about
proper topper

the economist (economist.com) describes proper topper as “where . . . you find all the must-haves you never knew you needed . . . ”  lucky calls us  “the premiere spot for washingtonians in the market for cool gifts and accessories.” according to usa today, proper topper is “one of the 10 best places in the u.s. to buy a hat.” washingtonian praises us as "one of the best places in dc to find great clothes." the readers' poll at washingtonpost.com selected proper topper a "favorite off-beat find." and a favorite local blog, thewanderous.com calls us "high-end meets mindful . . . sourcing local, handmade, fair trade & organic."


OUR INSPIRATION


Proper Topper's motto is "wonders never cease," evidenced all around us: our customers, our products, our designers (fair-trade, women-owned, and local whenever possible), and our staff.
 
OUR PEOPLE


Anna Fuhrman
Founder + President
 

I opened Proper Topper over twenty years (can that be possible?!) ago, more or less on a whim, an unexpected detour from a career in law. Lo these many years later, here we are. The collection has evolved continuously since I first opened; as years have passed, interests have shifted -- mine & my customers' -- and the change continues daily. Expect to be surprised each time you visit!

We've also become a family affair. My husband, Joe, designs the web site and helps guide things day-to-day. Our five-year-old, Lucy, loves to help out. And our pup, Cassady, guards us well.

   

Joe Kerr
Director of Operations
 

Photographer, graphic designer, carpenter, music expert and storyteller extraordinaire, Joe helps navigate the daily adventures of Proper Topper with good cheer and great creativity.

He composes and writes the weekly play lists on our blog, Wonders Never Cease. And he stops to photograph a cool bug, animal or starry sky whenever he gets the chance.

 

   

Tara McCredie
Internet Sales
 

Tara is our highly-organized orchestrator of internet sales, the warm voice on our customer service line, the talented author of many of the tantalizing product descriptions, a photographer and – by the way – an opera singer. Given the colorful stories that can unfold on any given day in the world of retail, we are hopeful we might see some original works based on Proper Topper.