To #BeBenetton Or Not To Be; FW2013 Collection Showcase Unquestionably A Good Time

GEORGETOWN -- Wisconsin Avenue welcomed the arrival of cooler temperatures on Wednesday evening, as the Georgetown flagship store of United Colors of Benetton feted the introduction of its new Autumn/Winter 2013 Collection with a private celebration.

The party was hosted by close to a dozen of D.C.'s most fashionable residents, including Washington Redskins safety Reed Doughty, DC United goalkeeper Bill Hamid, 'Top Chef' Spike Mendelsohn, BET Networks EVP & CFO Michael Pickrum, philanthropist and writer Susanna Quinn, Washingtonian fashion editor Kate Bennett, Gilt City senior curator Marissa Schneider, and author Helena Andrews.

Mingling about the guests of honor was top company brass, including Benetton USA CEO & President Ari Hoffman and SVP of North American Communications Carlo Tunioli, and everyone was naturally clad head-to-toe in fresh looks from the Italian fashion house.

Beyond complimentary Ketel One cocktails, sparkling wine, and light hors d'oeuvres, attendees to the by-invitation-only soiree were treated to an exclusive first look of the brand's newest cold weather collection, which boasts Benetton's distinctive focus on color, authenticity, and democratic pricing.

Even the evening's youngest shoppers were provided with a memorable experience, with a special candy bar setup on the store's third floor in keeping with the week's Halloween-oriented vibe.

"It's amazing when you see customers -- old and new -- wearing Benetton, and how beautiful they really look," said Hoffman. "I'm very proud because I see the clothes in the stores and on the hangers, but here they really come to life with this good-looking crowd."

Despite a retail footprint spread out across 120 countries via some 6,500 stores, Benetton considers its Georgetown location to be a cornerstone of its U.S. business.

Hoffman added: "We're deeply rooted here in Washington. We've been here for over 20 years ... [and] ... bought the building because we believe so much in this location."

Clearly, the investment is paying fashionable dividends.