What to Pack When Visiting Washington D.C. in the Summer

Technically, Washington D.C. is a cement city built upon swampland. As tourists and visiting family members descend on the nation's capitol during the sweltering summer months, locals go into hiding. You can spot a tourist in D.C. like a Brit wearing soccer clothes at Walt Disney World. They are wearing Crocs and fanny packs. They stop dead in the middle of a sidewalk to consult a large fold out map. So, here are a few humble suggestions for what to pack if you plan to travel to D.C. this summer.

Even though the muggy temps in D.C. can match those of Miami, you'll rarely see tube tops and minis strutting down the National Mall. Ducking into museums and monuments will provide some relief, but in order to stay comfortable all day, you'll want to choose loose fitting cotton clothing. Most plain white cotton tees shed their wrinkles fairly quickly after unpacking and camies with built in shelf support in bright colors look cute under loose burnt-out tank tops. Be careful though. Wearing a white shirt during an afternoon thunderstorm could put you into a wet T-shirt contest you had no intention of entering.

As cute as skirts look, and they can be cooler than shorts depending on the material, you may want to think about wearing shorts while hiking around D.C. If you can't find a bench, grab a sno-cone and pop a squat on the ground somewhere for a welcome reprieve. To be completely comfortable, jean shorts that don't show the world your assets will protect your sitting bones from grass stains. Khaki shorts and army fatigue style roll ups work as well. Just be aware that the grass might be wet when you stand up. Summers in D.C. come with a fair share of rain fall, which the ground doesn't fully absorb for several days.

Some of the best shoe options include footwear by Cogent Jill, Privo and Wolverine '" just a few brands that make lightweight rubber construction shoes that look cuter than Crocs, but provide more support than flip flops. And, please, do not buy into the whole Fit Flop craze '"walking in these will not give you better glutes. If you plan to dine in Georgetown or Old Town Alexandria in the evening, stick with dressy flats or wedges. I can dodge the grates downtown, but walking in heels on 200 year old brick sidewalks is another story.

For going out to dinner in the evening, you'll need to pack a totally different set of clothes unless you plan to eat at Ben's Chilly Bowl or Chic-fil-a while you're in town. If you pile into a restaurant along the K Street corridor or Dupont Circle because it's close to the museums or your hotel, keep in mind you'll be in air conditioning with people who just got off work.

Not that you need to throw on a business suit. A knee-length shirt dress with metallic sandals or Capri pants with kitten heels should do the trick. Aiming for white table cloth dining in D.C. gives you leeway to take your dress up a notch, but if you're not used to wearing four inch heels, ballet flats are fine. Think BCBG's summer line, Ralph Lauren anything, or accessorized Anthropologie.