Diner En Blanc: Washington, DC

Diner En Blanc is an event spanning six continents in which people have dinner dressed in all-white in a public space.  Guests are required to provide their own food, tables, chairs, and tablecloths.  The concept originated in Paris in 1988 when the organizer of a fashionable outdoor dinner told attendees to dress in all-white to find each other.  What was a "friends and word-of-mouth only" event has grown into a worldwide phenomenon.  

Registration for the unique experience happens in three stages:

    Phase 1 - members who attended the previous year
    Phase 2 - new members who have been sponsored by Phase 1 attendees
    Phase 3 - guests who signed up on the waiting list

While the event may have changed over the years, the principles have not.  Guests continue to gather at a secret location for the sole purpose of sharing a gourmet meal with good friends in one of the city’s most beautiful public spaces.  For the past five years, Washington, DC has hosted the all-white linen affair at several landmark locations including Yards Park, Carnegie Library, Henry Bacon Park, Pennsylvania Avenue, and Nationals Park.  This year the secret location was Freedom Plaza.

Before figuring out what to wear I always try to imagine the vibe I want to go for.  Is it rustic and garden-esque, formal and chic, or just casual?  Formal and chic, seems to always be my go-to look.  But let’s be honest white is not my best color.  I couldn’t find anything in my closet, so I went out and bought this.  It’s a pretty long sleeved, embellished mini-dress.

The dress I wore is currently out of stock but below is a similar version.  Have you ever been to Diner En Blanc? What did you wear?

XOXO,

Cherise Lavalle