We’re at the storied East Village boutique Trash and Vaudeville, an institution for rockers and people who want to dress like them for the last 35 years. We knew there’d be fireworks when we brought Natalia Kills to T&V. The 24-year-old singer/songwriter has been making waves ever since being discovered by wil.i.am and signed to Interscope/Cherry Tree Records. But don’t assume that Kills, whose debut album Perfectionist drops next month, is just another pretty face on the scene. A remarkably self-assured artist, she writes and produces her own material and directs her own videos. Edgy, dark and sexy, her clips add to a self-created mythology of the girl who grew up in Northern England dreaming of one day leading her own motorcycle gang.

Shopping proved to be a welcome return to norm after spending the past few months on a tour bus. Kills has been dotting the country as she opens for Robyn’s North American tour, and has hardly had a moment to breathe, let alone visit the local haunts. Guided by T&V’s legendary manager Jimmy Webb, who regaled us with tales of everyone from Slash to Angelina Jolie stopping by the shop over the decades, Kills tried on an eclectic mix of gear. Designer Prince Peter, a friend, even stopped by before it was time to pack up and head to Radio City for the night’s performance.

It’s just another night in the life of an artist poised on the brink. Outside Radio City’s backstage entrance, Natalia stopped to give hugs to a pair of fans who waited in the rain for a glimpse of her. We were stunned by how open and giving the singer is one-on-one, in spite of her badass stage presence. Natalia certainly kills, but she also has a lot of heart.

Uncannily tuned in to what’s next, Camilla and Rand continue to support the community that has naturally blossomed around their store. When we asked them to curate a group of some of the designers they’re most excited about lately, we knew we’d be in for a sparkling conversation. What we didn’t necessarily expect, however, was to hear such an honest conversation about what it’s like to maintain an independent business during a time when the entire industry is in flux, staying true to yourself as a creative spirit, and as a woman designer.

Thus, we found ourselves traversing the borough in pursuit of three of Brooklyn’s finest: We found Caitlin Mociun, a former textile designer for whom sustainability is both the means and the muse, at her sunny studio in Park Slope. Ellen Dusen of Dusen Dusen creates her arresting graphic prints (no doubt inspired by her background, studying the brain’s response to imagery) in Bushwick. And at home in Williamsburg, we found Sarah Seilbach of Edelweiss by Sarah working on new patterns for her effortlessly feminine frocks. It’s all in a day’s work for these Brooklyn designers.

We caught up with Fefe in NYC as she’s gearing up to release her third album, Joy. The title, she says, is a comment on her current state of mind. An accomplished vintage hound in her own right, she took us shopping at Malin Landeaus Vintage in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a brilliant mash-up of treasures from decades past. We came, we conquered, we drank tea and scarfed vegan treats (thx, Malin—delicious!). All in all, a rocking Sunday afternoon.