all photos: Shauna Alexander

As we all know, the best parts of being a girl are:

• a. dressing up and
• b. dressing up with your friends.

So, with FNO Georgetown just around the corner (tomorrow!) we figured it was as good of a time as any to rally some of our favorite girls in DC (designers, writers, community managers, lobbyists, educators and marketing directors all included, and not a single "model" model in site), grab some of our favorite fall dresses from some of our favorite stores (CUSP, WINK, MADEWELL, URBAN CHIC, BETSEY JOHNSON - all in Georgetown, all participating in FNO on Thursday), get ourselves a suite at W Hotel Washington DC , roll a case of champagne in, and get this getting-ready party started. Girls being girls: dresses got swapped, make up and hair lessons got taught and A WHOLE LOT OF TEXTING went down.

So, here is how to get ready for FASHION'S NIGHT OUT in style (and in several easy steps).

• And just remember, before, after and in between shopping, stop by BYT's FNO Lounge (feat. GILT CITY & ST.GERMAINE) for a street style shoot, wine and cocktail tastings, make up touch ups by NECTAR skin bar, and hot jams by BROADS. 6-11pm, alley by Dean & Deluca.

1. Before anything happens, basic necessities include: ice, fluffy robes and a smile.

Keri Ann goes three for three here.

2. Inspiration comes in all sorts of forms.

Be it your favorite magazine, a perfect coffee table book, or taking a swim in a sea of all your favorite dresses, Kaitlin takes no chances here.

3. Friends don't let friends have flat hair.

On the left: Haley wears a "very Kate Middleton like" geometric velvet dress from CUSP (belt included)  and Tiffany looks like a jewel box in this green number from WINK. (shoes, model's own)

On the right: Grace is work-to-play perfect in an emerald green silk dress from MADEWELL and Tiffany vamps up a t-shirt shift from CUSP with a pair of to-die-for feather earrings (vintage) that graze your shoulders just so.

4. A little signature lip color goes a long way

Grace adds a pop of hot pink to her evergreen outfit. Dress and necklace both MADEWELL. (note: the cut outs around the next combined with a longer pendant necklace makes sure the outfit and accessories both get their place in the spotlight, without clashing)

4. COORDINATION!

On the left: Keri Ann multitasks in a pink Shoshanna number from URBAN CHIC (necklace and shoes, models own) that is picture-perfect for any DC occasion

On the right: Allison makes sure Haley is all zipped up and ready to go (both dresses: CUSP)

Tiffany (in a dress from WINK) and Keri Ann (in URBAN CHIC) - all dressed up and with gossip to catch up on

5. ACCESSORIZE!!!!!

Glory, in a dress and shrug from BETSEY JOHNSON faces the all important velvet vs. sparkle decision (all accessories, model's own)

Allison plays up both the deep burgundy of her CUSP dress AND her baby blues with this statement necklace from WINK

while Kaitlin shows how to add some pop to your black and whites by mixing patterns and adding just the right pop of color (we went with bright yellow here) through your accessories (Dress and necklace-MADEWELL, bracelet and watch-BETSEY JOHNSON, jacket and belts-model's own)

6. A little (or a lot) of leg, goes a long way. AS DOES THE RIGHT ATTITUDE.

Keri Ann (on left) and Kaitlin (on right) in two of our favorite party dresses for the season (both from CUSP) prove that if the hem is high enough (and the dazzle-meter is turned up) a demure top and long sleeves can be the sexiest thing around.

Keri Ann goes starlet glamorous with simple accessories and matchy shoes, and Kaitlin straps on two watches (one girly, one fit for a man, both from BETSEY JOHNSON) for a more rock'n'roll twist on a sparkly mini.

7. Sharing is caring

TAKE 1: Allison and Glory show how the exact same outfit (floral dress, petticoat and angora shrug, all BETSEY JOHNSON) can do double duty on different girls.

On Allison, with simple hair and a rosy lip- it is a teenage dream come to life.

On Glory, with bold earrings and the right knowing wink-it is THE party dress just waiting to be twirled in all night long.

TAKE 2: Keri Ann and Glory work this CUSP shift for every occasion:

On Keri Ann - with glittery shoes, serious mascara, a simple lip and tousled hair,  a young Jerry Hall is ready for a fashion party

On Glory - with a pop of shimmer on top of shimmer (chandelier necklace by MADEWELL, from last fall, sadly) and a nude, simple shoe, it is a look that is an event all of it's own.

