How do you get the 'DC look'?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey guys, quit hating on my thong.

[Anonymous]

And this just proves what I always say to my friends....people in DC are way nastier than NJ/NYers. My lord, this is a fashion forum and you people are bashing the OP about asking DC fashion questions!! WTF, shall we talk about Madeleine Albright's brooch collection instead? Would that be more DC appropriate?

I say the haters on this thread are just jealous that OP is even thinking about fashion because they gave up already with a mancut and an LL Bean subscription.

Now on to the original question.
Coming from the NYC area, I have heard women practically waiting to stone other women in my office for showing even a touch of cleavage. I was probably one of them when I first moved here. Don't wear heels that are too high unless you are going out very late. Tone down make up as well (unless its also evening).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are probably having a hard time figuring out the DC look and style rules because there are none. Seriously, people just do not spend too much time over thinking what they are wearing here. DC is also a very transient place and there are lots of tourists or people on 1-2 year assignments from everywhere.

For work, tailored solids seem to be the norm in my area. Black is worn alot but not all the time, like in NYC. I would love to black everyday but fear people would think I was never washing my clothes I actually don't see anyone where I work wearing flowering tunics or dresses. I could see dresses being popular in the summer because it is so hot but most people I see just leave the jacket behind when they go outside.

Many of the SAHMs here are not career or long term SAHMs. They are only planning to take 1-2 years off so finding a chic SAHM style is probably less of a concern. If I left my job, one of the upsides would be not having to wear heels and suits everyday. I would love to be in jeans and yoga pants everyday. If we were losing my salary, I also would not be running out to purchase a new chic SAHM wardrobe.

This post rings true for me. Part of the issue in DC is there are so many industries - so there is "Hill style" for example, for those that work on the Hill, and I work for a nonprofit, so we dress professionally but not overdone. Our VPs wear beautiful designer suits, but I'm making 85K a year and can't afford that. If I was making several hundred thousand a year working in finance I'd probably dress differently. I dress for me - I'm tiny and petite and often look like I'm trying to play dress up in a suit, so I tend to dress more casually. I'm in my 30s, slim, fit, look young, so I think I can pull it off. There is one woman I work with who is very slim and insists on wearing baggy, ill-fitting suits every day and I just want to give her a make over...let's show off that little waist line! I think the most important thing is wearing clothes that fit, which many women don't tend to do.

I must admit I come to this forum for the fitness more than the fashion, but this thread is amusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are probably having a hard time figuring out the DC look and style rules because there are none. Seriously, people just do not spend too much time over thinking what they are wearing here. DC is also a very transient place and there are lots of tourists or people on 1-2 year assignments from everywhere.

For work, tailored solids seem to be the norm in my area. Black is worn alot but not all the time, like in NYC. I would love to black everyday but fear people would think I was never washing my clothes I actually don't see anyone where I work wearing flowering tunics or dresses. I could see dresses being popular in the summer because it is so hot but most people I see just leave the jacket behind when they go outside.

Many of the SAHMs here are not career or long term SAHMs. They are only planning to take 1-2 years off so finding a chic SAHM style is probably less of a concern. If I left my job, one of the upsides would be not having to wear heels and suits everyday. I would love to be in jeans and yoga pants everyday. If we were losing my salary, I also would not be running out to purchase a new chic SAHM wardrobe.

This post rings true for me. Part of the issue in DC is there are so many industries - so there is "Hill style" for example, for those that work on the Hill, and I work for a nonprofit, so we dress professionally but not overdone. Our VPs wear beautiful designer suits, but I'm making 85K a year and can't afford that. If I was making several hundred thousand a year working in finance I'd probably dress differently. I dress for me - I'm tiny and petite and often look like I'm trying to play dress up in a suit, so I tend to dress more casually. I'm in my 30s, slim, fit, look young, so I think I can pull it off. There is one woman I work with who is very slim and insists on wearing baggy, ill-fitting suits every day and I just want to give her a make over...let's show off that little waist line! I think the most important thing is wearing clothes that fit, which many women don't tend to do.

