Mona Moore's Lisa Bush Listens to Elliott Smith, Loves Rodarte

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Born in Virginia, Lisa Bush moved to Canada in 1989 where she lived with her husband and two daughters. In 2002, she and business partner Anna Variano opened the original Mona Moore boutique in Montreal before Bush and her family eventually ended up in Topanga Canyon. It was only a few years after moving to SoCal that Bush decided it was the perfect setting for a second Mona Moore store. "Venice, Abbot Kinney popped up as an interesting place," she explained. "It's not your average Beverly Hills location."

The Venice boutique, which is anything but cookie cutter, is housed in an old industrial space on the coveted Abbot Kinney strip. The store's aesthetic is in sync with the laid-back westside vibe while its wares—major designers like Balenciaga, Haider Ackermann, and Ann Demeulemeester—certainly set it apart from the neighbors. The decision to carry shoes, handbags and accessories specifically was an easy one for the owner, "I really think it's the shoes and accessories that make an outfit," Bush said. "You can take something basic but if you've got a great pair or shoes, that's all you need."

We hit up Moon Juice on Rose Ave, one of the shoe maven's favorite spots in Venice, where she opened up about everything from her childhood playhouse to the tough realization that a day's work is never done.

What are you drinking today?
"I'm drinking a cucumber, pineapple, and jalapeño juice from Moon Juice."

Describe a typical Sunday morning.
"I'm usually at home in Topanga on Sunday. We have short hours [at the store] so that already feels like a little bit less on my mind. I walk up my driveway and get my New York Times, which I only get on Sunday, and make myself a latte and read it. I love Sunday."

Palm trees or pine trees?
"Palm."

If you could visit any icon's home, who would it be?
"I wonder what the interior of Kate Moss' house is like. I know she has such great fashion, I bet she has great interior design taste too. That would be fun to see, you never see that right?"

Wedge or ballet flat?
"Wedge."

What is your first childhood memory?
"My parents had a cardboard playhouse that was covered with lollipops. I must have been like three or four and it was this magical thing, I don't know where they got it but I don't think it was my birthday. I just remember this cardboard house with lollipops stapled onto it and it was the best thing ever."

Relax with wine or celebrate with a margarita?
"Wine."

What artist would be on your "Recently Played" iPod list?
"Elliott Smith."

Too much or not enough?
"Too much."

What party plans are you most looking forward to?
"I'm going to a pretty good party tomorrow at the store A'Marees in Newport Beach. It is one of the owners' 50th birthday and the party is going to be at the store, which is right on the water."

Basketball or baseball?
"Basketball."

What's your favorite pair of shoes in your closet?
"Rodarte did an amazing pair in spring of 2010. They had these talon spikes and they're metal. They look sort of like gothic, Frankenstein spikes. That's one of my favorite pairs of shoes ever."

Who is your favorite character from The Cosby Show?
"Lisa Bonet was awesome, she still is. Denise Huxtable."

Thrift store or department store?
"Thrift store."

What would you say you're most passionate about?
"I'm passionate about aesthetics and beauty and order, I wish I could say something that was better for the world."

What is your most predictable quality?
"I'm kind of a neat freak. I'm a little bit OCD, ya know washing out the glasses, wiping off the counter, folding things."

Tulips or roses?
"Tulips."

What's the hardest lesson you've ever had to learn?
"I always have a long list of things that I want to do, tasks that I want to take care of. Especially with the store, I've really had to learn that I'm not going to get to the end of that list. I tend to feel satisfied when I'm done and I'm trying to learn to feel satisfied just in the process because, otherwise, there's not very much satisfaction—you're never done. I'd say that's super challenging and I've gotten a lot better at that. You have no other choice."
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