There's No Dressing Up This Fact: A High Profile Comes With a Price Tag

A tipster raised a big old eyebrow at the new issue of Capitol File, with cover star Katie Couric. Inside: a Q&A interview and two more radiant photos of the Arlington native, complete with captions detailing how to get Couric's dynamite look: "Cashmere sweater by Banana Republic ($128). Banana Republic, 3200 M Street NW . . . Flannel chalkstripe cuffed suiting pants by J. Crew ($138). J. Crew, The Shops at Georgetown Park . . . Deco collection earrings in 18k white gold and diamonds ($18,000) by H. Stern . . ."

Hmmm . . . the "CBS Evening News" anchor as fashion pitchwoman? Of course not, say her reps, noting that Couric does not endorse any products. And despite the catalogue look, she doesn't appear to have done anything differently here than scads of other VIPs showcased in fashion magazines in recent years.

It's typical for national mags to describe what designer has draped Nicole Kidman or Orlando Bloom for the photo shoot -- or, for example, Al Gore in GQ's "Men of the Year" issue last month. ("Shirt by Prada, jeans by Versace Jeans Couture, boots by Tony Lama, watch by Rolex.") Now, a new flood of D.C. lifestyle glossies are applying the same kind of stylin' to politicians and media figures -- the kind of folks who wouldn't be caught dead endorsing a soft drink or SUV.

And as local publications, they tend to include specific details on the price and the store. Take the November issue of Washington Life, featuring Adrian and Michelle Fenty posing in evening wear available at stores near you: the mayor in a $2,100 black Zegna tuxedo from James at Tysons Galleria, his wife in a $795 Vera Wang gown and $165 earrings from Saks Jandel.

"As a policy, Katie does not endorse products," said her spokesman Matthew Hiltzik, "but a person has to wear clothes, and I think she looks great." He said Couric had no idea the magazine would list the price and retailer details for the clothes she wore.

Another journalist, Richard Wolffe, played mannequin last year as a "Man of Style" for DC magazine, clad in what the magazine informed us was a $1,195 Paul Smith brown pinstriped suit and $450 brown floral shirt. No, not his -- but "my wife encouraged me to buy them, and I did," said Newsweek's White House correspondent. Sadly, she didn't okay the $10,000 watch.

SORRY, YOU'RE NOT ON THE LIST

One in an occasional series of dispatches from parties you should have crashed

Event: Wednesday's black-tie preview party for " Jasper Johns: An Allegory of Painting, 1955-1965," opening today at the National Gallery of Art.

Guest of honor: The artist, 76, looking like a cross between Walter Cronkite and Warren Burger.

In the crowd: More than 300 luminaries of the contemporary art world: artists Frank Stella and Terry Winters, Whitney Museum Director Adam Weinberg, Museum of Modern Art curator Joachim Pissarro, the widow and son of legendary art dealer Leo Castelli, and a number of private collectors (the ones with the diamond brooches quivering on their shoulders) who lent art for the exhibition.

Tallest collector: Author Michael Crichton (6 feet 9), who wrote a well-regarded history of the artist's career and who owns three of his paintings, he told us. "No -- four," he corrected himself. Pause. "No, I have five." (One of Johns's early works sold last fall for $80 million, and you're not sure how many you own?) Johns greeted Crichton after dinner, saying, "I didn't see you. You must have been sitting down."

Menu: Mushroom terrine, crown roast of lamb, chocolate caramel walnut tart, very nice wines.

Coincidence? The exhibition highlights Johns's early work, notably yellow-and-blue bull's-eyes. The underwriter: Target.

Parting gift: A copy of the show's 276-page catalogue with Johns's "Target With Plaster Casts" on the cover, courtesy of . . . well, you know.

Seven Presidents Later, Time to Say Goodbye

After 37 years at the White House, chief usher Gary Walters is finally retiring -- and more than 400 members of his professional family turned out Friday for his farewell party hosted by the president and first lady. Walters started working at 1600 Penn in 1970, and rose up the ranks to chief usher, managing the staff and day-to-day operations of a living museum and home of seven first families. As President Bush pointed out, Walters took care of both extremely well and earned plenty of fans along the way. The entire Bush clan, including former president George Bush and Barbara Bush, were on hand to honor him, as well as chiefs of staff (Andy Card, James Baker, Josh Bolten, Anita McBride and Melanne Verveer), social secretaries (Lea Berman, Cathy Fenton, Ann Stock, Capricia Marshall, Maria Downs), staffers and Walters's wife, daughter and parents. In an East Room ceremony, Bush surprised Walters with the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service, the highest honor for a government employee. Said the emotional recipient: "The White House is a magnificent magnet that attracts the best and the brightest to serve the American people."