I must admit I come to this forum for the fitness more than the fashion, but this thread is amusing.

Stacy ... Clinton ... is that you?

[Anonymous]

DC has a "look" ???

[Anonymous]

OP,
Just be yourself, ramp it up or tone it down depending on your personal and professional surroundings.

[Anonymous]

OK I've gotten to about page 3 of this thread and it's become clear that OP is either a troll or the most annoying human being on earth. I'm NYC born and bred, OP, and I get your references, but what I don't get is your attitude. Why would you come on here asking people how to dress in DC and then fill your posts with veiled insults and references to how "chic" and "fashionable" you are? If you have spent any time traveling or interacting with different kind of people, you should be able to figure out how to dress inoffensively for any occasion.

I promise, not all stylish New Yorkers are as strange and insecure as OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:17:10 Thank you.

To the others, there are no words...

it appears you have tons of words...

[Anonymous]

She dreams of the upper eastside from watching to much gossip girl.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think you should keep your look, style whatever. I love how people in NY dress. Look at some European women who live here for years, marry local man and proudly keep their unique style. They do often stand out but when they say they are from Italy or Norway you understand that this is how they are. You are from NYC. Be comfortable with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you for real? Just dress how you already dress! I don't think there is any such thing as a DC look. I'm from NYC and have lived here for the past 14 years, and I just dress as stylishly as I can afford, without paying attention to geography. I don't even understand what you mean by a mix of southhampton and whatever.

I think she's referring to the white jeans, bright tunics, ballet flats, Barbour jackets, etc., that I see in my neighborhood. I'm just guessing. It's sort of preppy and casual (not urban at all) and I think it's hard to pull off. Usually seen getting out of a silver Lexus or Volvo or Mercedes SUV. Pale blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail is sort of typical! Very little make-up. Usually followed by three beautiful tow-headed children in Vineyard Vine striped polo shirts.


This is "spot-on" about the Southhampton/country club DC look. I think of it as high end preppy and very label conscious (think Tory Burch).

Agree with other posters--stay with your NYC-style. DC has little to none worth emulating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:16:19 This isn't about style tips. In my former neighborhood, there are certain style rules that aren't obvious. I've seen women move there and try in vain for years to try to figure it out. If I met a transplanted Washingtonian in NYC, I could easily steer her in the right direction. That's all I'm looking for. As I mentioned before, I'm trying to learn DC's style 'rules.' It's not that complicated to explain them if you know what they are.

Can you list what the rules for your old neighborhood were? Part of the problem is that no-one can figure out how specific you want us to be.

[Anonymous]

I'm totally DC. I wear solid color pants and bright blouses, because neutrals wash me out. "Sensible" heels and understated jewelry. I spend at most $2,000 on clothes, not because I can't afford more, but because the circles I move in just don't care.

[Anonymous]

I'm DC too. I have my own style and I honnestly don't care what other women think of it. I go to work dressed as I think best fits my look and the office that I am in. When I'm home, I'm dressed comfortable and relaxed (but not in in sweat pants). I've developed my own style after many years and wouldn't change it depending on the city I lived in, or what other people think, or what some message board told me to do.

But that's me. I know who I am - and maybe that is why I choose to live in this city.

You can bash DC all you want NYC lady, but I love that we have such an odd mix of women living here. Some who dress so strangely, I mock it with my friends. Some, I find similar to my own style. We are who we are.

[Anonymous]

Interesting thread. I have traveled alot and I have only felt out of place twice. In NYC, I was wearing beige and I felt so out of place not wearing black. I normally do not notice these things but every women I passed on the street, at the hotel and everywhere was wearing all black. In northern California, whenever I go to business meetings I always feel overdressed even when I do not wear a suit.