Where to shop in washington dc

Am going to Washington DC this weekend. What clothing stores ought not be missed? Thanks for any advice.

CP:

Do you want malls, outlet stores (IMO not too hot in DC), or specialty stores...

No malls or outlets. These we have in the greater Detroit area. Specialty stores would be what I would be interested in--downtown, Georgetown. Thanks

CP : This one's in Baltimore, but I really like it. George Howard Independent Alan Pressman, Proprietor Village of Cross Keys, 94 Village Square, Baltimore, MD 21210. (410) 532-3535. Extremely pleasant shopping environment in great retail location. First-rate inventory; one of better selections of Luciano Barbera you'll find anywhere. Mr. Pressman is a pleasure to converse and shop with. Accessories: Great selection of belts; good selection of bow ties and cuff links; some formal wear; Luciano Barbera and Golden Bear leather outerwear Casual Wear: Avon Celli, Luciano Barbera, Scott Barber, Luigi Borrelli, Barry Bricken, Dalmine, Jeff Rose, Paul & Shark, Viyella, Ermenegildo Zegna, Zegna Soft Dress Shirts: Luciano Barbera, Luigi Borrelli, Ermenegildo Zegna Neckwear: Luciano Barbera, Ermenegildo Zegna Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo, Santoni Tailored Clothing: Luciano Barbera, Zanella, Ermenegildo Zegna (also M2M) Montgomery Mall 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20817. www.westfield.com. Both stores below are in the mall. James Clothiers Independent (301) 365-2606. Great-looking store with high-quality merchandise and helpful staff. Accessories: Good selection of cuff links; Brioni, Canali, Gimo, Kiton, and Pal Zileri leather outerwear Casual Wear: Luciano Barbera, Luigi Borrelli, Brioni, Dalmine, Gran Sasso, Pal Zileri, Ermenegildo Zegna Dress Shirts: Sartoria Attolini, Luigi Borrelli, Brioni, Canali, Fray, Kiton, Lorenzini, Ermenegildo Zegna Neckwear: Brioni, Tino Cosma, Pancaldi, Stefano Ricci, Ermenegildo Zegna, Zilli Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo, Bruno Magli, Santoni, Michael Toschi Tailored Clothing: Sartoria Attolini, Brioni (also M2M), Canali, d'Avenza (also M2M), Kiton, Ermenegildo Zegna (also M2M), Pal Zileri (also M2M) Winn Brothers Independent Steve Winnick, Todd Winnick, and Dana Winnick, Owners (301) 365-9466. Highly specialized men's store featuring soft European clothing. The Winnicks are a pleasure to work with. Accessories: Comstock, Remy leather outerwear Casual Wear: Barry Bricken, Equilibrio, St. Croix, Zanella Dress Shirts: Luciano Moresco, Xacus Neckwear: Winn Bros., imported direct from Italy Tailored Clothing: Borghesi, Marzotto Sartoriale, Zanella, Bernard Zins White Flint Mall 11301 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD 20895. www.shopwhiteflint.com. All 3 stores below are in the mall. Boardroom Clothiers Independent Jim Jones, President (301) 468-5777. www.boardroomclothiers.com. Nice selection of quality brands for the traditional dresser. Casual Wear: Tulliano, Tundra Dress Shirts: Ike Behar Neckwear: Ferrell Reed, Robert Talbott Tailored Clothing: Aquascutum, Hickey Freeman, Tallia Bruno Cipriani Independent Alex Abbaszadeh, Manager / Eduardo DePandi, Owner (301) 468-0484. Great store with attractively presented merchandise. Unique, first-quality pieces you won't find anywhere else. Both Mr. Abbaszadeh and Mr. DePandi are most cordial and accommodating. Accessories: Great selection of Tateossian cuff links; Gimo and Versace leather outerwear Casual Wear: Coogi, Verri, Versace Dress Shirts: Luigi Borrelli, Bruno Cipriani, Xacus Neckwear: Tino Cosma, Hubert, Pancaldi, Pavone, Versace Shoes: Versace Tailored Clothing: Luigi Borrelli, d'Avenza, Nervesa, Redaelli, Tombolini, Versace Sales: