WASH March 2009 : Page 63
Ground Support DC shoe designers put their best foot forward Lillybee’s Kassie Rempel names her shoes after the women who inspire them, like the Natalie (as in Portman), a chic all-vegan shoe. T is month, Rempel debuts a simple, sophisticated d’Orsay fl at dubbed the “Michelle.” We’ll let you guess after whom. $145, at Simply Soles, 1438 Park Rd., NW, simplysoles.com. Warmweather heels should be light, delicate and pop with color, says Lacey Kirstein, the designer behind the slim shoe line LaceyK. Add shine with a radiant buckle (of Swarovski, natch) and a springtime step with lithe, lilac python T-straps. $310, at Saks Jandel, 5510Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, laceykshoes.com. Just two years into her debut label, Gigi Favela, designer Monica Favela George continues toeing the line between street and chic.T is season, she explores hand-painted, washed leathers like her Barbarella platform. $363, at T e Little Shoe Box, 7134 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, gigifavela.com. Clothes Up! After nearly three decades of driving trends, Tabandeh Sizdahkhani is tearing down the walls of her eponymous store tomake a fresh start Together, Tabandeh’s dazzling jewelry shop and its sister fashion spot on Mazza Gallerie’s ground fl oor have been a fi erce fashion force in DC for 27 years, selling to everyone from Beyoncé to Barbara Walters. No longer two separate stores, the renovated space will soon be awash in natural materials and earth tones. “I wanted something fresh, but still very modern,” says Sizdahkhani. Tabandeh reopens April 25 with Rick Owens’s edgy pieces and the washed cashmere of Kristensen du Nord—not to mention the rock star jewels that made it so great in the fi rst place. tabandehjewelry.com. PREZ CHIC! The iconic styles of our commanders in chief are back. JFK’s topsiders Ike’s cardigans FDR’s fedoras Reagan’s aviators LBJ’s trim suits and even skinnier ties Spring Awakenings ACCESSORIES: Kristin Wilcox’s Featherbrain headbands have quickly garnered fans in the fashion fl ock for their modern twist on the plumed fastenators of the fl apper age. For her spring collection, she’s focusing on watery shades of blue and experimenting with satin rosettes. “They seem a bit softer, a little more romantic,” the Glover Park girl says. The bands will fl y off the shelves. At Apres Peau,1430 K St. NW, featherbrain.etsy.com. SECRET WEAPON: Equestrian riding habits and female bartenders are likely to conjure up quite a fantasy, but for DC duo Lisa Church and Jennifer Crittenden, they took their livelihood of stirring it up and created Stiruppz. The minxy mixologists have created a four- clip elastic band that clamps onto the bottom of your skinny jeans and holds them in place so you can avoid “mushroom knees” from forming above your tall boots. And we thought muffi n tops were our biggest problem. stiruppz.com. SWIMWEAR: Vienna-based designer Karla Colletto creates cabana couture that looks as good at the tiki hut as it does in the water. For spring, Colletto whomped up ’50s pinup girl shapes with sophisticated details including chains, beads and tiny pin-tucks. For a day-to-night Colletto offers up a fi rst, a scarf with your swimsuit. karlacolletto.com. Karla Colletto OVERDRIVE Tabandeh’s revved for her new boutique. Featherbrain Stiruppz March/April 2009 | | 63 PORTRAIT OF TABANDEH SIZDAHKHANI BY POWERS AND CREWE.
Publication List
