Dress You Up

Crossroads boutique owner Peggy Noland‘s threads have rocked concert halls worldwide, thanks to Lovefoxxx, of Brazilian electro-babes CSS, and Kianna Alarid, of tap-dancing darlings Tilly and the Wall. Tilly graced the cover of the style bible Women’s Wear Daily in a feature about indie fashion that was sprinkled with shout-outs to Noland. The always-fashionable Department of Burnt Ends spoke with the plucky designer about her latest coup on dressing girls with guitars.

DBE: How’d you start designing for the stars?

Noland: Kianna bought clothes and e-mailed me the next day, saying she wore one of my shirts in a video. Then it took off. No, it blasted off. Like a rocket ship to Mars.

Like a word-of-mouththing?

Mostly. I sent Kianna this alphabet jumpsuit. She didn’t think it would suit her, so she was going to give it to Lovefoxxx. But when she saw it, she was all “Scratch that.” Then she asked for stuff to give to Lovefoxxx. So I have Kianna to thank for the most awesome thing that has ever happened. Ever.

Alia Shawkat, who played Maeby on Arrested Development, has a Peggy Noland in her closet. How’d that happen?

It’s all Kianna. She wore my clothes at South by Southwest, and this girl who writes for Nylon Magazine and is friends with Maeby ran into her.

You were just mentioned in WWD. Did your clothes make the cover?

No. But my name’s mentioned on page 7. The article’s about indie-rock fashion, and the band’s wearing designers like Jimmy Choo. Hel-lo?

Are there any dream rock stars on your list to dress?

Oh, my god. This is so huge. Ooh, let me think here. OK, OK. Who’s that actress who’s in a band? Jena Malone?

You mean Gretchen from Donnie Darko?

Yeah, her.

Anyone else?

I’m going to Tokyo in a few weeks to shop my stuff to boutiques there.

We can’t think of anything cuter than Harajuku girls in Peggy Noland.