is from the south, a pimp, or in a marching band, he is not likely to have white shoes in his closet.  Tennis shoes are neither acceptable nor allowed at DEB, so this southern girl started emailing Mr. Perfect web links to classic white oxford bucks. After looking at all manner of white suede shoes for men, it came down to two available choices in bucks — GH Bass or Orvis. Both are great options. He’s dragging his feet (no pun intended) so check back for an update on the shoe game. Remember: NO TENNIS SHOES!

As for me, I am not planning to go all out this year like I did two years ago when I wore a white sequined shift and a white feathered wig! Oh what fun! Definitely stood out. For this year, I found my dress online and on sale back in early June.  It remains to be seen whether I don a fascinator, some other topper, or maybe even a mask, but the sky is the limit.

Tip: Wear comfortable shoes! You will be walking. It’s inevitable.

STOP TWO: The Table

Next on the road is our table etc.  Again, everything must be all white and again this is where you can take full creative license especially with your centerpiece.  Second only to the fashion, table-scapes and centerpieces are the most photographed subject.  I love white goose feathers and lights.  Lights are a must if you want your centerpiece to pop at night because the dinner occurs just at sundown.  You can do wonders with a can of white spray paint. See some of the pics below for makeovers in white.

With respect to your centerpiece, I would caution against too much, too complicated, too fragile or too heavy because of transport and assembly but if you have enough helping hands you can do just about anything!

My centerpiece last year was a combo of items found at Hobby Lobby, Marshalls and my yard and I repurposed some of the same pieces from the year before. I wanted drama so I set off to Hobby Lobby for inspiration and where you can find all manner of things with battery operated lights. I scored white lit branches and white goose feather picks. I also needed a decent sized vase, but quickly concluded that a glass vase would be too heavy and too fragile. My vase ended up being a clear Rubbermaid container on clearance for $2 at Marshalls. Add a coat of white spray paint and voila!

Then there are the basics — table, chairs, tablecloth, table setting.

Table and Chairs: You are limited in the size of your table.  It should be no larger than 28″ square. The best bet is an aluminum camp table.  Two brands I recommend are Coleman and Best Choice. They both are lightweight aluminum, with roll up tops and collapsible legs making them easy to transport. They come in a drawstring bag with a shoulder strap. Both can be ordered from Amazon.

A great local source for inexpensive, white, folding chairs is Ikea. You can also order online with several styles to choose from. The least expensive is GUNDE for $7 or you can go for FEJAN at $10 TERJE at $19.99 or Nisse at $24.99. GUNDE is a decent option at a great price and very lightweight which helps keep your transport more bearable.

Table Setting and Décor: For a 28″ square table you need, at minimum, a 54″ square table cloth. Unless you entertain a lot, or inherited grandma’s table linens, you probably don’t have a white 54″ square table cloth laying around. I wanted my table to have a romantic vintage look to it and I did happen to have some of my mother’s vintage white linen tablecloths, but I also discovered these super inexpensive, white vinyl, lace table cloths that I promise you cannot tell are vinyl unless you feel them. So for $14 you can cover your table, have a classy look and not have to worry about spills and stains. Reuse it or toss it

Your place settings (ie – dishes and glassware) cannot be paper or plastic. Great options for nice yet inexpensive white place settings including your white cloth napkins are Marshalls or TJ Maxx. If you want to get whimsical with your glassware for your wine or champagne, consider flea markets or thrift stores like Goodwill. You would be amazed at what you can find on the cheap and you only need two of everything. I scored some floral etched, vintage champagne glasses at Goodwill for $1 each.

I also wanted to carry my items in a picnic basket. If you have been picnic basket shopping lately, you will find that they are outrageously expensive and nearly impossible to find in white. So the bargain huntress in me headed back to thrift shops and local Saturday flea markets, both of which yielded all sorts of interesting choices that I put my creative juices and trusty cans of white spray paint to use in transforming into fresh new looks.  

Vintage baskets and champage glasses from Goodwill

Target on clearance

Tip: Another source for picnic baskets is Target. I found several with insulated compartments that I added to my spray paint project.

STOP THREE: Getting There

Now comes how to transport. Remember the only way to get to the secret location is via Metro and walking and you don’t know where you are going until you get there. It is quite literally follow the leader. What you do know, however, is that at a minimum you have to walk and at a maximum you have to take the metro and walk. Therefore, don’t make it hard on yourself. I recommend that you ask yourself the following two questions:

1. Can I easily get on and off a metro train with everything I have to carry?
2. Can I easily get this all through the metro turnstile and down a set of stairs or an escalator? One year the escalator wasn’t working. It happens, so be prepared.
   

   

   

   With that in mind, here are some Dos and Don’ts:

• DO get a collapsible cart like the kind urban dwellers transport groceries in. Make sure it is large enough to hold everything and has front wheels that rotate (trust me it makes maneuvering it much easier). If you can fit everything you are bringing in the cart, and don’t have to carry tote bags or strap things across your body and sweat, then all you have to do is push and I guarantee you will have a much more enjoyable trip traveling to the secret location. WATCH
• DON’T try to bring a card table (or your patio table) strapped to a luggage cart with bungee cords. Card tables can’t fit through the metro turnstiles! They just can’t.
• DON’T bring your things in a wagon (yes a wagon), unless you can carry a wagon down an escalator without everything falling out. I assure you, you can’t.
• DO make the last things to go in your cart the first things you need to take out (eg – table cloth should not be at the bottom because that is the first thing to go on the table).
• DO bring a trash bag, hand wipes, extra napkins, a small can of bug spray, corkscrew and plastic bags for your dirty dishes.

For me it is enough to transport all that we need for the dinner so I have zero interest in carting food as well.  Thankfully, you can preorder and pay for food to be picked up on site and since you must purchase your alcohol in advance as well, I take advantage of that convenience. Less to carry. Lighter load.  The food selections have been great and well prepared and I love the resuable white DEB bags that the meals come in. Perfect for packing your items the next year.

Tip: MAKE SURE YOU PRACTICE!
Pack up all of your items, pack them in your bag or basket or cart and make sure you know how to maneuver. Practice setting up and taking down your table.

STOP FOUR: Secret Location

It’s a secret! Embrace the mystery and just roll with it.  Read the emails from your table leader.  Be on time and ready for an adventure. Have fun! There is a certain amount of bonding that occurs on the road along the way with your fellow DEB goers and it is truly amazing to walk up to the site and see the sea of beautiful people, their tables and feel the vibe. It is truly a night to remember. I cant wait for August 26th!

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Required Reading: This year, the organizers have created a guest guide with lots of helpful information including the schedule, rules, recommendations on supplies and other practical tips. You can find it at https://washington.dinerenblanc.com