Suit up at the latest men’s shop to arrive in Georgetown.

Washington’s fashion district just got another dose of panache: In late August, Dutch custom clothier Suitsupply brought its made-to-measure services to town with a 6,000-square-foot store located near the Four Seasons Hotel. Founded by Fokke De Jong in 2000, Suitsupply’s philosophy is centered on exceptional customer service with trained tailors available on-site to provide indivudualized assistance.

Clients can enjoy the new Georgetown boutique’s modern interior, browsing the current collection during the head-to-toe custom experience. The brand’s suits, replete with all the details you’ve come to expect from fine European luxury brands, weigh in at a comfortable $399–$999. The latest outpost is the retailer’s third US location, joining boutiques found in New York City and Chicago. The company prides itself not only on the quality of its products but on the integrity of each piece. Suitsupply deals solely with workshops that enforce healthy and safe working conditions: no excessive overtime, no discrimination, and no child labor. 2828 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 202-800-7800

From the Argyleculture collaboration: shirt ($79.50), vest ($89.50), and jacket ($195).

This fall Russell Simmons is joining forces with American menswear designer Joseph Abboud to create a new aesthetic for Simmons’s Argyleculture brand. Tailored shirts layered with Argyle vests or sweaters create a look that is contemporary yet classic—and decidedly all-American. Simmons’s take on the partnership: “Joseph Abboud’s creative standpoint is fantastic, and his experience and ability to translate my vision is much greater than any other designer I have ever worked with. Abboud’s input and knowledge of menswear will continue to grow the brand and allow us a far greater opportunity to fill a space that is wide open.”

The District’s style-conscious men will love the collection’s slimmer silhouettes and luxe fabrics. The new line debuts this fall, and will be available at boutiques, select department stores, and online. Streets of Georgetown, 1254 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-295-9098

The entrance to the new Ann Taylor store

Soon after being founded in 1954, Ann Taylor became synonymous with classically styled, affordable workwear for women. Over the past few years, however, the trusted brand has gone through an entirely fabulous 21st-century evolution under the leadership of its new head of design, Lisa Axelson. “The new Ann Taylor is chic and stylish with a more fashion-forward direction to address the needs of today’s modern working women across every generation,” she says. The new look, adds style director Andrew Taylor, is a perfect fit for savvy Washingtonians. “Women in the DC area have become so much more modern and confident in their dress choices. Ann Taylor has evolved in much the same way.”

The brand’s new outpost inside Tysons Galleria aims to make the shopping experience “convenient and fun,” Andrew Taylor says. “Our new concept stores are designed to make shopping easier, with stylists on hand to help clients put together the perfect look. With shop-in-shop amenities, [these stores] are like the ultimate dream closet,” adds Taylor. So what can we expect to see from the Fall collection? “It is inspired by a Parisian atelier from the 1960s, and the beautifully pulled-together women you see all over Paris. You’ll find pretty peplum tops, animal prints, patterned trousers, chic tweed separates, gorgeous outerwear, and statement accessories,” Taylor says. What’s more: New locations are planned for Tysons Corner and Union Station later this year. 703-748-8681

Piecing it together with Butler + Claypool: This neon leather satchel will set you back only $60.

What started as a common love for vintage clothing and accessories has become a successful business venture for friends Holly Thomas and Krista Haywood, cofounders of online style emporium Butler + Claypool. “We had been going ‘thrifting’ together for a few months, and one day we were taking a thrifting break at a coffee shop and started daydreaming about having a store-slash-creative workshop where we could sell vintage and host workshops for sewing and jewelry design,” says Thomas.

After retailing primarily via pop-up shops, the duo recently has started taking private styling appointments at Butler + Claypool’s bricks-and-mortar showroom, which opened on Capitol Hill in March. “When clients make appointments, they can let us know if they’re looking for something specific, like a cocktail dress, or just want a variety of items that suit their style, and we’ll have everything arranged and displayed when they arrive,” says Thomas. “This lets us tailor the experience to the client, which has always been our ultimate goal. We want it to feel like an awesome closet created just for you.” Appointments are flexible and can last as long as necessary, Thomas adds, though most run about an hour. Cost is determined on a case-by-case basis, dependent on the client’s specific needs. 202-509-3873

If there ever was a poster woman for the capital city’s new take on tanning, it’s local author Susanna Quinn. “I don’t even put my face or body in the sun unless I have a factor 80 on,” says the 42-year-old. “I even bring a rain umbrella to sit beneath while I’m watching my daughter play soccer on sunny days.” But take a closer look at Quinn and you will see perfectly bronzed arms and a sun-kissed face that tell another story: She is one of a new breed of serial faux tanners—those who forego the sun but invest in a high-maintenance ritual of weekly salon sprays.

“Washingtonians have really started to equate a natural suntan with wrinkles and skin cancer,” explains Kelly Lovallo, a DC-based mobile spray tanner known for her bespoke bronzing and a VIP client list that includes everyone from the Real Housewives of DC to US Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall. “These tans are becoming part of a sensible skincare routine rather than vanity,” she adds.

Quinn, for one, is proud of her fake-it status. “It shows I take care of my skin,” she says, and she’s not alone—high-profile skin experts are also partaking. “I’m a big fan of spray tans,” says Tina Alster, clinical professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Her go-to place? “It has to be Glow Salon in Georgetown (1334 Wisconsin Ave. NW, 202-338- 4569),” she says. “I’m always telling patients who are insistent on having a tan to make the switch to fake tans and bronzers.”

