Melanie Kimmelman, 21
Student, George Washington University

What she’s wearing: Club Monaco jacket, her mother’s Hermès scarf, Brochu Walker tank top bought on Ruelala.com, J Brand jeans, La Canadienne boots, sparkly necklace from J. Crew, Coach watch, and Tiffany necklace and bangle. Another bangle is from a trip her father took to Peru.

I’m seriously loving that scarf, Hermès or not.
“My mom gave it to me because she never wore it. You just fold it into a triangle, and then fold it over toward the triangle. I have one from a trip to Prague and a few others. I wear them under jackets like this and a leather jacket I got recently.”

Tell me about your style.
“Being comfortable is important. I like classic clothes. I wear blazers a lot, and one of them is part of a Theory suit I got for college interviews. I like to mix up the classics and do more with accessories, which might be a holdover from high school, when I wore a uniform. You had to get creative with accessories—your bag, your jewelry, even your planner. I think about details.”

Photograph by Chris Svetlik.

Who: Miranda Smyre, 23, NBC4 Washington intern and fashion blogger

Where we stopped her: Poolside at a Liaison Capitol Hill hotel charity event.

What she’s wearing: Balloon-sleeved blouse from Beacon’s Closet in Brooklyn (on loan from a friend), Zara pencil skirt, belt from a thrift shop, BCBG round-toe pumps, and L’Oréal True Red lipstick.

We love the big-sleeve-and-sleek-bottom combination. Are you typically attracted to unusual shapes in clothing?
“I’ve always had an eye for dramatic clothing, but I never really knew how to pull it off. As I started focusing more on fashion and lifestyle, I realized that bigger is sometimes better. It’s just important to wear one standout piece, so you won’t look crazy. I also have this black-and-white large-print houndstooth coat that’s pretty loud, but I love it with a contrasting-color belt. I’d even wear it as a dress with a solid black belt and red pumps.”

How would you characterize your getting-dressed philosophy?
“Fashion is so much fun, and women should push the envelope and be willing to try new things. It makes you feel good. The most important thing about being a lady is that you dress for your own comfort. We can all be trendsetters in our own way—it just starts with confidence and killer heels.”

And when it comes to accessories?
“My rule of thumb is to accessorize only when needed. If you have a loud or busy dress, wear muted jewelry to let the piece talk. If you have a simple outfit, make your accessories bling. My favorite would have to be statement necklaces. They give definition to any solid outfit and look so pretty.”

Lesley-Anne Pittard, 29
PhD student, education-policy studies, University of Virginia

What she’s wearing:
A skirt she bought in high school, a sweater from Ann Taylor, a department-store belt, and cowboy-style boots from either T.J. Maxx or Marshalls.

What’s your style philosophy?
“My work is all about equal access, equal opportunity, and inclusion, and I relate that to my wardrobe. If you believe in those things, it flows into your language, your attitude, and your appearance. I’ll be honest—I don’t really shop that much. I like nice things, but I try to consider myself a role model with what I wear.”

How would you describe your look?
“Traditional eclectic. I can get away with more because I’m tall.”

What do you think about stylish women in powerful roles in Washington, such as Michelle Obama?
“Now that we have a First Lady of color, I feel more affirmed in my look. It’s a fact that people see what you have on before they see you, and she has managed to be strong but have flair and personality. It makes me feel like I, too, can be at the table.”

From a previous Sidewalk Style subject, we learned that books could be used as fashion accessories, but who knew pets could also be part of a look? “I guess he’s an accessory, too” joked hairstylist Eduardo Bravo of Buddha, his adorable year-old Yorkie, when we stopped him in Georgetown. A Louis Vuitton bag, DSquared jeans, an Urban Outfitters T-shirt, and Ray-Ban sunglasses completed Bravo’s self described “classic nerdy look.” See the video below to find out more about Bravo’s style and what he thinks is the look to have this fall season.

Kat Hernandez (right in photo), 27, assistant manager at Current boutique
Cher Miller, 30, manager at Current

What they’re wearing:
Kat: Dress from Forever 21, vintage booties and sunglasses, and an Italian bag from her mom.
Cher: Silence & Noise dress, Gap bag, Ray Bans, and shoes from Current.

Tell me about your style.
Kat: “I like to wear black but punch it up with a really bright color that’s unexpected. And always heavy, tough accessories.”
Cher: “I run the gamut from goth to semi-hipster. I like prints, textures, colors. I have these goat-head stud earrings that I wear all of the time. This dress is one of my favorite things in my closet right now—I gotta wear it a couple of more times before it gets cold.”

Working together, do you find that you have similar tastes in terms of style?
Kat: “I think we’re very similar in that we’re a little rock ’n’ roll. It’s about the balance between masculine and feminine.”

Any wardrobe signatures?
Kat: “My motorcycle boots, hands down. I’ll wear them in 90-degree weather!”
Cher: “She has a pair of shoes for every day of the week—every day of the month!”

Photograph by Chris Svetlik.

Who: Tiera Sconion, 20, Howard University student.

Where we stopped her: DC Fashion Week’s Networking Party.

What she’s wearing: A $5 brocade thrift-store jacket, fashion-blogger favorite (and currently sold-out) Alice & Olivia Madison Biker Boots for Payless, shorts she made herself, and thrift-store jewelry.

We’re kind of in shock that you’ve managed to major in fashion in Washington. Tell us more about your program.
“I’m majoring in fashion merchandising at Howard University. The program allows students to get a full scope of the business aspect behind merchandising as well as the industry. Thus far, my favorite classes have been Elka Stevens’s Visual Merchandising, which allowed me to understand the logistics behind running a successful store, and Fashion Illustration I and II, taught by Miki Taylor. Those classes allowed me to appreciate clothing design and also introduced me to designing on the computer.”