The Independent in Seminole Heights, Tampa — an old gas station converted into a beer-snob haven and cafe — has become a local institution for musicians, artists and two-wheel enthusiasts. Krystian Lukowski and Monique Peck hang out at the bar and on the patio in casual but distinctive looks from The Disco Dolls, a West Tampa boutique-salon run by sisters Leigh Anne Balzekas and Kristine Bush with stylist Maxwell Maisano. Accessories by Arjuna Living. Velo Champ provides the bikes in the top photo: left, a Linus Gaston 5; right, a Civia Loring. discodolls.com, velochamp.com, independenttampa.com
Leigh Anne Balzekas: Disco Dolls
Inspiration: "Vintage movies were my first influence. Costume designer Edith Head was amazing! I would watch AMC every afternoon and soak it up."
The Disco Dolls team: "Kristine [Bush, her sister] and Max [Maisano] have worked together for years so when I moved here from Chicago we all started working together on photo shoots and events. It was just a natural evolution into The Disco Dolls Studio. Our mission is to create an environment where people can be comfortable, relax and create their image with our help."
Favorite TV style: The cast of Mad Men.
Would never be caught dead wearing: Overalls.
If she had a time machine, she would travel back to… the '50s. "Loved the exaggeration of the female figure, and then I would be able to live through the '60s and '70s… the '70s were exaggerated in a whole different way."
This article appears in Aug 11-17, 2011.