Over at Nectar Skin Bar—which offers half-hour airbrush tans at $55 each—there has been a five-fold increase in bookings. Manager Melissa Nist believes one reason is that salon treatments have moved up a notch. “We use an organic brand from California called Chocolate Sun, which allows us to mix from a palette of colors to create everything from a light base tan to a seven-days-at-the-beach color.”

But most clients seem to like just a hint of faux-sun glow. “We’re not in Orange County—we don’t want to look like Oompa Loompas,” Quinn quips. Lovallo seconds this: “No one wants to look like they’ve just gotten off the plane from Jamaica; it’s about looking healthy and well rested. A tan is the best shortcut to masking a lack of sleep that I know of, which is probably why at least 20 percent of my customers are politicians.”

DC’s faking-it aficionados are also enlisting the help of a host of products that complement their newly bronzed bodies. Space NK founder Nicky Kinnaird says the best products at her Tysons Corner store (703-556-4569) are the Life NK Japanese Wash Cloths—“an easy, no-mess exfoliating treatment that will help to remove dead skin cells and provide a more even tan”—and NIA24 Sun Damage Prevention 100% Mineral Sunscreen. “Remember, a fake tan doesn’t protect you against sunburn,” she explains.

The better you prep, the better your tan will look, advises Lovallo. “I recommend a nongreasy scrub like DermaDoctor KP Duty Body Scrub,” which promotes even coverage and lengthens the duration of your tan by removing dead skin cells. “Afterward no bikram yoga, shaving, or exfoliating for 24 hours, and make sure you moisturize twice daily. Then you will truly be one of Washington’s bronzed and beautiful.”

Diamante Plus four-wheeler trolley, Gucci ($2,750)

Gucci’s latest line of men’s travel gear boasts a complete collection of covetable styles, including a briefcase, messenger and tote bags, and four-wheel trolleys—the Italian fashion house is among the first luxury labels to offer four-wheel, 360-degreerotation construction. Dubbed the Gran Turismo, the collection proudly displays the label’s iconic diamond-shaped Diamante pattern, and the leather-trimmed trolleys come with a luggage tag and a lock and key, and are embossed with an authentic trademark tag. The luxurious pieces are not only sturdy, but their unparalleled good looks also make them easy to spot at baggage claim. Tysons Galleria, 703-506-6804

Energy attorney David John Frenkil dishes on DC designers and learning about fashion from his
globetrotting, entrepreneurial grandfather.

Style Philosophy: “I grew up around fashion; my grandfather used to travel to Europe to have shoes designed for his stores. He was one of the first to import high-quality women’s shoes at affordable prices.”

Shirt and suit: Donovan England. “It’s a new label by a very creative DC-based entrepreneur I met through some friends when they were being fitted for wedding attire.”

Shoes: Paul Stuart. “I like the old-school style of Paul Stuart’s Balmoral shoes, and the cognac color is very unique.”

Silk seven-fold ties, Sette (starting at $265). 

“I originally had the idea for Sette when I was working for President Bush,” explains Peter Watkins, founder of the newest name in sevenfold ties. “On an official trip to Italy, I was introduced to the personal tie-maker to Prime Minister Berlusconi, and my eyes were opened to an entirely new echelon of neckties.”

His days in the White House behind him, Watkins splits his time between Washington and Salt Lake City, building his company of fine Italian silk ties. Each is handmade from one single meter of silk; the ties feature exquisite detailing like embroidered labels and intricate slipstitch trims. Watkins adds to the product’s exclusivity by ensuring only a small number of each style is produced. Like a fine piece of jewelry, Sette ties come with an identity card and a serial number. It’s only a matter of time before they’re the next status symbol for Washington’s stylish, in-the-know men.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACQUELINE ALLEN

Stretch leather body suit ($1,295) and poplin flare skirt ($895).

Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs

Washington women seeking a sharper image, look no further than the award-winning design duo Cushnie et Ochs. Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs forged a bond at New York's Parsons The New School for Design over a mutual love of art and architecture; soon after the pair launched their debut collection, for Spring 2009, and commanded the industry's attention. Michelle, born and raised in Gaithersburg, explains the concept behind the label's most recent collection, one that's playful and quirky yet sophisticated: "Spring 2012 was all about the glamorized housewife, an exploration of every young girl's fantasy of playing house. I envision a strong, feminine, and empowered woman wearing our designs; she is confident and stands out with a modern elegance wherever she goes." Saks Jandel, 5510 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, 301-652-2250

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACQUELINE ALLEN (SKIRT, BODY SUIT)

The founder of image strategy firm Styleauteur and a "Political Style" columnist for The Huffington Post, Lauren Rothman dishes on her favorite pieces and her fashion philosophy.

"My style philosophy is to always love what you wear and understand that less is more. My favorite place to shop is my closet, and if it's too full, I won't see the gems."

Necklace: Judith Hendler. "My mother-in-law is one of the most stylish women I know, and she recently sent me a treasure chest full of Judith Hendler's vintage Lucite pieces."

Cuff and clutch: Anne Fontaine. "I love how this woven leather cuff accents my necklace."

Dress: Milly. "I love a great dress! My favorite part of this one is the fun but subtle shoulder cut-out."

Shoes: Christian Louboutin. "I never tire of these red soles. D'Orsay-style pumps add a sophisticated touch."

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG POWERS