Four per year, July, August, December, January Gentlemen's Jodhpur Independent (301) 770-5880. Shoes: Bacco Bucci, Lorenzo Banfi, Belvedere, Borgioli, Mephisto, Bruno Magli, Mezlan, Moreschi Church's English Shoes ( One of only 2 boutiques in U.S.) 1820 L Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. (202) 296-3366. www.churchsshoes.com. Wm. Fox & Co. Independent Craig Fox, President 1427 G St., N.W., Washington, DC 20005. (202) 783-2530. www.wmfox.com. Attractive store with lots of wood fixtures lending a clubby, comfortable atmosphere. Located two blocks from the White House; founded in 1965. Caters to the updated traditional shopper. Mr. Fox is great to work with. Accessories: Trafalgar Limited Edition braces, Kenneth Gordon formal shirts and cummerbunds, Barbour outerwear Casual Wear: Scott Barber, Bills Khakis, Gran Sasso, Bobby Jones, Jeff Rose, Robert Talbott, Viyella Dress Shirts: Gitman Bros., Kenneth Gordon, Robert Talbott, Individualized shirts (custom) Neckwear: Altea, Breuer, Drake, Robert Talbott Tailored Clothing: Corbin, Nick Hilton, and Keithmoor trousers, Samuelsohn (also M2M) Not necessarily NBA Draft Day- I saw some interesting and tasteful things the last time I was here (below) Everett Hall Designs Boutique Chevy Chase Pavilion, 5345 Wisconsin Ave, N.W.. Washington, DC 20015. (202) 362-0191. www.everetthalldesigns.com. This store features three brothers who design and market their own line of clothing throughout the United States. Their clothes are great-looking, original takes on classic designs and made of quality Italian fabrics with soft hands. Everett Hall Designs Boutique 1230 Connecticut Ave., Washington, DC 20036.. (202) 467-0003. www.everetthalldesigns.com. This store features three brothers who design and market their own line of clothing throughout the United States. Their clothes are great-looking, original takes on classic designs and made of quality Italian fabrics with soft hands. Georgetown Park Mall 3222 M St., N.W., Washington, DC 20007. www.shopsatgeorgetownpark.com. Both stores in the mall. Niccolo Independent (202) 338-3638. Pleasant store with quality assortment of distinctive items. Accessories: Torras Leather outerwear Casual Wear: Gran Sasso Dress Shirts: Gianfranco Ferrà , Stefano Ricci Neckwear: Gianfranco Ferrà , Verri Tailored Clothing: Belvest, Redaelli Papillon Ties and Accessories Independent (202) 625-7446. Neckwear: Hermès, Leonard, Pancaldi, Versace, Ermenegildo Zegna (some) The Custom Shop Independent Neal Dreskin 1033 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20036. (202) 659-8250. www.customshop.com (See Chapter 9). First-rate customer service. Great quality fabrics and exceptional tailoring at reasonable prices. An excellent place to build one's wardrobe and develop individualized style. Accessories: Custom Shop Casual Wear: Custom Shop Dress Shirts: Custom Shop Neckwear: Custom Shop, Kolte, Genesis, Richel, Pancaldi, Pavone Shoes: Allen Edmonds Tailored Clothing: Custom Shop Below guys are also Alan Flusser's partners in his new venture in NYC and are very nice to talk with. Refinery Independent Mark Rykken, Principal/ George Broderick, Principal 1600 Tysons Blvd., Suite 800, McLean, VA 22102 (703) 245-3017 Brand new establishment opened in April 2003 by these two former senior employees of Britches of Georgetown. High quality self labeled merchandise value priced and intended to introduce the younger man to the finer art of dressing. Emphasis on custom clothing, but many fine ready to wear items as well. There are also a couple of places on Wisconsin Ave on the left hand (West?) side of the street as you head from Georgetown out to the Maryland suburbs... Hope this helps. Steve

