Gauchebusters: A look into the fashion of D.C.

Gauchebusters!

Welcome to this columnist’s debut article for The Record. Boy oh boy am I excited to share my unsolicited
fashion takes in this paper! As for this column, I haven’t quite locked in a certain “angle”—it may very well end up a smorgasbord of trend reviews, historical and cultural fashion analysis, and who knows what else.
We’ll see where the wind takes me!

I spent this summer in Washington, D.C., so for this week, I’ll provide a review of the U.S. capital’s fashion
scene while it’s still fresh in my mind. We also must keep in mind that my time there was in the summer, and some of you may know that it is HOT and humid. I suppose that’s like a Minnesota summer, but I would say D.C. is a few notches higher. This said, I can only speak for the mode of this city in the hottest months of the year. It was more or less what you would expect from the political center of the nation: men wore suits or button downs with slacks, and women wore a variety of office-chic ensembles. There were, of course, the pencil skirts–button down–black pumps combo, classic and classy. However, the women’s style (as is typically the case in the U.S., at least) was varied. The women interns, especially, combined timeless and chic with fresh style. Perhaps I’m biased because I was also an intern, and maybe I noticed their outfits
more because I took inspiration from them, but that’s neither here nor there. I never claimed to be objective
in my analysis.

Anyways, there were two outfits that stood out to me. One day I walked down the front steps of our house,
and an intern (I’m assuming) walked by with a high-neck, sleeveless, white, blousy top tucked into dark wash, straight-leg, mid waisted jeans, and I hate to admit that I totally forgot what shoes she was wearing! How could I do this?? I have a feeling, though, that they were shiny, deep red flats or kitten heels. Either that’s what I faintly remember or maybe those are simply the shoes I assume would complete the intern’s look. In any case, it looked as though she hopped out of a street scene painting of Paris in the afternoon. Tailored, yet effortless. One day when I crossed the road from the Library of Congress to
get to Capitol South metro station, there was another (intern-age) person walking stylishly across the street.
She had a dark grey long sleeved, thin sweater material top, however it was long enough to be considered a dress. It was relatively fitted, and the “skirt” part flared out slightly. She had dark wash jeans that skirted the line between straight-leg and bootcut. Dark red Mary Jane heels peeked out from under the denim’s hems. I felt awkward because I looked so long at her outfit, but I was just trying to store it in my memory for future inspiration. Is a girl not allowed to memorize an outfit?? This particular outfit gives rise to the discussion of a recent resurgence of dress-over-jeans style that Ashley Tisdale ate up at the Disney red carpets in the 2000s. However, this D.C. intern had a far more toned-down approach than the sequins and bright colors rocked in 2005. This is a debate for another day, though. Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of “Gauchebusters” with Clara! Stay stylin!!