Fashion Intel: Mission No. 4 – Who Is Ralph Lauren?

A book talk with author Alan Flusser about the iconic American Designer Ralph Lauren.

MISSION PURPOSE
This Fashion Intel mission connects history to action, moving from analysis to creation, demonstrating how fashion operates as advocacy in real time. This mission supports High Tea Society | AskYourAuntea programs, advancing leadership and creative confidence for girls in Washington, DC.

Dress with intention. Think critically. Create boldly.

The Nation’s Capitol dresses with purpose.

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Mission Objective
To equip attendees with deeper cultural, historical, and aesthetic intelligence on Ralph Lauren’s enduring impact—and to reaffirm fashion as a tool of identity, persuasion, and power.

 

FASHION INTEL MISSION BRIEFING

Transmission Start.
The Fashion Intel Service activates Mission No. 4: WHO IS RALPH LAUREN?
An onsite intelligence briefing transmitted from Washington, DC, the global command center for fashion advocacy and cultural style analysis.

Mission Schedule
7:00–8:30 p.m. ET | Primary Briefing — Book Talk & Discussion
Author Alan Flusser, one of the foremost authorities on American menswear, presents Ralph Lauren: In His Own Fashion. This briefing will decode the innovative, timeless, and sophisticated strategies through which Ralph Lauren reshaped the global fashion landscape, from aspirational Americana to the architecture of lifestyle branding.The discussion will be moderated by fashion attorney Mariessa Terrell (Codename: M), who will frame the conversation as a public intelligence briefing for operatives who understand that style functions as strategy.

Field Demonstration — Covert Style Presentation
Operatives will observe a live fashion presentation staged as an undercover style operation. Each look will be decoded as a visual dossier—evidence of how silhouettes, color, and detail can signal allegiance, aspiration, and authority. Every ensemble functions as a classified case study in how Ralph Lauren’s legacy continues to shape contemporary dress codes for power, presence, and persuasion.All wardrobe for this field demonstration will be provided through a special collaboration with Macy’s Tysons Corner, whose partnership ensures operatives receive authentic, mission‑grade Ralph Lauren intelligence in motion.

Authorized Acquisition Notice: Flusser’s dossier, In His Own Fashion, will be available for operative purchase through our official bookstore partner, Politics and Prose. All copies are mission‑certified for continued study and field application.

Transmission End.

Behind The Headlines

Black journalists have always been on the frontlines, telling the stories that shape our communities and holding power accountable. In this special live performance, DC?s Black journalists step out from behind the byline and onto the stage to share the “stories behind the stories”. Through true, personal storytelling, they will reveal the moments that changed them, the challenges of navigating modern newsrooms, and what it takes to keep telling the truth in an industry that doesn’t always make space for their perspectives. Join us for an evening of powerful narratives about chasing stories that matter and holding onto your voice.

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She Comes First

This live storytelling show isn’t polite. It’s personal.

She Comes First is Story District’s annual night of true stories told by women – bold, funny, complicated, honest, and sometimes all at once. You’ll hear voices across generations and backgrounds. It’s not just a show. It’s a space where real experiences get the mic and connection happens in every story.

 

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Millennium Arts Salon Talkback – Mosaic Theater’s Young John Lewis Reflection Series

April 12, 2026 | Ward 6 | Atlas Performing Arts Center Millennium Arts Salon holds a talkback conversation bridging arts and activism after a matinee performance of Young John Lewis.

 

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65 Years of Good Trouble: SNCC in DC – Mosaic Theater’s Young John Lewis Reflection Series

April 2, 2026 | Ward 6 | Atlas Performing Arts Center 2025 marks the 65th anniversary of the founding of SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, by leaders including Congressman Lewis. Mosaic invites SNCC members into conversation around SNCC’s work, legacy and more. Programmed in Partnership with the John Lewis Institute of Peace.

 

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Carry On: Oratory Competition – Mosaic Theater’s Young John Lewis Reflection Series

Thursday, March 12, | 6:30 PM | Prince George’s County | Joe’s Movement Emporium

The Carry On: Oratory Competition honors the speeches of the Honorable John Lewis as students will use their voices to bring truth to power in a contemporary setting. As an oratorical competition, students will gain confidence in public speaking, learn more deeply about nonviolent civil rights actions, and honor the legacy of John Lewis. Produced in partnership with Joe’s Movement Emporium.

 

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The Power of Knowing: John Lewis, Poetry & Hip-Hop Mosaic Theater’s Young John Lewis Reflection Series

Wednesday, March 11 | 3:30-4:30 PM | Ward 5 | Woodridge Neighborhood Library

The Power of Knowing is an interactive workshop that brings together the legacy of civil rights leader John Lewis and the expressive energy of hip-hop and spoken word. Led by poet, spoken-word artist, and hip-hop educational leader Tony Keith Jr. in partnership with DC Public Library.

 

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Visions – Projects + Events Grant Workshop

Join for an in-depth look at the Visions – Projects & Events grant application and program requirements. This online session will provide a detailed look at the Visions grant requirements, eligibility information, and application questions. Attendees will also get to hear from a current Visions grantee who will share insights into their project as well as their successful grant application process.
Register to receive the Zoom link!

Story District Presents: New Year, Who Dis?

New Year, Who Dis? Some stories start with a plan. Others start with a breakup, a burnout, or a late-night idea that won’t shut up. This show is about the moments that push us to change –– to leave, to leap, or to try something new even if it scares the hell out of us. You’ll hear from people who made big moves, took weird detours, and ended up somewhere totally unexpected. Why Come? Real stories about what it takes to change even when it’s messy. A crowd that gets how hard (and hilarious) fresh starts can be. A night that?ll leave you thinking about what?s next. The night doesn’t end when the curtain falls. All audience members, storytellers, and friends are invited to stick around for the Storytellers Lounge: a relaxed, post-show gathering where the stories keep flowing.

 

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Writing and Wellness Workshop

Inspired by the Kwanza principle of Nia, meaning purpose: attend a free workshop hosted by Soar in partnership with DCPL, where you will unleash your creativity, awaken the poet within and show yourself some love.
RSVP to kimberly[at]dcsoar.org by 12.28.2025. Space is limited

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