Although the vibe at Steinberg & Sons is decidedly indie-girl crafty, the store actually sprung from the champagne-drenched loins of New York high society. Tatiana Von Furstenberg (niece of Diane) and her partner, actor Russell Steinberg opened the original Steinberg & Sons in 1999 on Elizabeth Street in New York City, relocating West in 2000 to the former barbershop in Los Feliz where it now resides. Francesca Gregorini (step-daughter of Ringo Starr) was a business partner, as was a member of the Carolina Herrera clan (never before had staff at the House of Pies next door witnessed such chic) but by 2001, Von Furstenberg had decided it was time to let go the business. In stepped Suzie Kim, a self-confessed vintage freak and photographer, who took over and turned the space into the friendly hipster-girl heaven it is today.
She remodeled the space, pulling out the barber’s sink and faux wood paneling, and starting over with a new clean palette. But she kept the name – “I like Steinberg and Sons,” says Kim. Having majored in photography at Art Center, she loves to festoon the walls with works by local artists (some framed Gay Ribisi photographs were up when we visited). But pretty young things will find themselves hypnotized by the feminine, vintage-inspired dresses she sells. “I love girly dresses,” says Kim, whose frocks hover around the $100 mark. She carries largely independent designers - Lewis Cho, Built by Wendy and Anzevino & Florence - and occasionally her own line, Steinberg and Sons.
Shelves of brightly-colored yarn skeins line one of the walls – that’s The Little Knittery, which shares the space with Steinberg & Sons. Run by flame-haired drummer Julie Edwards of local art-rock duo The Pity Party, The Little Knittery sells fine alpaca yarns in too many gorgeous colors to mention. Edwards and her band mate Mark are both avid knitters who often wear their own creations on stage, and they host free knitting classes in the space, rock star touring schedules permitting.
Knitting rock stars, celebrity pedigree and some of the best frocks on the Eastside - what more could you ask?
Caroline Ryder is Style-editor-at-large for Metromix Los Angeles.
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