Postcards From… Nashville
Since leaving J Brand, the company she co-founded in 2004, Susie Crippen has been busy developing and designing her new namesake line CRIPPEN. Turning to her travels for inspiration, Crippen classifies her pieces as beautiful and easy to wear. Here, the L.A.-based designer shares her passion for the South:
I never imagined that Nashville, Tennessee would be a place I would grow to love so much—but I have. I spent about 10 years North Carolina so I consider myself half-southern and have always dreamed of living in a small city in the South.
Fortunately, two of my dearest friends moved to Nashville four years ago and opened a store called Imogene + Willie, so now I get to pretend to live there three or four times a year!
I have seen areas of the city blossom with fantastic restaurants, boutique artisanal design shops and some of the best ice cream I have ever had.
But, in my honest opinion, a place is only as good as the people who inhabit it and I have met some of the most creative, stylish and hilarious people in Nashville who I am now proud to call my friends.
PLAY
IMOGENE + WILLIE Matt & Carrie Eddmenson opened their store in July of 2009. They have created quite a cult following with their beautifully fitting denim for dudes & gals. The store is like a living story from World Of Interiors and everyone feels welcome there.
ANTIQUE ARCHAEOLOGY Mike Wolfe has made finding old stuff an art. You can watch him on TV on American Pickers or you can go to the store in Nashville. It is a treasure hunt with walls and climate control.
BELCOURT THEATER A gem in the city. Cindy finds the best art house movies and delish snacks in an old school movie theatre way. I saw Steve McQueen’s SHAME there and I could have watched it twice and continued to eat.
DINE
JENI’S SPLENDID ICE CREAMS I don’t know Jeni, but I do know her salted caramel ice cream will change your life. Have them add roasted almonds and caramel sauce on top and you may just walk on air.
MAS TACOS Living in SoCal we tend to look at tacos as something we do better than most. These guys have done us proud. They have a truck that roams the city in addition to a storefront.
BURGER UP A good burger is hard to find…and I am always on the lookout. Miranda’s place is groovy and delicious and the fries are killer.
CITY HOUSE This was my first restaurant experience in Nashville 3 years ago. It proved to me something was brewing in the city. The broccoli salad is amazing.
MARGOT CAFE I met Margot on my last trip and she is as awesome as her food. Get the homemade potato chips with dip while you have a cocktail.
STAY
I always stay with my friends Matt and Carrie so my suggestion would be to check out Air B&B and rent a car. There are great houses in Nashville and the city is easy to navigate and parking is rarely and issue.
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