If you were exposed to the sartorial horrors that I witness on a daily basis riding the DC subway system, you would understand what a vast shopping wasteland the DC metropolitan area is.  Steve did a very good job at covering our meager offerings.  In my opinion, your best bet (if you can put aside your aversion to malls and have a car) is a place that Steve didn't mention -- Tysons Corner in Northern Virginia.  Tysons Corner Center includes Bloomingdale's and Nordstroms.  Tysons Galleria, the slightly more upscale cousin across the street, includes Saks, Neiman's, Everett Hall, James, Thomas Pink, and Bally.  Saks is currently having an end of season sale, so I'll probably drop by at some point this weekend.

I dunno, AC, I wouldn't characterize DC as a wasteland for specialty stores. It's average, no better no worse, than most cities in the U.S. IMO. There are several other metro areas I find much more of a wasteland. A large proportion of the above stores have great merchandise, and most of the proprietors are very friendly and the antithesis of the boutique sales people in the concurrently running thread.

I dunno, AC, I wouldn't characterize DC as a wasteland for specialty stores. It's average, no better no worse, than most cities in the U.S. IMO. There are several other metro areas I find much more of a wasteland. A large proportion of the above stores have great merchandise, and most of the proprietors are very friendly and the antithesis of the boutique sales people in the concurrently running thread.

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I think I am guilty of comparing DC to cities of comparable significance (not of size, DC being a fairly small city with about 500,000 residents) like L.A. and N.Y.  I'm sure the shopping in DC is better than, say, Topeka.  If you're looking for anything much more adventurous than a navy two-button sack suit I think you may be out of luck in DC, however.

C'mon AC...

Niccolo, James, Bruno Cipriani and George Howard have much more diverse choices than that in European style tailored clothing...

Wm. Fox has nice updated trad suits, and a Samuelsohn box.

I think the Refinery guys have a great concept...Custom Shop can make you something nice as well.

I'd compare DC favorably with Boston (although DC has no Louis- but who does?), Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Charlotte, Miami, Seattle...

NYC, LA, and Chicago are definitely better, but they're much larger metro areas. I also think SF is better, but I live here so I'm not objective.

Also AC forgot to mention that across the street from Tyson's Corner Mall there is a small strip of shops in which there is Gucci, Hermes, and a few other high end boutiques (if that is your sort of thing).

Unfortunately, I have to agree with Ambulance Chaser on the lameness of the DC shopping scene.

By far the best shopping area (for men) is the Friendship Heights/Chevy Chase neighborhood on NW Wisconsin. Mazza Gallerie has a Saks Mens Store as well as Neiman Marcus. This NM has a far bigger and better selection of menswear than the one at Tyson's Corner, and the two-story Saks Mens Store is also great, if a little on the conservative side. There are also some boutiques up the block, as Steve mentioned, including YSL rive gauche.

After that, Tysons Corner is the only place worth visiting - Saks and NM (both w/a poor menswear department imo), Bloomingdales, Pink, Bally, James, Burberry opening next month.

PS: Steve mentioned James at Montgomery Mall; however, this store closed last year (I picked up some great Napoli Couture and Kiton ties for 75% off at the closing sale) - the only James now is the one at Tyson's Galleria.

Bryce: Thanks. I thought it was the other way around.

By far the best shopping area (for men) is the Friendship Heights/Chevy Chase neighborhood on NW Wisconsin.  Mazza Gallerie has a Saks Mens Store as well as Neiman Marcus.  This NM has a far bigger and better selection of menswear than the one at Tyson's Corner, and the two-story Saks Mens Store is also great, if a little on the conservative side.  There are also some boutiques up the block, as Steve mentioned, including YSL rive gauche.

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Thanks for the tip, Bryce.  As a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I rarely cross state lines, so I haven't been to Mazza Gallerie in awhile.  I'll have to check it out this weekend.

Thanks for all the advice. Just returned from Washington. I did stop in at Thomas Pink and dropped a bundle of cash. And, I did make the trek to Tyson's Center.

I have had some success at two additional places. I have too long arms for most ready to wear.
1. Highcliffe clothiers
Mark is a fitter by trade. Does a good job. Sends everything elsewhere for the cutting and stiching. Shirts are pretty good, perhaps a teeny bit short in the body, no split yokes available, collar closure a little close, no pattern matching, otherwise not bad value at $80 and up. I have a suit making its way and that seems pretty good as well, probably in the region of 1k for that.
2. Christopher Kim
Shirts also sent out, OK but the good quality fused collar and cuffs are like sheet metal...  Suits better and done on the premises. Ready to wear also in the shop. Similar prices to Highcliffe...
I was recently in London and had some fun shopping. Some very nice things but definitely 50% more expensive and up for some things (and the exchange rate doesn't help.).

I am headed to DC over the Labor Day holiday. Thanks for the useful info. But the YSL website says the 2 store locations in DC are women only - is this not true?

Also, if anyone can tell me is everything in DC walkable, such as a city like NYC? Can I walk to the Neimans/Saks area in Friendship Heights, say from Georgetown. Is the Tyson's Corner/Galleria malls easily accessible by Metro? I saw directions but it seemed complicated and time consuming.