Jessica Johnson
Age: “How old do you think I am?”
Attorney for a federal agency

What she’s wearing: Vintage dress and matching jacket (the label is Lilli Ann Knit) from Remix Vintage on Capitol Hill. Her shoes are Kenneth Cole Reaction, and the earrings were a gift from a friend who was with her when she bought the outfit.

Do people often stop you to ask about your clothes?
“It happens a lot. I call this my magic suit. I don’t think I own anything else that gets me this much attention!”

Where do you shop?
“The majority of my professional clothes come from Filene’s Basement. And I shop at the consignment and vintage stores. Since I went to law school, I have a lot of loans to pay back, so I’m on a budget.”

How would you describe your style? Is this a typical look for you?
“This is sort of out of character. I tend to dress conservatively and for practicality. Maybe that’s because of my upbringing in Alaska. When I dress up, I want to wear something unique and unusual. I wore this because Michelle Obama made an appearance at our office today and I thought there might be a chance that I’d meet her.”

Sabine Pollart, 35
Assistant to the Chairman, SVP France

What she’s wearing: Sonia Rykiel pants, Insight top, March Jacobs bag, Dior shoes, and a Montblanc men’s watch.

Tell us about your style. “I like to be a bit rock and roll. What Madonna did in Like a Virgin.”

What are your favorite brands?  What’s big in Paris?  “I like Chloe, Stella McCartney, Martin Margiela... Balenciaga. We love Vuitton in Paris. And Dior. Dior forever! Yves St. Laurent Rive Gauche. Cheap Monday jeans.”  

What do you think of style here?  “I think you’re missing some good buyers. I went to Georgetown and... there wasn’t the selection.  But I have had people stopping me—‘where did you get that, what is that’—so there is interest. People can afford it.”

Maybe it’s just us (Rachel doesn’t seem to have a problem), but it seems like there’s a dearth in this city when it comes to stylish men. In fact, finding a man with an interesting take on fashion feels a bit like hunting down the yeti—you’ve heard it exists, but its presence eludes you. Don’t get us wrong: Washington has plenty of sharp-looking guys. But they’re mostly dressed in suits or wearing blazers or khakis or zzzz . . .

Luckily, we spotted our sartorial yeti along the U Street, Northwest, corridor. His name: Dante Collins, a student at Howard University. Check out our video to see Dante’s outfit and to find out why you won't spot him wearing clothes with prominent labels.

Charles Kimberly, 27
Freelance interpreter

What he’s wearing:
“Everything’s pretty much Ralph Lauren,” he says, and almost all of it is from eBay. (He also lists Filene’s Basement as another spot for snagging steals.) “I get it for a third of the price.” He’s wearing a Purple Label jacket, and his pants, shirt, tie are Polo. His glasses are Prada, the argyle socks are Brooks Brothers, and the shoes are Stubbs & Wooten.

What would you like to add to your closet?
“A light tan-and-black jacket in silk houndstooth from Ralph Lauren.”

What’s in the bags?
“I’m actually taking a bunch of stuff to get tailored. I’ve had some bad experiences at a few tailors here, so I’m just going to the Ralph Lauren store later on today.”

Spring’s finally here, and we’re all ready to ditch winter’s wool sweaters and tights for sundresses and sandals. The key to transitioning your wardrobe to warmer weather is to have a few key pieces that you can pair with great accessories to make it look like you have a closet full of outfits. The perfect place to start? Some statement-making earrings.

For this issue of Frugal Fashionista, we’ve partnered Meg Zatko, author of style blog Dekan DC (it’s naked, spelled backwards!). Because accessories are a huge statement for spring, we asked Zatko to identify several “Frugal Fashionista” worthy accessories, essentially lower priced versions of their runway counterparts.

We love that she chose earrings, one of this season’s biggest statement pieces. They’re perfect to jazz up a plain white tee, and look fresh and summer-y when hair is pulled back into an  updo. Plus, they’re becoming increasingly easy to find at budget prices—shops like H&M, Zara and even Target have had great finds recently.
“While personally I would love to have a chest full of nice jewelry, with the word recession ringing in everyone’s ears it just isn’t logical,” she says.

Zatko compiled three looks, each with high and “low” counterparts. Let’s just say we can’t wait to get shopping!

If you haven’t felt at least a little stressed over the past few months, you’re one of the lucky ones. And what could be better than a relaxing facial or massage when you need a time out? Fortunately, Spa Week 2009 begins today. It’s the one week of the year when salons and spas in multiple cities offer select treatments for just $50.

The promotion runs from Monday, April 13, to Sunday, April 19, and the treatments (some of which regularly cost as much as $300) range from Swedish massages and signature facials to microdermabrasion and laser hair removal. Register for free at spaweek.com to see a list of participating businesses in Washington.

What’s the catch? There isn’t one—but schedule an appointment quickly. You can also check the Spa Week blog (spaweekblog.com) to see which salons and spas have recently signed up and may have more openings.

Check out our spa database and our Great Day Spas package for more details, ratings, and location information for local spas as well as our list of great spas in the Washington area.

More>> Shop Around Blog | Style | Find a Spa 

Soo Park, 27
Senior, Marymount University (major in fashion merchandising;
vice-president of the Fashion Club)

What he’s wearing: Dior Homme wool flannel jacket, Zara dark-blue polka-dot shirt, Emporio Armani pants, Fendi pocket square, YSL belt, A. Testoni “Chelsea” boots, Tom Ford black tortoise glasses.

Describe your style. “Fashion forward but not too edgy. I stick with basic styles and add some extra fun, colorful items. Preppy with a trendy twist.”

Favorite designers? “Tom Ford, because he represents how a gentlemen should dress; Balenciaga, because the structure of the clothes and Spanish flair appeals to me; and John Galliano, because he’s not afraid to express his craziness—his clothes are so artistic. And the Blonds, because they create something that’s almost like a fantasy and so imaginary. Their clothes are so unique and truly a fashion fairy-tale.”