Over coffee with Joey and T: Britney's briefs and Paris' minis

Ask stylist-turned-designer Joey Tierney — one half of the fresh L.A.-based line Joey and T — to explain the duo's philosophy toward fashion and, by way of reply, she'll pull up her shirt.

Well, OK, she'll pull up her pink-striped knit poncho (which matches the magenta streaks in her blond hair) to reveal a white Joey and T shirt with the words "Rebel Rebel" emblazoned on it. The signature T-shirt features a trio of "fashion gang" models posing with a motorcycle, one wearing a leather-studded Joey and T skirt given to Madonna.

Already, the fledgling line — launched in April by Tierney and Tanya Tamburin, both 28 — has attracted a celebrity following to its sassy, splashy designs, which started with skirts and is continually adding items like tank tops and hot-pink denim. Joey and T's debut runway show at L.A. Fashion Week featured "models" like Paris Hilton and Aimee Osbourne, with Britney Spears, for whom they used to design tour outfits, looking on.

While Joey and T has yet to establish a storefront, Nordstrom is carrying the line in its Savvy department, including sparkly red micro-minis and satiny turquoise skirts embellished with hand-painted stars, skulls and safety-pins. The prices range from $30 to $300 a piece.

We caught up with the designers at a recent appearance at the downtown Seattle Nordstrom store, where they weren't hard to spot — both were wearing reddish knee-length leather boots over jeans.

Q: Rumor has it that the idea for the line came from none other than Britney Spears, whom you traveled with as stylists during her 2001 tour. True?

Tanya: Yes. We started making stuff for her and her dancers. She said we should get together and do our own line, and we said, "OK, Britney."

Joey: Our first production was boy-brief underwear (for Britney) on tour.

Q: The New York Post declared Joey and T the "best L.A. Fashion Week designer to wear if you want to get some action." What does that say about the line?

Joey: We launched a skirt line and we put the models in bandeau tops so the focus would be on the skirts. Some of the skirts were really short.

Tanya: It's sexy, and it's edgy, and it's just a lot of fun.

Q: Who can wear Joey and T?

Joey: Any type of girl — that's why we really try to get all different-sized girls on the runway. Our line is who you are inside. If you're fierce and you can rock it, you can wear it.

Q: How was making the transition from stylist to designer?

Joey: Styling is really different than being in production with your own clothing line.

Tanya: It's something we've been working toward for so long, but it came about very quickly. It's moving so quickly.

Q: Did you have your share of panicky, what-am-I-thinking moments?

Tanya: Every day.

Joey: All the time

For more information on Joey and T, visit www.joeyandt.com.

Pamela Sitt: 206-464-2376 or psitt@seattletimes.com