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Project Beltway Interviews: Marshall Thompson of The District Line

Friday, September 21, 2007

BRITISH INVASION
Marshall Thompson is the owner of English menswear shop The District Line, which carries classic Brit standards from labels Ted Baker, Fred Perry and Boxfresh as well as more exclusive offerings from Fenchurch, Etienne Ozeki, and Oliver Spencer. The District Line recently moved from its digs in Adams Morgan to an incredible space on Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown that Marshall outfitted with with antique armoires and custom wallpaper, street-art murals (don’t miss the Queen upstairs) and some so-Anne-Frank fitting rooms; the result is impossibly cool and stylish without being trendy – the sort of spot the men of Washington will appreciate. Stop by on Saturday when the store officially opens its doors, and don’t miss the Merc “Hemingway” blazer (the lead singer of the Kaiser Chiefs rocks one), the cashmere-blend Boxfresh cardigan with red stripes, and The District Line soccer scarves (umm, awesome – and only $25).

Marshall threw a huge relaunch party last night with some lovely people in attendance- look out for pictures from that around 1:00 today.

How did you get into English fashion?
I fell in love with English fashion when I was 16 through the music I was listening to at the time. I started listening to ska and punk music, and a big part of that subculture is dressing sharp. I loved Fred Perry and Ben Sherman shirts and I thought that all of the bands that I saw wear them were the height of cool, so naturally I wanted some for myself. Unfortunately I couldn’t afford them at the time, but I finally got my first Ben Sherman shirt in college (a royal blue short sleeve button down with notched sleeves and Ben Sherman embroidered on the pocket), and it quickly became my favorite shirt of all time. I don’t know where it is now, but I kinda miss it.

Tell me about the store and your vision for it.
The District Line is a lifestyle store that carries sophisticated brands from the UK for distinguishing gentlemen who want a little more style in their wardrobe. We carry everything from t-shirts to sweaters, denim to dress shirts, suits to outerwear, and bags to ties, so there’s always something a little different and interesting to add to your personal collection. The store’s decor is Old English meets edgy London, so my designer Brian Miller and I have picked out antique pieces (many from the 1800s) to display the clothing alongside custom wallpaper and murals by celebrated graffiti artist Kelly Towles. We believe this theme makes for a complete shopping experience because there are so many interesting things to see in the store, in addition to the British music being spun by DJs every weekend.

What’s this I hear about the East Room?
The East Room of The District Line is set aside for our higher end lines, like Ted Baker and Oliver Spencer. We carry suits, dress shirts, and ties for men who want to stand out a little bit from everyone else in the office. In the near future, we will be able to offer suit fittings and alterations in the store as well.

What will you carry, and what are you particularly excited about?
Fred Perry, Ben Sherman, Ted Baker, Oliver Spencer, Boxfresh, Fenchurch, Etienne Ozeki, Merc London, and Simon Carter. All of the collections for the Fall season look amazing, so it’s hard to pick one in particular. I’d say I’m most excited about the Oliver Spencer outerwear, which Washingtonians have never seen in this city before. They are absolutely gorgeous houndstooth, herringbone, and tweed coats in a variety of styles that are traditional and fashion-forward at the same time. Just absolute class.

Describe your personal style.
This can really vary from day to day, but at heart I’m a t-shirt and jeans guy. I do love my Fred Perry polo shirts, my Ben Sherman button-down shirts, my Ted Baker jeans, and my Onitsuka Tiger trainers, but I also love getting dressed up in suits for special occasions. I usually tend to wear conservative styles of clothing, but only from labels that put an interesting touch on them. I’m a fan of the mentality that quality is better than quantity, so I prefer to own fewer, nicer pieces than a lot of cheaper pieces that only last a season. I think more Americans are starting to follow this trend, which leads to better style for everyone across the board.

Your favorite go-to style Web sites? Magazines?
My favorite magazine is GQ, as generic as that might be. They always have interesting style selections, and I usually agree with and like what they put together in their spreads. Sometimes I find myself disagreeing with The Sartorialist when he answers readers’ questions, but what is fashion if everyone “follows the rules” all the time?

Thoughts about style in general in DC? And, what would you like to see more of, style-wise, in DC?
PLEASE drop the Washington uniform of navy blazer and khaki pants! I think black, gray, or navy trousers look more sophisticated and grown up than khakis every day of the week. If you must wear your work clothes after work, keep the jacket, but lose the tie. I can’t stand seeing guys in bars with their tie on after 7 pm unless they’re in a bar or restaurant that actually warrants being dressed up. But if you’re in Stetson’s or Capitol Lounge after 7, lose the tie and relax a little. Also – it’s ok to buy labels you’ve never heard of. In fact, it’s encouraged. It’s time to for Washington men to step up and try some new clothing that might make them feel like they’re branching out a little bit. Stretch the limits of your comfort zone and the ladies will appreciate it – I guarantee it.

Any upcoming events or promotions PB readers should know about?
We have a few in-store events as well as other parties coming up in the near future. You can sign up for the email list at www.thedistrictline.com to receive all of the updates. Look for a launch of the new online store in the near future as well as a party around the time of the MLS Cup here in DC in November.

The District Line
1250 Wisconsin Avenue

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