Chris Svetlik, photographer

Loves:
"I find thick black-and-white stripes to work well in a lot of different contexts. Conservative from a color standpoint, but bold in contrast and repetition, this is classic and striking. Another good one: when a woman pulls off a hint of Western influence well — a good fitted-and-frayed denim jacket or some well-worn cowboy boots can go a long way in introducing much-needed homespun approachability to the overly staid D.C. aesthetic.

Loathes:
"Almost always, 80's-influenced anything is not going to end well — [it's] nostalgia for a decade that just didn't create much that's aesthetically worth a throw-back. The '80s influence that creeps into the hipster look always strikes me as clumsy and ends up rubbing me the wrong way."

Forever21 Polka Dot Flowers Top, $13.80, available at Forever21; Mason By Michelle Mason Striped Open-Knit Wool and Cashmere-Blend Sweater, $315, available at Net-a-Porter.


Photo: Courtesy of Chris Svetlik