Brightest Young Things

all photos: Temniet Mesgna
words and interview: Mariette Lewicki and Temniet Mesgna

The Deal: Every other week, we go to a thrift, vintage, or consignment store where we interview the store owners and speak to them about anything related to fashion and the style of the store.

For our first interview, we spoke to Danni Sharkley who co-owns the store along with Leanne Trowbridge who have owned the store since 2001.   Meeps, formally Meeps & Aunt Neensie's Vintage, is a vintage store located in Adam's Morgan on 18th ST & California. Meeps "first opened its doors in 1992" and has since become "one of DC's longest-running and best-loved vintage shops.

What is the meaning behind the name of the store, Meeps?

The store is named after the founding owner, Ann Fox's, grandmother, Meeps and her grandmother’s sister, Neensie and basically they taught her how to shop in thrift stores and vintage stores. They were doing it back in the twenties, so they taught her how to collect.

How’d you end up at Meeps?

Leanne and I both started off working at a clothing boutique up the street.  Leanne was their primary seamstress and designer and I managed the store with her.  When Meeps came up for sale, I asked [Leanne] about [buying] it [because] we both are really into vintage and already knew we could work together. The way that [Ann] sold it to us was interesting. She was really into astrology so she asked us what our signs were then she sold it to us. She thought it would be a good match for the store.

Describe your style and Leanne’s.

Right now, I guess my style is, I think.. Well, I’m really into Prince, so, I think what would Prince like for me to wear? That’s how I get my inspiration. But then, I also like country, like old country music and so I think that’s also my inspiration.  Leanne just had a baby so her inspiration is like… velour sweatpants. Haha, no, her style is very seventies like Twiggy, dancer style.

Did Leanne and your style influence the style of the store or have you kept it unchanged?

[The original owner’s] style was more influenced by the forties, whereas Leanne and I, our style is definitely more influenced by the sixties. The largest thing that changed about the store is that we now include local designers. Leanne is a local designer so we wanted to feature her stuff and then we asked for other designers to come in and show theirs. I feel like when we started in 2001, there was no other venue for them to sell their work except for on the street or at flea markets. As far as what the store is inspired by, we just go with things that people tell us. Right now, fifties, sixties, and eighties are really big and when we started, it was more of the seventies.

So you mentioned that you guys buy from local designers, where else do you go to find clothes?

So everyday we get at least twenty calls from people trying to sell us stuff and we typically try to weed [through those.] It got to the point where people were trying to sell us their old sweatpants. Now, how we filter is we only buy in bulk of 50 to 100 pieces. The pieces have to be 35 years or older, have no stains, and no fur (only because it’s not storable). Other than that, because we’ve been thrifting for so long, we know of every vintage and thrift store along both the east coast. The smaller the town, the better the vintage.

What’s the difference between a thrift store and a vintage store?

In a thrift store, people are donating stuff. They’re NOT washing it; they’re just putting it out. People say, “Well, your stuff is more expensive.” We’re actually taking the time to hand-select it, dry clean it, wash it, steam it, and put it out for you.

What have been your favorite pieces and have you ever kept anything for yourself?

We went to this lady’s house once, and found beautiful cape/coats made of genuine monkey fur from the 1800’s. I have 3 of her pieces. When I go to that house, I just know it’s going to be mine.

Last Words?

The thing that we learned very quickly with the store was that every shape, every size, and every age comes in. So we cover everything like the actors, the drag queens, and the ballroom dancers that want the forties. Also, the business people who want costumes for their offices parties and stuff, and like, the Howard [University] kids, the most stylish kids, that are totally rocking the eighties thing. There’s something for everyone here.