BIRDIES
Written by Katie on July 4, 2008 – 8:05 am -Looking for a fabulous little number for the wedding night or honeymoon? Then look no further than Birdies in the Crossroads District, THE spot to get some of the best lingerie, swimsuits, and other newlywed-worthy items Kansas City has to offer.
So where did it all begin? Peregrine Honig and Corrie van Ausdal opened Birdies five years ago (February 14th will be their 6th birthday). Since then, their shop and items have been featured in BUST, Present Magazine, Country Living, NYLON, and more. They have also become the lead sponsor of the growing West 18th Street Fashion Show, which just finished its ninth year.
Is Birdies bride-friendly? Of course! Honig said she works with brides almost every other day - they make up a huge part of their business. It make sense that brides would go ga-ga over just about everything in the shop. They have panties and bras, swimsuits and chic luggage tags (perfect for honeymoons), slips, night wear, Nippies (for all of those dresses that don’t accommodate bras), and the best garters in town. And the shop is never without “something blue” and fabulous undies that read “I Do”, “Bride”, and “Something Blue”.
And even though Birdies carries high-end items, Honig assures us that the prices aren’t much different from the well-known lingerie shop in every mall. But what IS different? The pieces themselves are from designers that Honig and von Ausdal have really and truly come to know, from personalities to personal styles. And though the women are selective when it comes to designers, they are even more selective when it comes to their inventory. They attend numerous fashion shows and pick only the best pieces from collections, even if that means a single item. While considering possible pieces to hang on their hangers, they have only their customers’ best interests at heart. They take quality of fabric and construction, shape, and overall look and feel into consideration. They want their customers to feel comfortable and flattered in every piece that is special and unique. And you’ll find no basics at Birdies - only the best, the most luxurious.
Birdies goes far beyond picking the right items with which to stock their shelves (which just so happen to be vintage Bitterman’s candy cases). Honig and von Ausdal can assist their customers in choosing items that will look particularly fabulous on their individual frames and with their skin and hair tones, considering colors, shapes, and fabrics.
Ron Berg Photo
You won’t find pieces like those that Birdies carries just anywhere. In addition, once you find something you love (and be assured, you will), get it while you can! It’s not rare that items will stay in the shop less than a week!
A few tips from the ladies at Birdies: If you start to feel a little self-conscious while trying on lingerie or other skimpy items, remember that the person you’re about to marry loves you for you - ALL of you. That person thinks you’re beautiful no matter what (and yes, even if YOU don’t like your thighs)! Also, if you’re having a lingerie shower, make sure the hostess of the event shares your info with your guests, including things like your size and measurements, hair and skin color and tone, and style likes and dislikes. And finally - it’s your wedding! Live it up and pamper yourself with the best! Back in the 1940s, women would throw out all of their old, or “single”, undergarments in order to purchase all new items for their trousseaus and new lives with their husbands. (Splurging on a few nice underthings doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?)
*Note: Birdies does NOT participate bridal shows and bridal fairs. After having experienced it, they feel the process of looking for and purchasing their items should be done in a different environment - their shop! As Honig put it, florescent lighting, cement floors, and thousands of people milling around is not the way to shop for lingerie!
Find them: 116 W 18th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108
Store hours: Tuesday-Saturday:12-7pm, First Fridays 12-10pm
Posted in Fabulous Finds, Uniquely Kansas City |
