Street Style: Meet Leann Burr
Leann is a jokester and didn’t let April Fool’s Day pass without some mischief at Pippin Toy Co. “I’m goofy and a child at heart,” she laughs. “My coworker and I wrapped 20 to 25 items around the store using old wrapping paper I had at home. We even wrapped the alarm system and the front entrance!” The unsuspecting victim? “It ended up being Meghan, who opened that morning, and Laura came in soon after. I was happy that Amy (the owner) found it hilarious…pheww!”
Leann was born in Seoul, South Korea, and adopted as a baby. She grew up in Jackson, New Jersey. “Near Six Flags,” she adds. She attended RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) in Western New York and moved to the DMV for an internship in Bethesda, where she met her future husband, Andrew. “I was in a long-term relationship and pretty unhappy. I called Andrew when I finally ended it—and we’ve been together ever since.” They recently celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary.
After graduation, she started in Burtonsville and then moved in with Andrew and lived in a few different neighborhoods: “Silver Spring, the ‘Columbia–U Street Circle’ as I call it (Columbia Heights, Dupont), Logan Circle, Pentagon City… and we finally landed in Alexandria. I told Andrew I’m not moving any further south—unless it’s to Key West!” (Same, Leann. Same.)
Leann Burr
Photography: Renée C. Gage Photography
Self-styled
Shoot location: Pippin Toy Co., Old Town
After taking a six-month sabbatical in 2024, she began exploring her next move. “I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I needed to be around people. The pandemic had broken everything around me.” When Andrew spotted a job posting at Pippin Toy Co., he encouraged her to apply. “I jokingly call Penny Post (Pippin’s sister store) my gateway drug,” she says. “When I met the team, it went wonderfully, they nearly hired me on the spot!”
Since joining the team, Leann has helped expand Pippin’s events lineup, including storytime sessions centered around timely themes. “We did one for Pride, and we’re planning a Reptile Day and a magician for July. This Saturday, we’ll be doing a pop-up at the Botanical Garden in D.C. for a kid-friendly event.”
Leann has now been with Pippin for almost a year. Other big highlights in 2024? Her daughter Lily graduated from Pre-K, her brother got married in Aruba, and she marked her umpteenth Disney trip! “Personally, it felt like my 300th time, and it was Lily’s third,” she says with a smile. “I’m really laidback at Disney, I don’t need to do everything. I’m a Star Wars nerd, but that ride was a bit much for Lily… 25 minutes of an interactive experience, kind of dark and very loud. Maybe I’d rethink that one. But Disney is always a good time.” Her pro tip? Visit in January.
When asked if Lily has “one of everything” from Pippin, Leann laughs. “She had a major Christmas. But she’s starting to transition out of the little-kid toys now—a massive dollhouse instead of a baby one, more imaginative and open-ended play.”
And the toy purge? “We’re pretty good about it. We talk about it—I tell her, ‘This is a little kid toy. We’re going to give it away and get a bigger-kid toy.’ We donate through Buy Nothing groups and Goodwill, and sometimes post stuff on Facebook Marketplace.”
Looking ahead, Leann is excited for Lily to start kindergarten this fall, at the same school as my daughter, Indigo (small Alexandria world!). “I’m thankful… and not thankful for uniforms,” she jokes. She’s also looking forward to her 15th college reunion in October.
To recharge, Leann puts down the phone and gets outside. “I’m a big gardener: flowers and veggies,” she shares. Her music taste is equally vibrant: Van Morrison, Dua Lipa, EDM, Taylor Swift, oldies doo-wop, Motown, Marvin Gaye, and Broadway musicals. “I can sing/rap most of the Hamilton album,” she says proudly.
Leann is always a burst of energy. If you haven’t met her yet, stop into Pippin Toy Co. and ask for her suggestions—she’s on it!
Check out Leann’s Street Style:
ABOUT LEANN
Neighborhood: Old Town!
Hometown: Jackson, NJ
What would surprise people about you? I was incredibly quiet and shy until about my junior year of high school.
Favorite book or movie: Goodfellas
Guilty Pleasure: Law & Order SVU and Oreo cookies.
Latest binge-watch: Andor
Bucket list travel destination: Kenya
STYLE
Define your style in three words or less: Athleisure enthusiast. LOL.
Go-to piece in your wardrobe: My $10 “diamond” earrings. Everyone thinks they’re real, which is hilarious. Best $10 I’ve ever spent!
Favorite trend: Sorry, I am not a trendy person. I stay away from most trends, not on purpose! It kinda just happens naturally. I try to get clothes that I can wear multiple times and probably multiple years.
Beauty product you can’t live without: My nails, haha.
Boots, heels or sneakers? I love them all. If I could, I’d live in flip flops or be barefoot. But I mean, who doesn’t love heels??
WELLNESS
Go-to way to de-stress: I play way too many iPhone games. I garden–although that can stress me out (like, why aren’t my peppers growing?!), and I go to the gym regularly.
Most fun way to stay active: I love my gym.
Wellness goal: I want to do another (sprint) triathlon, a regular triathlon, and I want Sha’Carri Richardson’s arms.
Want to try: Yoga
Proudest wellness achievement: I’ve done three sprint triathlons.
HOME
Favorite room in your home: Living room. We have a small Old Town house and it’s open concept. I love the living room because it’s where we are most of the time.
Antiques, modern, or a mix? Maybe a mix? But kinda neither.
Last item bought for your home: New walkway lights–that still need to be installed.
Favorite way to entertain: Cook and host parties.
Clutter-free or well-lived in? Well-lived in.
Next planned purchase: One of those really big patio umbrellas.
ALEXANDRIA
What do you love about Alexandria Stylebook? I love that it highlights everything about Alexandria. I am so bad at discovering things and need all the help I can get.
Favorite spot in Alexandria: Pippin Toy Co, Penny Post, and Red Barn Mercantile, of course. ;)
Your go-to shop: Ok, I am not just saying this, it legitimately is Penny Post. It was my gateway drug into the Stone Soup company.
Best food spot: Sister’s Thai
Favorite local organization: The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. I have a neighbor who volunteers there. We’re hoping to get a dog soon and we’re slowly and very casually looking for the right one.
Annual Alexandria event you most look forward to: I need to get better at attending. But, I do love the Halloween events. I love kids Halloween and dressing up!
