i recently had the honor of being interviewed for dujour magazine's 'vintage issue.' you can click on the image below to view the feature, and read the full interview underneath!
What do you do for a living? We hear you are a real fancy maker!
I design for a luxury clothing line, style editorial photography, and am launching my own line of jewelry.
At some point you realized just how cool you really are and decided to share with others. So how did blogging about your personal style begin?
I loved reading other people’s blogs and had been thinking about starting my own for a long time. Then, on my birthday I was with a bunch of friends at Chinatown Brasserie, the whole lot of us gussied up in sequins and kimonos, and a friend started calling me ‘The Glamourai.’ It stuck all night, and the next morning I thought: “I’ve got a name! Time to start blogging.”
Name all the cities you have lived.
Austin, TX ~ An oasis, teaming with creativity, in the vast Texas landscape.
Los Angeles, CA ~ Beautiful people, beautiful weather, beautiful vintage!!!
New York, NY ~ The city where style never sleeps.
Millions of girls would love to be you, living the big life in New York City. Most people think you have to be rich to enjoy it though. What do you do to keep busy?
New York can be a challenging place to live, but it’s even harder to leave. You get addicted to the speed; on any given night there are always a handful of art openings or fashion parties, packed with the most interesting people you could hope to meet. There’s so much energy on the scene; as long as you’re open to anything you can feel pretty fancy without being a big spender!
When did you first come into contact with vintage clothing?
As a kid, actually. My parents always discouraged us from buying into the ‘trendy’ looks that the mall was pushing. No Abercrombie allowed in our house! I remember my mom taking me into Goodwill when I was very young. She made it a game ~ here’s $10, see what you can put together with that. From then on I was hooked to the thrill of the chase!
Do you feel like NYC is a great source and supporter of the vintage movement?
Absolutely. I think New Yorkers really understand the value of personal style; incorporating vintage clothing is a great way to elevate staples and make your look unique. The city is also really supportive of emerging designers and local talent, to the point where nearly every neighborhood has its own look and specialization. There’s a lot of camaraderie in the community; shop owners are friends who support each other and work together to not only dress their clients, but also and keep small businesses relevant and viable.
What are your favorite hidden gems for affordable vintage both in NYC and beyond?
In New York, the best deals are at Beacon’s Closet in Williamsburg, but I like going just out of town for the real treasures. Small towns upstate, like Nyack, have some great vintage shopping, and I live for yard sales in the Hamptons. People out there have some amazing stuff to unload, and they generally don’t need the money so the prices are unbelievable!
If you could be reincarnated as any one style icon from the past, who would it be and why?
I wouldn’t mind spending a few days in Diane Von Furstenberg’s shoes. She’s led an amazing life, and she’s always been totally in charge of her destiny. She recognized the power in having great style, and used it to sculpt a world of her dreams.
What is so captivating about vintage for you?
Wearing vintage allows me to tell a story ~ to reference icons of the past but use their language in a new way. I can be my own character, unlike any other.
What are your tips for others to incorporate vintage into their daily lives without coming off costumey. You seem to blend it in seamlessly.
Thank you! I’ve certainly made mistakes, but that’s the best way to learn! Keep the silhouette simple. Mix eras. Be careful with accessories ~ if you want to wear a whimsical hat, keep everything else quiet. If you’re mixing prints, keep the shape very streamlined. And in the end, ignore the rules and be fearless. You’ve got to take risks to make something unique!
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