When you work at a publication that covers anything and everything Washington-related, you’re always curious to see how other people size up your fair city. So the second the February issue of shopping bible Lucky magazine hit our desks, we immediately flipped to the DC shopping guide on page 48 to find out which boutiques were deemed worthy to introduce to the rest of the nation.

We love the focus on the 14th and U Street corridors. With so many boutiques flying under the radar there for so long, it’s great to see them take center stage. Favorites such as Muleh, Good Wood, and Rue 14 are all present and accounted for, and the magazine even takes notice of newcomer Foundry. Georgetown, unsurprisingly, also gets a shout-out for Charm, M29, Hu’s Wear, and more.

Though the list is pretty exhaustive, there are a few spots we would have suggested had Lucky called us for final edits. It’s Vintage Darling in Columbia Heights is one of our perennial favorites, and Georgetown’s Ella-Rue may be the consignment store we most consistently rely on for work-appropriate Tory Burch and DVF. Though barely inside the District line, there’s also gifting mecca Trohv up in Takoma Park.

What else would you add to Lucky’s shopping guide? Let us know in the comments!

Looking to spice up your room with some sartorial wall art? Look no further—we’ve spent months tracking dozens of fashion illustrators on the Web and have finally whittled them down to eight favorites. Each of these ultra-talented artists offers fashion-conscious artwork priced well below what you’ll find in Washington galleries (most of our favorites ring in at $25 and under). With prices like that, you’ll actually be able to afford a frame.

What can we say? We’re suckers for elegant girls in watercolors, and Atlanta-based Jessica Durrant styles them with aplomb. Her evening illustrations remind us of the glamorous, high-fashion world Marchesa’s Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig (hello, Chanel bags and Louboutin heels), and Breakfast at Tiffany’s fans will be delighted by the number of Audrey Hepburn prints also available in Durrant’s Etsy shop.

Sequins: not just for New Year’s Eve anymore. Believe it or not, they can also work in the office if you plan the rest of your outfit intelligently. Sticking with our resolution to take more style risks in 2012  means we’re also looking to shake up our 9-to-5 wardrobe, and this is the perfect place to start. Read on for three ways to incorporate Saturday-night shimmer into Monday through Friday.

Balance the fancier feel of the sparkle with structured shapes and serious colors. Here, we paired a clean-lined button-up (make sure you button it to the top) with sleek cropped trousers and a velvet blazer. The traditional shapes of the jacket and pant, especially when done in professionally minded colors like navy and black, keep the sequins on this rugby top from standing out too much. Conservative kitten heels are the perfect shoe choice, and if you’re craving color, a classic red leather purse will round out the mix.

Sequin rugby top, $170 at Adam; Griffin black plastic frames, $95 at Warby Parker; DV by Dolce Vita suede Kitty heel, $49.99 at Urban Outfitters; Tibi cropped wool-blend crepe pants, $127.30 at Net-a-Porter; Midgroe velvet blazer, $270.98 at Aubin & Wills; Edie leather purse, $238 at J.Crew.

This was a banner year for breaking the mold in DC fashion. Between the founding of the Capital Area Fashion and Beauty Blogger network and the launch of Refinery29’s DC branch, the Internet all of a sudden exploded with the fashionable adventures of women in Washington. After months of checking the blogs obsessively, we’ve rounded up our favorites from the year. Trust us—you’ll want to bookmark these right now. We expect big, stylish things from these women in 2012.

Who: Meg Biram, 28

The Blog: MIMI + MEG

Why We’re Fans: Biram brings a chic, polished eye—not to mention a major burst of color—to fashion, interiors, art, and trends. The former Hallmark card designer and current artist (check out her abstract paintings here) moved to Northern Virginia in April 2011, and we’re excited to see how she influences (and is influenced by) the area’s preppy, professionally focused style. New for Biram going into 2012: personal outfit posts (finally!) and entrepreneurial advice.

Where She Shops in Washington: “I can always count on Georgetown to steal money from my wallet. I frequent Wink, AllSaints, Cusp, Zara, Intermix, West Elm, and CB2.”

The Most Treasured Items in Her Wardrobe: “1) A chevron Diane von Furstenberg dress I bought for an important ceremony while my husband was in the Air Force. I cherish that dress. 2) A pair of Kate Spade wedges I received for hosting the launch party for the Kate Spade store in Kansas City. 3) A black leather Marc by Marc Jacobs bag. It was my first major purse purchase, and I don’t regret a dime of it.”

Style Advice She Swears By: “Only buy what you love. Then you’ll never have a hard time getting dressed.”

On Her Wish List: A Dannijo Lucas ring ($180).

In October 2009, Sydney Poulton decided on a whim to start a blog with her new husband, Tyson, as a way to document their life together and keep in touch with their families. But what began as a personal daily musing took off nationally when she began to showcase her own outfits.

“I was inspired by the street style photos from the Sartorialist and just figured, why not?” says Poulton. Though the rest of the posts never veered from discussions of her daily life, readership boomed once the blogosphere picked up on her impeccable style.

Two years later, and with 10,000-plus readers to boot, Poulton has created a part-time job for herself. Outside of her work as a photographer and time with her newborn son, Everett, Poulton puts in around 20 hours a week running her blog, the Daybook. Her most popular feature? The humorous Awkward and Awesome Thursday posts, which chronicle the embarrassing, peculiar, and laugh-out-loud-funny moments of her week. Awkward and Awesomes have become something of a phenomenon among bloggers, with upward of a thousand people replicating them on their own sites.

We recently caught up with the new Washington transplant (she moved to Northern Virginia in August) to find out the fashion must-haves that no Washingtonian should be caught without and how she thinks her blog will evolve in her new city. When Poulton waltzed in, looking effortlessly chic in her gingham button-down, faux-leather pants, red lips, and beachy waves, it was easy to see why readers from all over the world turn to this twentysomething for fashion inspiration.

Julie Schlosser has always been interested in charity work. When she wasn’t busy working as an associate editor at Fortune magazine (first in New York, and then at the DC bureau), she spent her time on two things: fashion and altruism.

“I did a lot of volunteer work,” she says. “But I was frustrated that there was never enough time to do everything I wanted.”

So when Lee Clifford, a former colleague in New York, called her up one day in 2009 and suggested they start a business that would let them make philanthropy their focus, Schlosser jumped at the chance. Three weeks later, they quit their jobs, and Altruette was born.

The concept was simple. As a young girl, Schlosser adored the charm bracelet her mom wore for special occasions, so she and Clifford decided to take the idea of a charm bracelet and add a charitable angle.

Remember: If ever there was a time to not show skin, this is it. When it comes to parent-friendly blouses, we generally follow the either/or rule: You can show some arm or some neck, but not both. Don't go high-collar and full-sleeve, though—that will make you look stuffy. Here, we paired a semistructured bohemian blouse (note the slight V-neck) with crisp navy pants and sensible shoes. The rich reds and pinks suggest you're friendly and open, while the dark blue gives off a sense of maturity.

Where to wear it: To a semicasual get-together or restaurant.

Eme & Esyllte Hirtella blouse, $118 at Anthropologie; Hugo blue pin stripe pants, $230 at Stylebop. Riley earrings, $60 at Kendra Scott; Nude patent pump, $195 at Michael Kors.