Fresh Picks

Attn: Ladies of Baltimore County. You will be soon getting a new very stylish neighbor. Women’s contemporary boutique Sassanova will be joining the already impressive list of local retailers at Green Spring Station this spring.

The store, which will be taking over the current Becket Hitch space (not to worry, Becket Hitch will be moving into the old Trillium location) is set to begin its buildout in March. Owner Angela Tandy has been working diligently with local architect Dawn Sangley of Spry Design to create the perfect space for her customers.

“We’ve done lots of pop-up shops in the county and were always asked when we would open a store here,” says Tandy. “I am just so excited to be at Green Spring Station and to be surrounded by all of these other amazing independent local retailers.”

Tandy bought Sassanova from its previous owners in 2015, and since has added more apparel and accessories to the vast shoe selection, for which the store was known. This will be the store’s third location, with other stores in Harbor East and Bethesda, and will carry all of your favorite styles from brands like Shoshanna, Trina Turk, Frame, and Amanda Uprichard.

Follow Sassanova on Instagram for more info on the store opening.

Wine and dine your special someone without even leaving the house with these romantic and thoughtful items for a date night in.

1.  AGL denim sneaker ($295) at Matava Shoes. 2. Paul Green Wells sandal ($289) at Matava Shoes. 3. Klub Nico Joellen sandal ($200) at Sassanova. 4. Bernardo Hayden sandal ($215) at Sassanova. 5. Marc Fisher LTD Marcia sneaker ($155) at Sassanova. 6. Azura Aditi wedge ($90) at Ma Petite Shoe. 7. Merona Lulu block heel sandal ($30) at Target. 8. G.H. Bass & Co. Nikki mule ($135) at Poppy and Stella. 9. Irregular Choice Good Fortune flat ($165) at Ma Petite Shoe. 10. Paul Green Lexi bootie ($350) at Matava Shoes. 11. Sam Edelman Perri loafer mule ($109) at Poppy and Stella. 12. Joie Walda tassel slide ($188) at Sassanova. 13. Irregular Choice April Showers turquoise pump ($142) at Ma Petite Shoe. 

Sports have always been a central part of Samantha Sankovich’s life. A former University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) lacrosse player, the Fallston native is as much an avid sports viewer as she is an athlete. (To this day, she teaches spin classes at REV Cycle Studio in Locust Point and the Maryland Athletic Club in Harbor East.)

After graduating from UMBC, she “took [her] talents” to South Beach—“that’s a LeBron-ism,” she cracks—to attend the University of Miami where she received her master’s degree in broadcast journalism. When Sankovich returned to Baltimore, she eventually got a job at Under Armour and was immediately drawn to the company’s hard-charging ethos.

She soon climbed the ranks and is now associate product line manager of basketball footwear. Her job is simply to “own” the basketball footwear line, starting with researching the market for trends, briefing the designers on those trends, working with samples, and collaborating on merchandising opportunities to get the shoes in the market.

“The trend of wearing a traditional basketball shoe off the court as a fashion shoe is definitely growing. It’s pretty prevalent in more fashion-forward cities, but I see people starting to embrace it in Baltimore,” she explains.

Of course, Under Armour has been incredibly lucky—and shrewd—with its endorsements. To wit: the signing of Stephen Curry, now arguably the No. 1 basketball player and the most marketable athlete in the world.

“The addition of Stephen Curry to our UA basketball roster has been huge for us. Not only has he allowed us to show off our latest, amazing product and technologies, but he has allowed the world to see that UA Basketball is nothing to mess with,” she says. “I live across from the Under Armour Brand House in Harbor East, and waking up on a Saturday morning to see a line outside the store for people to be the first to purchase our newly dropped product—it’s like Christmas morning each time for me.”

It’s time for spring-cleaning, so why not start with your shoe collection? This season is all about style and comfort. From chunky platforms to dainty flats, we’ve gathered the trendiest new styles from some of our favorite local stores.

1. Restricted “Glory” flat ($49.95) at South Moon Under. 2. Eric Michael “Sadie” platform ($132) at Poppy and Stella. 3. Vince Camuto “Tad” in python ($250) at Sassanova. 4. OTBT “Nadia” low platform gladiator ($139.99) at Ma Petite Shoe. 5. Nicole “Maci” wedge sandal ($99.99) at Ma Petite Shoe. 6. Steve Madden “Hilltop” boot in cognac ($99.95) at South Moon Under. 7. Lucky Brand “Emmie” flat ($59) at Poppy and Stella. 8. Dolce Vita “Mazarine” fringe boot ($179) at Poppy and Stella.