Conservative vs classic: How CCDC answers DC’s call for high-end fashions
Washingtonians have a style all their own – chic, luxurious and distinct from the fashions of L.A., New York and Paris. Fashion savvy locals know how to experiment with current trends while maintaining a timeless style that is unique to D.C.
By WP Creative Group
September 23, 2024
As trends come and go, CityCenterDC remains at the forefront of high-end fashion. Developed by the global commercial real estate investment firm Hines in 2013, CCDC has been woven into the fabric of D.C. style for more than a decade, providing a world-class shopping experience in the heart of downtown.
To discuss D.C.’s ever-evolving style, Timothy Lowery, the Vice President of Mixed-Use for Hines and General Manager of the CCDC project, recently sat down with two other chic Washingtonians: Pum Lefebure and Ashley Davis.
Together, this trio represents several aspects of the D.C. style landscape; and just like the city, their personal styles have gone through plenty of phases. Davis, a former US government official and a lead principal at West Front Strategies, a boutique, bipartisan consulting firm, describes her style as “conservative with a flair.”
“I’ve always loved clothes, but I’ve also changed gears fashion-wise as I’ve had different jobs and different abilities,” Davis said. “When I was in the White House, we actually had to still wear pantyhose with our outfits. I quickly said, ‘I can’t do this anymore!’”
Lowery grew up watching his father, a pastor, wear a suit and tie everyday, before moving out of the South and experiencing a fashion reset.
“When I first moved to New York City, I did not exactly fit in,” Lowery admits. “I looked like I was from the country club out in the ‘burbs! It took time for my style to evolve to become more Manhattan centric. Then my move to D.C. caused me to tap back into my love of suits, quality fabric and tailoring. It’s been a full circle in my style evolution.”
As the co-founder of an award-winning creative firm Design Army, Lefebure represents the creative community of D.C. – but she also recalls having a suit phase.
“When I first moved here from Thailand, I felt like every meeting, I had to wear a suit, but I don’t do that anymore,” she said. “As an ad agency creative director, you don’t go on a shoot wearing a suit! Clients appreciate when I use my outfits to express my creativity and who I am.”
Keep reading for a sneak peek at their engaging conversation about the evolution of D.C. style and how CityCenter meets the city’s demand for luxury fashion.
DC’s evolving take on ‘conservative’
As the nation’s capital, D.C. has always been home to our country’s most important movers and shakers.
“Washington DC is a world-class, capital city where the population is highly educated and sophisticated,” said Lowery. “This is a city where fashion heavyweights come to influence policy and to affect change.”
D.C.’s association with business and politics has caused the city’s style to be categorized as more traditional and buttoned up. Washington’s conservative elegance can be traced back to the late 18th century and the era of opulent European gowns and three-piece suits complete with coattails.
However, as time progressed, men’s suits became slimmer and both genders experimented with color. In 1953, former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower brought an air of femininity to the inaugural ball in her pale pink rhinestone embroidered gown – a color that became nationally known as “First Lady Pink.” It signaled to the world that Washingtonians could have fun with their fashion, while still being dressed in sophisticated styles.
Today, D.C. locals continue to adopt conservative fashion choices with elements of play, wearing sneakers with a tailored suit or adding a pop of color to an otherwise neutral outfit with a brightly hued bag or statement necklace. Whether headed to The White House or a new restaurant on U Street, Lowery points out there’s an art to dressing.
“It’s about quality, it’s about tailoring,” he points out. “[It’s about] qualities that make you say, ‘that’s a well-dressed person.’”
‘We are not trend victims’
In Washington, there’s a difference between “trendy” and “stylish.” Lefebure says that while other fashion-forward cities like New York or Tokyo are known for embracing what’s in vogue, D.C. is more careful about which trends it adopts.
“What’s different is that we are part of history,” said Lefebure. “There’s that gravitas, and that’s why classic is important because you don’t want to wear something on trend in 1970, and you look silly in a history book.”
Davis points out that while current trends seem to favor big brand logos and bold graphics, she’d be surprised to see that trend take off in D.C., a city known for its understated elegance.
“[D.C. is] still always going to be the quiet luxury,” Davis said. “I wouldn’t show up somewhere with a big brand anywhere – it’s not my style. But if you’re in L.A., New York or Tokyo, that’s where you would see that trend.”
Even when D.C. locals do adopt a certain trend, certain tweaks to an outfit can make the trend more on brand for D.C. – a crop top underneath a blazer, for instance.
Lowery says CityCenterDC has learned to walk a fine line in fashion offerings: providing the timeless fashions shoppers can’t find in other cities, as well as more on trend pieces to add vibrancy to a wardrobe.
World-class shopping experience
CityCenterDC has become a sought out destination for D.C. locals and visitors alike.
Shoppers will find over 200,000 square feet of retail space with an emphasis on luxury clothes and accessories such as Chanel, Gucci and Hermès.
Years ago, Lowery says, this type of high-end retail experience was almost impossible to find in downtown D.C., but he always thought the city deserved its own high street experience for luxury consumption.
“There was a question about would people shop here, would people dine here,” he said. “But I can say that after 10 years of success, we’re thrilled that we have exceeded all of the expectations for community engagement with the Center.”
Visit CityCenterDC to further understand D.C.’s style evolution and refresh your own wardrobe with classic fashions.
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