8.  CONTRAST! for maximum effect

Glory is a colorful vision in this dress from WINK (keeping the clutch simple & vintage) and Haley understands that her simple black dress is anything but  (the flowers on this CUSP shift add a textural dimension that refuses to be ignored, and the satin belt helps a petite girl's waist not get lost in a busy pattern)

9. Make it an entrance AND exit to remember

Allison shows that even a little girl from the south can have a British rock princess incarnation with this tartan jacket and acid wash dress (both BETSEY JOHNSON). The ruffle in the back offsets the heavy duty straps on the jacket in the most irresistible sugar-n-spice way. (shoes-model's own; necklace-our photographer's)

while this strapless number Tiffany is wearing (from WINK) goes from demure to WOW in one quick turn.

10. The right clutch goes with EVERYTHING

This vintage Chanel number (which was our photographer's Grandmother's originally) was a favorite with all the girls. Just proves that a true classic never goes out of style.

11. Solid choices

Haley and Grace show how a seemingly simple dress on a not so simple girl still achieves high drama.

On Haley: a midnight blue front-pleated MADEWELLdress, some serious leather and straps on both legs and waist (shoes and belt, model's own) and a Forever 21 sweetheart necklace that reveals a girlish side.

on Grace a sweet, deep burgundy CUSP dress (just throw a jacket on and it's work ready too) meets it's match with a statement bracelet and some (asphalt) jungle ready heels (bracelet and shoes-model's own)

12. Playing it tight AND loose

On left, Allison grabs a killer dress from CUSP and doesn't let the fact that the size is a little (or a lot) off phase her: a belt, a slip off the shoulder and the right pair of heels (model's own) make this a super sexy variation on a boyfriend's t-shirt (only, you know, with silver studs throughout)

On right: Tiffany is the very definition of statuesqueness in this form fitting number from WINK. The lacing on the front of her shoes plays up the intricate back of the dress (see point 9)

13. SMILE LIKE YOU MEAN IT

seriously.

no really.

14. Never underestimate the power of a support system

Girl, you looks so great!

No-YOU DO!

(Dresses, left to right: On Glory: BETSEY JOHNSON, on Allison and Grace: CUSP, on Haley: MADEWELL, on Keri Ann: BETSEY JOHNSON, on Kaitlin: MADEWELL, on Tiffany: WINK)

and after the party:

• A leather jacket and sunglasses make the morning after walk in that teeny BETSEY JOHNSON dress more bearable

• hey, those solo cups match my toe-nails (dress: CUSP)

• and a view of the Washington Monument goes a long way to help the 9am blues (dress: URBAN CHIC)

CREDITS:

• MODELS: Grace Miller, Tiffany Kim, Haley Harter, Glory Edim, Allison London, Kaitlin Murray, Keri Ann Meslar
• STORES: CUSP (3030 M Street NW), WINK (3109 M Street NW), MADEWELL (1237 Wisconsin Ave NW), URBAN CHIC (1626 Wisconsin Ave NW), BETSEY JOHNSON (3029 M Street NW) - (all in Georgetown, all participating in FNO on Thursday)
• PHOTOGRAPHER: Shauna Alexander
• PHOTO ASSISTANT: Shannon Yazurlo
• LOCATION: W Hotel Washington DC
• STYLING: Models self-styled
• HAIR and MAKE-UP ASSISTANCE: Tiffany Kim
• EDITOR: Svetlana Legetic

Previously in style:

• 5/17: STYLE LICKS: This Week In Fashion...
• 5/9: Inside the STYLELINER
• 5/3: STYLE LICKS: This Week In Fashion...
• 4/30: PHOTOS: WW Club (The Fashion Speakeasy) @ The Water St. Project
• 4/19: STYLE LICKS: This Week In Fashion...
• 4/16: Nothing Not To Love: An Airstream Full Of Denim, Hair Braiding and You
• 4/9: What to Wear to Work - Spring Edition
• 4/5: STYLE LICKS: This Week In Fashion...
• 4/4: Ticket Giveaway: ReadySetDC' Fashion District 5 @ The Powerhouse
• 3/28: Youth of Today: Sagan Lockhart