Intermix

Best for: Splurging on the latest fashions you rarely see in Washington.

Walk by Intermix and you can’t help but stare at the fashion-forward window displays. This New York City chain houses all things current, like designers LaRok and Nieves Lavi. Intermix combines “downtown cutting edge” and “uptown chic,” so you’ll find shirts by Rebel Yell and Ella Moss near pricier pieces by Chloé and Stella McCartney. Salespeople can explain how to tie that tricky Diane von Furstenberg top or tell you which Theory pants fit best.