This week on Regional Style Guide, we decided to hit up our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. (In case you missed them, see our past posts on Milwaukee style, Dallas style, Myrtle Beach style, and Santa Fe style.) Although most people view this region as strictly politics, D.C. is so much more. The District is filled with history, museums, art, parks, food trucks, pop-up bookstores, tech startups, and much more.

D.C. mirrors the energy of big cities like NYC or L.A., but on a smaller scale. The crowds here are fast paced and made up of local movers, shakers, and hustlers who have little time to strike up a conversation with tourist.

Most locals aren’t natives; they weren’t born and raised in the District. They moved to D.C. intrigued by the capital’s career opportunities, education, and culture. Therefore, there isn’t a general dynamic of southern or northern influences but an interesting blend of both. 

If you’re visiting D.C. in the Spring, you won’t be able to miss the iconic Cherry Blossoms which can be seen in small clusters around the National Mall, but to see the majority of blossoms you’ll need to walk the Tidal Basin Loop Trail to the shoreline of East Potomac Park.

So now that we know a little about the District’s geography and beauty, let’s take a look at the Washingtonians’ style!

Table of Contents

Day Out in the City

When Washingtonians have a free day, the whole city becomes their playground! Luckily, D.C. is filled with free things to do since the locals are spending a fortune to live there. You will need more than one free day to check out the Smithsonian’s 17 museums that are completely free to the public.