Think about the common professions in DC. Lawyer. Federal government worker. Political professionals. These aren’t exactly professions that draw in creative, fun, forward thinking types...

Anonymous wrote:I miss wearing my Hermès here.

I'll take it off your hands! I see Hermes in the DMV. They have a store in city center although many of their staffers are under the mistaken impression that they own all the merchandise and there is a security guard flat out follows you if you don't look the part (not a crazy rich Asian or white, of which I am neither). I avoid that one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I miss wearing my Hermès here.

Why aren't you wearing it? Because you don't get enough positive feedback about it? Because no one is gushing over you $1k scarf? Because you need outside validation for your high end fashion, don't you? And if no one recognizes your Hermes, well then it's better to keep it in the closet.

And you think I'm the lemming in Ann Taylor.

Ha. Bingo.

Anonymous wrote:When I first moved here, a relative tried to "educate" me how to dress to fit in: lots of MC andUMC clothing with obvious logos. One time I went out shopping and I was the only one person I saw without a North face jacket on.

For whatever reason the lemming / basic trend is very strong in the DC area. Lots of women being very catty if you don't dress to "fit in." People seem to delight in putting down or making fun of others; I'm middle class, not wealthy, and this is the behavior I have observed.

I've been made fun of by my relatives because I don't like any clothing with logos, I've been made fun of by strangers who didn't like me wearing brightly colored athletic shoes to the grocery store. I've been I insulted by neighbors because I am overweight (partially due to medical issues.)

Find it very puzzling, as there are people living her from all over the country and the world.

We have a winner! This is a huuuuuge problem in this area. There is a subset who sets the tone and often the tone is dull and ugly! My office is Talbots clearance rack and Kate Spade outlet central. Some women look okay, but their style is not mine. Regardless of income, job title and where you live (workers come from all over the DC area) if you don't dress their way, they do put you down, though in my office it tends to be subtle and passive agressive. I received a handmedown purse from my MIL that she never used it (an LV that FIL brought back from business trip over 10 years ago). My boss saw it wouldn't shut up about how expensive bags are stupid. She didn't say it directly to me, but to someone else a few feet away from where I sit. How the topic even came up is a mystery. I didn't tell her how I got it, nor did I show it off, but really woman? You make 2x what I do but a handbag has smoke coming from your ears!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry the dmv area women’s fashion is HORRIBLE!!

Women here consider an Ann Taylor dress, kate spade watch and purse and Tory Burch flats with a balayage hair in loose waves the epitome of being stylish.

Like ewww? For the most educated and wellnoff part of the country why is everyone here southern sorority girl??

You are right. I am beyond caring. Life here feels like a hamster wheel I can't get off. My week,
Wake up before 6
Drop kid #1 off at 6:40
arrive office 7:15
Work all day, lunch at desk
long commute home
cook, clean, homework, never mind doctor, dentist, tutor, therapist, sprained ankle on kid #2 means physical therapy, never mind yard work....

I outsource some things but you can't outsource enough. Where do I pay the price? Me, my health, my roots aren't kept up, I am over due for a haircut, I can get away with this bedhead, etc. etc.

I don't care what people think anymore. I'm so over it.

I think fashion is for the artistic types, who either want to express themselves with attire, or who are trying to attract attention. If you are a pragmatic type, or not in entertainment field, why would one bother?? We probably do the lowest common denominator in style because of what you've described above.

Keep up the good work.

Anonymous wrote:What other city has highly fashionable women walking around? NYC? Where else? I don't think DC is unique in this regard. Find me super fashion forward HOARDES of working women in another city please. Sure, the fashion magazines and art careers are most likely more fashion forward. Outside of those, show me a city where office drones dress fashion forward. I'll wait.

Tokyo, Copenhagen

Anonymous wrote:Six pages and still zero recommendations for how to liven up one's wardrobe...

the discussion is WHY are women here so basic. not how to be less basic.

Anonymous wrote:I miss wearing my Hermès here.

Why aren't you wearing it? Because you don't get enough positive feedback about it? Because no one is gushing over you $1k scarf? Because you need outside validation for your high end fashion, don't you? And if no one recognizes your Hermes, well then it's better to keep it in the closet.

And you think I'm the lemming in Ann Taylor.

Six pages and still zero recommendations for how to liven up one's wardrobe...

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry the dmv area women’s fashion is HORRIBLE!!

Women here consider an Ann Taylor dress, kate spade watch and purse and Tory Burch flats with a balayage hair in loose waves the epitome of being stylish.

Like ewww? For the most educated and wellnoff part of the country why is everyone here southern sorority girl??

You are right. I am beyond caring. Life here feels like a hamster wheel I can't get off. My week,
Wake up before 6
Drop kid #1 off at 6:40
arrive office 7:15
Work all day, lunch at desk
long commute home
cook, clean, homework, never mind doctor, dentist, tutor, therapist, sprained ankle on kid #2 means physical therapy, never mind yard work....

I outsource some things but you can't outsource enough. Where do I pay the price? Me, my health, my roots aren't kept up, I am over due for a haircut, I can get away with this bedhead, etc. etc.

