Tia Thompson, 26
“I work for the government . . . blah!”

What she’s wearing:
Jacket and shoes from Treasury, shirt from Urban Outfitters, jeans from Guess, bracelet from a friend’s mother, who’s a European jeweler.

Where do you like to shop?
“I’m not into the mall at all—I’m into shops. I just moved here from being in the Peace Corps, I found this shop like three weeks ago, and I was like, ‘ahh!’ ”

Photograph by Chris Svetlik.

Who: Donna Harati, 21, and Trey Bussey, 22

Where we spotted them: On Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown on a post-dinner stroll.

Your outfits look like there’s a history behind them. Where is everything from?
Donna: “My shirt is from one of those special collections for Target. The umbrella is from Target, too. People have given me a hard time for it because they claim it’s “frou-frou,” but it’s the sturdiest umbrella I’ve ever had. My skirt is from the best thrift store ever in Austin, Texas—they’re all over the place there, so you can find really great stuff at really low prices.”
Trey: “I got the shirt at least seven years ago, and I’m pretty sure it’s from a thrift store in Phoenix.”

And all the accessories?
Donna: “My shoes were 99 cents at a thrift store in Cranks Creek, Kentucky, where I was participating in an ‘alternative spring break’ trip. The bracelets are from all over—I just wear them until they fall off or deteriorate. My bag was my mom’s. She was about to throw it out, I intervened, and I’ve been using it pretty much every day at school for five years now. My mom’s and grandma’s closets are my favorite places to find clothes.”
Trey: “The belt says “Arizona” on the buckle, and it has some nice weaving on the back. My mom gave it to me at the airport when I first left for college—I’m supposed to look down and remember my Southwestern roots.”

Katerina Slominskaya, 31,
Social relations for DoubleView Media

What she’s wearing:
Maria Vazquez dress (“She’s my favorite designer from Buenos Aires. I promise to bring her here to DC. She’s very contemporary, with a different vision. Every piece she makes stands out.”), Dior Extreme heels (“a favorite from Sex and the City: The Movie”), and a Jill Stuart clutch.

What other designers do you admire?
“I’m a big fan of Rachel Roy. I own couple of her dresses, and they’re in my top list.”

What excites you about fall clothing?
“Fall is the best season to dress up and be creative about your style. You can wear many layers, scarves, gloves, hats . . . pretty much any kind of accessory to be unique and show your personality. And of course it’s the best time for high heels. It’s not that hot anymore, so it’s easier to wear them.”

What’s on your dream style wish list?
“Donna Karan dresses. They’re incredibly feminine—and expensive! Classic YSL and Valentino handbags. And of course I really wish that Maria Vazquez was easily accessible to US customers. I believe she can win a lot of girls’ hearts!”

“To really make people remember you, fashion is important,” says Human Rights Campaign employee Joseph Gaskins, whom we spotted near Logan Circle. The first thing that caught our attention: Gaskins’s purple polka-dot bow tie and loud lime green boat shoes.

“What I really enjoy most are classic pieces with interesting details,” he says. Check out our video below to see Gaskins’s casual yet sharp summer look. Does he pull it off? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Photograph by Chris Svetlik.

Christina Coleman, 21
Sister2Sister Magazine intern and Howard University senior

We spotted Christina at the ATM inside U Street’s Jumbo Slice.

What she’s wearing: A $17 H&M tunic dress, BCBG sandals from Marshall’s, earrings from an African shop, carpet-material clutch, and a “wash and go afro.”

What went through your head when getting dressed for tonight? “Functionality. I wasn’t sure where we were going after dinner at Eatonville, so I picked an outfit that wasn’t extremely dressy but something that I could still walk into a club or any bar wearing. I chose the wooden heels rather than black high heels because they’re easier to walk in—there are so many places to check out on U Street. If I knew I was going somewhere like the Park or Lima , I would have thrown on the pumps—they’re sexier and dressier than the wooden shoes. I wanted to be comfortable, and I wanted it to look effortless.”

What other looks do you gravitate toward for a Friday or Saturday out? “I love billowy tops, so I’ll pair those with skinny jeans and heels and some long earrings and bangles—I’m definitely an accessories whore! I have a simple American Apparel black T-shirt dress that I swear I’ve worn about 50 times. Sometimes I’ll take a skirt—usually from a thrift store—and wear it as a top or dress by pulling it up. And all sorts of belts—they’re my go-to for everything.”

Ellery Ciesemier, 47
The mother of two had just dropped off her eldest son at Georgetown for his first year of college.

What she’s wearing:
Linen dress from Comptoir des Cotonniers in Paris (“In Paris in July, everything is 50 percent off”), Tory Burch tote, Sam Edelman sandals, Allison Stern silver bangle.

Tell me about your style and where you shop.
“I’m tall, so it can be challenging to find things that are long enough. I think I like to dress current but not too young. You just have to shop a lot of places and pick and choose. For basics, I like J. Crew. I like their belts, and their shoes are inexpensive. I’ll go to Anthropologie for a one-off belt or jacket. In Chicago, there’s a cool store called Sugar Magnolia on Oak Street.”

Where have you been shopping here?
“We’re here [walking into J. Crew] because my husband forgot a belt and shoes.”