Yesterday evening, the Woodrow Wilson House held its annual Garden Party fundraiser. Guests toasted with fresh  watermelon cocktails and enjoyed rooftop views of Washington’s Kalorama neighborhood. Lauren judged the hat contest, where  guests of all ages brought fierce competition for categories such as “most creative” and “best use of fresh flowers.”

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ON LAUREN • PANTS: Ramy Brook {last seen here} // SHIRT: Ramy Brook // SCARF: DVF // SHADES: Marc by Marc Jacobs // FASCINATOR: Suzanne Bettley London // NECKLACE: Kate Spade (old) // SHOES: Jimmy Choo

Recently, Lauren has been loving womenswear brand Ramy Brook, founded three years ago by fashion insider Ramy Sharp. These slouchy silk pants are a great summer staple–with the right shirt, they transition perfectly from a lunch date into a cocktail look.

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PANTS: Ramy Brook {similar} // TOP: Tibi {borrowed from Alene Too Palm Beach} {similar} // BAG: Louis Vuitton // SHOES: Michael Kors // SHADES: Ray-Ban // BRACELETS: Alexis Bittar {similar} & J. Crew // HAT: Unknown {similar & similar & similar} // NAILS: Essie Borrowed & Blue

We frequently find ourselves window shopping at one of our favorite online destinations, 1stdibs, a marketplace featuring some of the best antiques, fine art, and vintage fashion in the world. With the Kentucky Derby and Virginia Gold Cup kicking off the spring steeplechase season this Saturday, we took an extravagant look at how we’d throw a Derby Day party–no holds barred. Whether you’re betting big on Verrazano, donning a Derby hat, or just enjoying a frosty mint julep, here’s to a fun and fabulous day at the races.

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DIAMOND HORSE BROOCH: Vintage // PURPLE HAT: Irene of New York // CORAL DRESS: Jonathan Saunders // CORAL EARRINGS: Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. // SILVER NECKLACE: Hermès // WICKER BAG: Hermès // BLACK HAT: Vintage // BLACK & WHITE DRESS: Sass & Bide // EMERALD RING: Vintage // BLACK CLUTCH: Judith Leiber // BLAZER: Faconnable // SHIRT: Turnbull & Asser // SHOES: Brooks Brothers // CUFFLINKS: Hermès // BOW TIE: J.Press // MONEY CLIP: Tiffany & Co. // HORSE PAINTING: Francis Mabel Hollams // JULEP CUPS: Vintage // BAR CART: Vintage // SEERSUCKER NAPKINS: Kim Seybert // CRYSTAL PITCHER: Tiffany & Co. // MATCHSTRIKE: Vintage

Sensing a gap in the market for USA-made goods at reasonable price points, the four gents behind Lumina set up shop in North Carolina in 2009 with a mission to source their clothing from American mills and manufacturers. As we at N&P love homegrown brands, Lumina was kind enough to send over this shirt and tie to style. A layered look like this one is great for a spring day like today–a sweater for the chilly morning that you can lose once the temps rise. If you find yourself in Raleigh, North Carolina–as Van will for UNC Chapel Hill’s graduation in May–be sure to stop by Lumina’s store and studio at 123 E. Martin Street.

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BLAZER: Rugby // BLAZER BUTTONS: Ben Silver // SHIRT: c/o Lumina // TIE: c/o Lumina // JEANS: J.Crew // SWEATER: Ralph Lauren // SHOES: Ralph Lauren // BELT BUCKLE: Tiffany & Co. // BELT STRAP: Ralph Lauren // SUNGLASSES: Oliver Peoples

When Aquaphor approached me about trying their Healing Ointment, I was more than game. As someone with chronically dry cuticles and hands, I am willing to try anything. Flash forward three weeks: I am officially addicted. I do not leave the house without my travel tube of Aquaphor!

In celebration of my newly found love, Aquaphor is giving a lucky N&P fan: a hefty supply of Healing Ointment, 5 Essie nail polishes (+ a top coat!), a mani/pedi kit, and a $25 Visa gift card. Comment below with the inspiration for your next mani & you are entered to win!  We will pick the best inspiration as the winner.

{Must be a fan of N&P on Facebook to win + find us on Instagram to see more pics @nec_and_proper}

[The contest is now closed. We will announce a winner shortly!]

