In his autobiography The Chiffon Trenches, former Vogue creative director André Leon Talley employs a special term to describe the rivalry, both personal and professional, between designers Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent. Their entanglement over the affections of a handsome young man named Jacques de Bascher was something that, as Talley recalls, everything knew about but no one talked about. It manifested as a bubbling tension that existed just below the surface. For those in the know, it could create jolts of excitement and undercurrents of uncertainty. It was thrilling, or as Talley more aptly puts it, a frisson.
Of course my humble childhood was far away from ritzy Paris galas attended by the likes of Lagerfeld and Saint Laurent, yet fashion has always been close to my heart. Growing up, I loved playing dress-up. As I got older my television diet consisted mainly of runway shows and music videos. During my teenage years I dabbled in making my own designs. Trips to thrift stores and flea markets filled my weekends. My first jobs were working high end retail. Garments dressed my life.
Over time my tastes gravitated more and more to vintage. I appreciate something that’s well made. I’m intrigued by styles that transcend eras, and by the idea that something that was cast aside can live again, if only put in the hands of the right person. Mostly, I love the dynamic that comes with shopping vintage.
When you consider purchasing a vintage piece you face a dilemma. This may be the only time in your whole life you see this item. You buy it, or you put it down. But if you pass, you may never find it again. It makes it emotional and exciting. A thrill, or if I may borrow a term, maybe even a frisson.
With my shop, my goal has always been to help the right piece find the right person. In my work, I love the idea of connecting people with experiences that transform their life. As with all things, when both parties are in on the thrill, it makes it all the better. Double the pleasure, double the fun, right? Hence:
Frisson Frisson