Washington Shopping Districts

In Washington, shopping is a must because it's important to look good. Even if it seems like everyone's idea of fashion is a suit and ironed collar, there are still many fashion-conscious individuals to warrant a DC shopping scene. Much of Washington's stores are dotted around the city, with few true concentrations. However, there are a few Washington shopping districts where you can shop to your heart's content or hit up over the holidays. Here are some of the best shopping areas for different styles and budgets around the Washington area.

Friendship Heights. This Maryland border city next door to Chevy Chase stocks, of course, only the best and most expensive (but not always). Find all your favorite department stores on one corner: Bloomingdales, Saks, Neiman Marcus and Lord & Taylor. The budget conscious go underground to Filenes' Basement. Along northern Wisconsin Avenue the shops become higher-end, with Cartier, Ralph Lauren and Barney's Co-op, among others. Two malls flank either side of Wisconsin Avenue – the Mazza, which has Tiffany, Ann Taylor, Saks Men, and a fancy movie theater; the other mall, Chevy Chase Pavilion, has J.Crew, Pottery Barn, World Market and other such chains.

Georgetown. Everyone talks about “shopping the boutiques in Georgetown” but heads to their mall favorites – Anthropologie, H&M, J.Crew – only because those stores are scant in Washington. However, if you are a fashionista with a penchant for unique buys, Georgetown has those kinds of boutiques. The main shopping can be found along M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, but duck into a few of the side streets for a real find.

Arundel Mills. This is Maryland's favorite outlet mall, and good shoes, patience and an attack plan to walk out with a successful day of shopping are needed. The huge space has nearly all the typical outlet mall shops, including a Neiman Marcus Last Call, with brand-name items marked down significantly. It's important to shop carefully and inspect items for holes, make-up stains, and other misdemeanors that rendered it to the outlets in the first place.

Pentagon Fashion Center. The “Arlington Rap” captures the essence of Arlington perfectly, with its chain stores and lack of originality – but that's what makes the Pentagon Fashion Center the most reliable of all shopping in the Washington area. While the other areas feature some of the favorites, the Fashion Center has ALL of them, even in the food court. If you're in a rush and know exactly what you want from where, this indoor mall will save you the time and effort of hunting, short of buying it online.
 

shopping Mazza Galleria Friendship Heights Georgetown shopping Fashion Center Pentagon Arundel Mills Washington DC