On an unseasonably warm February day, Van let me borrow his bow tie. Since this is masculinity at its peak, balance the look with something ultra feminine: short shorts or a playful skirt, and of course a bright lip. Girls, grab your beau & borrow from the boys! (Van, its a slippery slope–I have been eyeing your oxford collection for a year now…)

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SHORTS: ASOS // BLOUSE: Rugby {love this one} // BOW TIE: Social Primer for Brooks Brothers (borrowed) // SHADES: Karen Walker // SHOES: c/o Coach // CAPE: Tory Burch (Fall 2010) {similar}

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BOW TIES (from top): Lanvin // Social Primer for Brooks Brothers // Turnbull & Asser // Alexander Olch // Social Primer by K. Cooper Ray

On one of DC’s first nice afternoons, we spent the day with the folks from online boutique Tuckernuck at their colorful Georgetown HQ, trying on spring looks for a feature on their blog, Tuckernuck Styled. We had a tough time picking from their array of preppy staples, but eventually settled on pieces from Annie Griffin, Castaway Clothing, and Harding-Lane, among others.

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ON LAUREN • DRESS: Elizabeth McKay // BAG: GiGi // SCARF: A. Barclay // BRACELETS: Julie Vos, J. Crew, Pink Pineapple // SHADES: Karen Walker // SHOES: Michael Kors

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ON VAN • SHIRT: Hugh & Crye // PANTS: Castaway Clothing // BOW TIE: Southern Proper // BELT: Vintage // SUNGLASSES: Persol // SHOES: Stubbs & Wootton

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PHOTOS: Sophie Newbold

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ON LAUREN • SWEATER: Two Bees Cashmere // SHORTS: Annie Griffin // BELT: Raina // SHOES: Stubbs & Wootton // HAT: Harding-Lane // SHADES: Ray-Ban // BAG: Annabel Ingall

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ON VAN • SWEATER: Peter Millar // SHIRT: Salmon Cove // SHORTS: Castaway Clothing // BELT: Smathers & Branson // SHOES: Sperry Top-Sider // SUNGLASSES: Oliver Peoples

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PHOTOS: Sophie Newbold

Throwback Thursday (#tbt) has taken off on Instagram as a way to relive fond summer memories or reminisce about our days as toddlers and teens. We decided to have a little fun with Throwback Thursday by raiding our childhood photo albums and allowing them to inspire current looks. As babies of the ’80s, some things may change, but a lot of our style has stayed the same–Van is still rocking preppy classics and horn-rimmed glasses, and Lauren hasn’t lost her love for color. If you’re feeling nostalgic for Pong, side ponytails, and slap bracelets, check out the National Geographic Channel’s feature entitled The ’80s: The Decade That Made Us, airing this Sunday. Join the fun by tagging your favorite ’80s party pics “#tbt #natgeo80s” on Instagram and Twitter to be featured on their website.

The ‘80s: The Decade That Made Us, a three-night event, premieres Sunday, April 14^th at 8 PM ET/PT on National Geographic Channel.

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VAN WEARS • BENGAL STRIPE SHIRT: Ralph Lauren // OLIVE JACKET: Stone Island // HAT: The Quiet Life // CARGO PANTS: Todd Snyder // MOCS: LL Bean // PINK POLO: PS by Paul Smith // GLASSES: Oliver Peoples // PLEATED SHORTS: Ralph Lauren // DB BLAZER: Junya Watanabe // NAVY POLO: Sunspel // BLAZER BUTTONS: Ben Silver // SADDLE SHOES: Ralph Lauren // STRIPED SHIRT: Thom Grey // SHORTS: Chubbies

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LAUREN WEARS • TRENCH: J. Crew {similar} // JEANS: Zara {similar} // DRESS: Clover Canyon (& here & here)// SWEATER: 360 SWEATER // TIE-DYE DRESS: Splendid (& here) // PEACH SWEATER: Joie // ROPE BRACELET: Ropes of Maine // BLOUSE: Rory Beca // SHORTS: Calypso St. Barth // AVIATORS: Ray-Ban & Ray-Ban // SWEATER: Joie {similar} // BLOUSE: ASOS // SHORTS: ASOS {on sale!} // SHADES: Karen Walker

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BOW TIE: c/o Buffalo Jackson // SHORTS: c/o Chubbies // SHIRT: {similar} // SHOES: Sperry Top-Sider // SUNGLASSES: Bollé (vintage) // BELT: Vintage