I don't care what people think anymore. I'm so over it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm from London and I think there's not much difference in the way that people in offices dress between the two cities. The main difference is that in London there are many more people doing non-office things (from models to musicians to whatever) and those people tend to look a lot more fashionable, which makes the whole city feel more on trend. Also, London is very different to NYC or Paris, in which women seem to me to be much better groomed, whereas I find Londoners to be less groomed but more edgy with their clothes and more likely to be wearing an unusual new trend.

I still find myself more drawn to British high street brands (Whistles, Jigsaw, Hush etc) than the US equivalents, and buy a lot online from there, so I guess I'm still straddling the two cities in terms of fashion.

As a Londoner, please tell truthfully, what is the collective British opinion on Boden? As an American, I feel like I could be mistaken for a chic Brit when I wear it. Hahaha... or is it "so basic"?

I confess I don’t really know what “basic” means (and this thread didn’t really clear it up for me!) But in this Londoner’s opinion, Boden has a reputation for being a bit frumpy and “mumsy”, if that’s a word here. It’s not fashionable but will nod to the current trends in a safe and comfortable way. That said, there are often one or two pieces each season that will get picked out by fashion magazines and bloggers. I think it’s conparable to how J Crew is perceived here.

I believe "basic" means uncreative, status quo, boring, traditional, sort of plain, maybe several steps behind interesting fashion. Very common, for example everyone carrying :



Perfect! As a 43 year old Mum who goes to J Crew to buy something out of the window when I suddenly need something "nice", I guess Boden is right on for me!! Haha I am NOT stylish, wear scrubs to work, and hoodies and jeans rest of the time. I feel so fancy in a plain JCrew sheath dress. Boden seems more tweedy, and looks very colorful. The models look overtly joyful, not cool and standoffish. But less overtly college girl sexy librarian than JCrew. Boden looks more like a woman with serious middle class business to accomplish would wear it. I love how we buy into the marketing of the catalogs, which are basically graphic novellas.

I love the British point of view. Seems so sensible and straightforward. But are you like SF people- chic, very cool, wear leather and don't smile much? Boden seems like you are excited to go to your mossy country home and have tea or something.

Cheers!

I am basic. And I don't care. At all. Like not even a little bit. Most of my friends are basic too. Some care more than others.

I don't think people who are really into it are silly or vapid. I'm just not into it. And I don't have to be. I can get by with my basic look just fine. I put my time and energy into other things. Some women like to put their time and energy into their look. That's fine! I am not one of those women.

You do you. I'll do me.

Anonymous wrote:When I first moved here, a relative tried to "educate" me how to dress to fit in: lots of MC andUMC clothing with obvious logos. One time I went out shopping and I was the only one person I saw without a North face jacket on.

For whatever reason the lemming / basic trend is very strong in the DC area. Lots of women being very catty if you don't dress to "fit in." People seem to delight in putting down or making fun of others; I'm middle class, not wealthy, and this is the behavior I have observed.

I've been made fun of by my relatives because I don't like any clothing with logos, I've been made fun of by strangers who didn't like me wearing brightly colored athletic shoes to the grocery store. I've been I insulted by neighbors because I am overweight (partially due to medical issues.)

Find it very puzzling, as there are people living her from all over the country and the world.

I feel like I must have lived in a different DC - that wasn't my experience at all. (I lived in DC for 8 years - previously lived a bunch of different places including NYC, left for Florida.) Where were you working and where were you living? I lived in Columbia Heights, then Old Town - worked in think tank/politics world then journalism.

Anonymous wrote:When I first moved here, a relative tried to "educate" me how to dress to fit in: lots of MC andUMC clothing with obvious logos. One time I went out shopping and I was the only one person I saw without a North face jacket on.

For whatever reason the lemming / basic trend is very strong in the DC area. Lots of women being very catty if you don't dress to "fit in." People seem to delight in putting down or making fun of others; I'm middle class, not wealthy, and this is the behavior I have observed.

I've been made fun of by my relatives because I don't like any clothing with logos, I've been made fun of by strangers who didn't like me wearing brightly colored athletic shoes to the grocery store. I've been I insulted by neighbors because I am overweight (partially due to medical issues.)

Find it very puzzling, as there are people living her from all over the country and the world.

What? I have lived here my entire life and not only do I not own North Face, I do not buy anything with obvious brands on them. I don't know a single person who does this who lives inside the Beltway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the posters here are denigrating fashion as anti intellectual which is not the case at all. Fashion is a form of self expression which is a form of art which does require a type of intellect, just not the same intellect as writing a legal brief or doing surgery or whatever. I would love to be fashionable but I lack time, money, and energy. Something has to fall through the cracks and unfortunately it is my appearance. Am I happy about that? No, but I have learned to accept my own limitations and be happy despite that. I can also appreciate another woman who looks good and makes an effort without denigrating her. Do you! At my federal agency I see lots of stylish women, they just happen to be people of color.

I didn't see anyone denigrate it as anti-intellectual - just that it's not something professional women in DC feel *compelled* to care about, which is a good, liberating thing! For those who do care, knock yourself out. Women of color still face prejudice in the workplace so that's likely why they feel more compelled than white women (black men too generally look sharper).

Prejudice in the workplace may play a small role in the wardrobe choices of African Americans in DC. However, I think the main reason for looking "sharper" is that dressing well is still a cultural norm for many African Americans. This is true even in settings where racial prejudice is a non-factor. Someone already mentioned Howard University students as an example. You would make the same observations about attire at a typical Black church service.