Street sits down with the blithe boutique owner Leehe Fai (pronounced Lee-Hee Fay) Goldfarb -- who is celebrating the two year anniversary of her boutique -- and a little terrier named Lucy. As for the store, yummy would be the best way to describe it. Hell, its even a fave of J.Lo and Cameron Diaz.
What is the origin of the name Leehe Fai?
It's my middle name. Leehe is my first name, Fay is my middle name. But Fay was spelled with a "y" which reminded me of this store, Leslie Fay, which was never one of my favorite stores. Of course to make it more complicated I had to add another vowel and really just make people stare at the name and go, what do you think it is?
What sort of brands do you carry?
I really like to stay on American soil. I buy a lot of New York and L.A. A lot of basic designers like Trina Turk, young designers like Alex and Olivia who are actually Penn graduates. After the whole 9/11 thing it was really important to stay and pick a lot of young and local designers.
How would you describe the Leehe Fai girl?
Savvy, sassy, fun, flirty, honest, down-to-earth. Nothing phony about her. She just wants the latest trends, what's new, cool colors, something pink. There's always something pink in here.
What are some of your most popular items?
Our most amazing sweater -- its yummy, its delicious, you want to eat it if you could. Or make bedsheets out of it. It's made out of nylon, its machine washable and its probably one of our most popular items. We can bring in 300 of these and not have a single left after one season ... The Leehe girl is also practical. She's a college student and she has to study all night and she wants to feel good in her little sweater. It's November and she's far away from home ... I think yummy is the best way to describe it.
How would you comment on Philly fashion?
I think the Philadelphia girl has her own style. As opposed to all the 52 states that we have, the Philadelphia girl [knows] what she wants and she knows what she's looking for. She's not buying the trend of the moment. The 'I have to have my Jimmy Choos [girl]' or put foreclosure on her house because she has to have the Marc Jacobs handbag. She knows what she wants.
What celebrities do you think look horrible?
On my top 10, Britney Spears is way up there. I think her image is really pathetic. Pathetic might be a harsh word. But being an icon to girls, she's dressed and also done things that I think are unacceptable of a celebrity. Whereas her counterpart Jessica Simpson is more wholesome, [and] has a better image. But we have had several celebrities in here...We've done Jersey Girl ... J.Lo is a little too diva-ish. But the best celebrity that has even been through here has been Cameron Diaz. [She's] down-to-earth, no frills.
Who would shop at LeeHe Fai, the Kerry or the Bush girls?
I have to say we're a Vanessa [Kerry] customer. She's smart, she's savvy, she's sassy. She's a doctor but a very fashionista doctor. If I had to pick out of the two Kerry and Bush daughters I'd have to pick on Vanessa ... She wants to stand out in the crowd; she wants to feel special.
What are the future plans for Leehe Fai?
I think we're really going to stick to a single store. I think when you start expanding you lose the sense of boutique. You lose the sense of 'Hey this is my neighborhood shop,' and it becomes something corporate. Well just want to feel a little bit more neighborhood-like. It's more confined, its easier to find things. It's comfortable and people want comfort in a day and age when things are so hectic ... Our policy is, don't take anything home that is gonna end up in your closet. If you feel good in it, take it home.
Leehe Fai
133 S. 18th St.
(215)564-6111
