"I wanted to do something edgy for D.C.," District native Lori Parkerson says. "I've always felt that void here."

The result of Parkerson's mission to tap into the city's fashionably dark side? Her new boutique, Redeem. The three-month-old addition to 14th Street NW's eclectic shopping scene offers a well-edited selection of clothes for men and women in a minimalist, loftlike space. Parkerson focuses on lines with individuality and integrity of design -- or, in her words, "brands that have depth."

Of those, Parkerson's current favorite is Religion, the British label known for tweaking old-school punk into high fashion. She also stocks Gentle Fawn, Glad News and Endovanera, plus denim by Earnest Sewn and Brown Label. Accessories range from handmade leather belts to Tattooed Steel cuff bracelets. And the screen-printed T-shirts from Barking Irons, with images culled from New York's historic Bowery neighborhood, would lend any closet a little street cred.

If you're looking for Technicolor-bright dresses or preppy polos, head across the street to Pop. At Redeem, the palette is a mostly muted mix of gray, brown and Army green. But it's a testament to the quality of Parkerson's handpicked wares that the shop manages to make dreary look downright desirable.

-- Holly E. Thomas (Jan. 2007)