Washington, DC has a reputation for being dowdy, or even frumpy. What do you think of when you think of Capitol fashion? Pantsuits? Practical pumps with sneakers for the walk into he office? Flag pins, definitely flag pins. But come to DC and you’ll see a city full of residents taking their cues from Michelle Obama, Olivia Pope, and Claire Underwood. The old cliché, that Washington is “Hollywood for ugly people” is tired.
Georgetown is no longer the only destination for serious shoppers in DC. Visitors and locals alike have a wide-variety of options to avail themselves of, whether on the hunt for an inaugural ball-worthy gown, a new spin on professional attire, or the perfect brunch outfit. Out of towners will be delighted to know most shopping destinations are located on the Metro lines. Finding places to stay in Washington, DC isn’t that hard considering there are over 100 hotels within walking distance to the Metro.
Go Local
Washington, DC, offers shoppers the mainstream shops, but is also bursting with local boutiques. In Georgetown, amongst the national brands, both upscale and high street, you’ll find local mainstays like Wink, Relish, and Hu’s Shoes, which all feature offerings curated by DC fashion insiders.
The 18th and U Street corridors offer quirky boutiques, accessory stores, and record shops. Head to King Street in Old Town Alexandria for a plethora of antique stores and fun clothing boutiques, like Bishop Boutique and Duchess M. The Mosaic District in Falls Church is also becoming a go-to spot for locally owned shops, like Take 5 and Sophie Blake + Erika Schrieber. Bethesda is home to one of DC’s favorite thrift shops, Mustard Seed, or hit up Eastern Market on the weekends for quirky finds.
Splurging in the District
For those looking to drop some serious money, DC offers a number of options.
Newly opened City Center in Metro Center is setting itself apart as the go-to spot in the city for luxury shopping. Established stores include Dior, Caroline Herrera, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton, with more shops opening all the time.
A similar vibe can be found in northwest DC in Chevy Chase. The collection, a more established upscale shopping venue, the high-end shops on Wisconsin Avenue are anchored by Tiffany’s and Bloomingdale’s, which have recently been joined by Gucci, Cartier, and Jimmy Choo.
Looking to spend in Virginia? Head to the aforementioned Tysons Galleria for a curated collection of couture.
Hitting the Mall
We’ve all heard the disappointed teenagers getting off the metro at the Smithsonian stop: “I thought this was supposed to be a mall?” While the National Mall, rightly, gets the most play in tourist guides, the DC area certainly boasts shopping malls sure to appease any teenage girl.
The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, accessible via the yellow or blue line metros, offers over 170 stores over multiple floors. Shoppers will find department stores like Macy’s and Nordstrom, popular chains like Victoria’s Secret and Coach, and specialty stores like Apple, Sephora, and Williams Sonoma. A large and varied food court anchors the mall on its ground level. Head outside the mall to nearby Pentagon Row for more shopping and dining options.
Slightly farther outside the city, but still accessible thanks to the metro’s new silver line, is Tyson’s Corner, a shopping mecca with two major shopping centers. Tyson’s Corner Center is home to over 300 stores, with options ranging from Bloomingdale’s to American Girl to The North Face. Tyson’s Corner Center offers a wide range of dining and entertainment, including a movie theater and a winter ice skating rink.
Tysons Galleria offers upscale shopping, featuring 30 exclusive designers, including Burberry, Versace, and Lilly Pulitzer.
Union Station houses its own small mall with high street fashion offerings like H&M, Ann Taylor, and Victoria’s Secret. Travelers will also find a variety of souvenir shops, including a Smithsonian store. In northwest DC, Mazza Gallerie is home to upscale shops and you’ll find familiar offerings like Anthropologie and Cole Haan at the Shops at Wisconsin Place.
High Street Fashion
The DC shopping scene has exploded to the point where you can find high street shops in almost any neighborhood.
In Virginia, head to Clarendon where shoppers will enjoy the mix of major retailers, like Ann Taylor and Pottery Barn, and independent shops, like South Moon Under, a local clothing boutique. You’ll find similar offerings along King Street in Alexandria.
Visitors downtown will encounter familiar brands like Forever 21, H&M, J.Crew, and Anthropologie in Metro Center, with Urban Outfitters, LOFT, and Blue Mercury a short walk away in Chinatown. The Dupont area also offers mainstream brands like Brooks Brothers, Burberry, Victoria’s Secret, and Ann Taylor.
Georgetown remains a major shopping center. There’s a high concentration of stores here, including an Apple store, Coach, Banana Republic, Lululemon, and the Gap.
Across the Potomac in Maryland, head to National Harbor for recognizable specialty brands like Alex and Ani or Harley Davidson.
Bargain Hunting
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the DC area offers its fair share of outlet shopping.
Between DC and Baltimore is Arundel Mills, one of the area’s largest outlets. Arundel Mills offers over 200 stores, including Liz Claiborne, Michael Kors, Old Navy, and Bass Pro Shops.
Located by National Harbor, Tanger Outlets offers brand name discount stores like Calvin Klein, Banana Republic Factory Store, Chico’s, and American Eagle Outfitters.
In Virginia, Potomac Mills is just a short drive away from the District in Woodbridge. Virginia’s largest outlet features over 200 stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Nordstrom Rack, and Nike Factory Store. In Leesburg, the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets offers over 110 options, including Le Creuset, J.Crew, Kate Spade New York, and Coach.