Sustainable Style

At Polly Kraft's intimate cocktail party for Andrew Cockburn's new book on Donald Rumsfeld, one of Georgetown's more passionate fashion forward A-listers cornered me in the art-filled foyer, wanting to know a most private personal detail.In a town once famous for its salons and the grandes dames who hosted them (Evangeline Bruce, Susan Mary Alsop, Pamela Harriman, Katharine Graham), its refreshing to see a man of substance, Bill Haseltine, take the lead in developing a twentyfirst century version devoted to exploring the environmental security issues of our time. Welcome to WL's first Green Salon, co-hosted by enviro-babe Nora Maccoby and Mara Haseltine.

The lively and frank discussion showcased the views of renowned national security, environmental and energy policy movers and shakers including former CIA Director James Woolsey, Saudi Arabia's Prince Turki Al Faisal and Swedish Ambassador Gunnar Lund among others. As Rocky Mountain Institute Founder Amory Lovins said, meeting our energy and environmental security challenges "is not about costs, burdens and sacrifice but about profits, competitiveness and job creation," as well as doing the right thing.

Our eco-focused issue encompasses a wide spectrum of ways to color one's life green, whether it be through organic dining, travel to far off green lands, beautifying one's home with eco-friendly designs and local artwork, designing the perfect "greenhouse" with architects Travis Price, Yolanda Cole, or Sassan Gharai or even building one with developer Jim Abdo. And for a look at Washington's eco-power players turn to Pop Politics for a rundown of today's key enviropolicy makers on the Hill.

We also tip our hat to Roland Flamini, who wrote our cover story on eco-activists Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau. These grandchildren of legendary conservationist Jacques Cousteau perfectly frame WL's concept of the Cousteau family's "Life Aquatic."

Adding inspired vision was photographer Yvonne Taylor, who expertly shot WL's lush "East of Eden" fashion spread. Providing admirable backdrop - and nearly overshadowing the garments - was the renowned Freer + Sackler Gallery. Under the capable hands of stylist Lana Orloff, the models ushered in spring with verdant aplomb. Botticelli's "Primavera" could have had no better floral concepts than those provided by stylist Lauretta McCoy and Ultra Violet's flowers.

Not everything is green this month. We are pleased to introduce our new Spytalk column with veteran espionage expert Jeff Stein. And, of course, our pages are chock-full of our usual luxury real estate coverage and the parties that you will only see on the pages of WL. These include our much anticipated annual Young and the Guest List celebration at the Meridian International Center and Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah and his wife Rima's annual dinner to thank donors of more than a million dollars for a children's hospital in Basrah Iraq, where White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten took the stage in an impromptu jam session with country crooner Randy Travis.

WL also sponsored this year's Corcoran Ball, the Smithsonian Young Benefactors Montreal Underground fundraiser and the NARSAD Gala, which continues to raise awareness and money for mental illness, an issue near and dear to my heart. We also teamed up with Tiffany & Co. for a swank Girl's Night Out with Tiffatini cocktails and some of the most high-profile ladies in town.

And don't forget to save the date for next month's WL-sponsored National Museum of Women in the Arts Gala (April 20), the Washington Ballet Spring Gala (April 27), Best Friends Foundation Ball (April 27), and the Phillips Collections Moving Pictures Gala on May 4th.