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Once a navy blue pinstriped wasteland, Washington, D.C. now not only registers on the national fashion yardstick but ranks as a true (but not navy blue) style player.

Today the men and women who live, work and visit here have an unprecedented number of local shopping options to help them create a look as polished as the spin on a Sunday morning talk show. And, with a modern style icon living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washingtonians have to look no further than the White House for a fashion muse who is not afraid to make a look all her own.

Here is our top ten list of fun, quirky and decidedly Washington boutiques to help you look as good as a bright new bill on Capitol Hill and will help you stimulate your wardrobe DC style.

Rue 14 1803 14th Street, NW

Rue 14’s shiny wood floors, bright lights and clean lines are the ideal backdrop for its collection of contemporary men and women’s clothing. Owners Jiwon Paik-Nguyen and Andrew Nguyen favour emerging designers like Ever and Yunhi and are known for giving solid friendly fashion advice. The husband and wife team also stock the store with a great denim selection including pieces by Cheap Monday, Blank Denim and James Jeans. Rue 14 is a great choice for clothes that make you look good in that everyday way but don’t make you look like everyone else you see that day. Extra bonus: Rue 14 doesn’t have to break your bank. You can walk away with a fantastic fitting pair of jeans for less than $100.

Annie Creamcheese 3279 M Street NW

Stepping into this sparkly hot pink accented vintage designer boutique is like walking into your fabulous aunt’s boudoir. Original one-of-a-kind pieces from the houses of Gucci, Valentino, Dior, Pucci and the like fill one side of the Georgetown shop while more affordable but still original clothing, purses, shoes and jewellery fill the other. Some of the gowns here will make you feel like a little kid watching your mom and dad dress up for a night on the town. Only now you’re the one who gets to do the dressing up.

Muleh 1831 14th Street, NW

Muleh is one part clothing boutique, two parts furniture gallery and all parts art. From the stainless steel and bamboo sofa to the expertly tailored jacket just about everything here is an exercise in fashionably marring form and function. The warehouse-style store seamlessly blends uber-modern furnishings with urban clothing pieces from designers like Vivienne Westwood, Anglomania, b.chyll and Rozae Nichols. 

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