The Contour of Luxury Fall/Winter 2018 | Page 72

He He was was working as a as young designer for for Cerutti in London working a young designer Cerutti in London and and in Paris and and he would come and and show his his collection in Paris he would come show collection to this lady I worked with. He He would walk in there as as to this lady I worked with. would walk in there a young man, Gianni Versace would walk in there, this this was was a young man, Gianni Versace would walk in there, before Versace had had a name, and and he was working for for a company before Versace a name, he was working a company called Callahan, Karl Lagerfeld was was working for for a company called Callahan, Karl Lagerfeld working a company called Chloe, the the Missoni’s were just just starting Sonia called Chloe, Missoni’s were starting Sonia Rykiel, and and all all these people would come into into Browns. Rykiel, these people would come Browns. Some of the most incredible customers in the world Some of the most incredible customers in the world would come. Frank Sinatra, when he he was was in town would come. Frank Sinatra, when in town he’d come to Browns. It was a ladies and and men’s he’d come to Browns. It was a ladies men’s boutique. Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, everyone boutique. Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, everyone came in there. Every big big star star came in there and and came in there. Every came in there every famous person in in fashion and and society every famous person fashion society came in there. It was like like being in a in chocolate came in there. It was being a chocolate bar bar full full of candy. It was an incredible experience. of candy. It was an incredible experience. The The woman who owned it, her name was was Joan woman who owned it, her name Joan Bernstein, and and even the the Barney’s of New York Bernstein, even Barney’s of New York and and other stores would come to Brown’s to see other stores would come to Brown’s to see what was was going on on at Brown’s. It was the the “it “it what going at Brown’s. It was place” to be and and I happened to be there…and place” to be I happened to be there…and learned the the magic world of designers and and retail. learned magic world of designers retail. Styling and and what I did as editor was was not not even on on Styling what I did as editor even my my mind. I didn’t even know what that that was was to be mind. I didn’t even know what to be quit quit honest. I would look at magazines…I failed honest. I would look at magazines…I failed to say, that that one one of of the the magazine’s that that intrigued to say, magazine’s intrigued me me was was when Donna Freeland was was editor-in-chief when Donna Freeland editor-in-chief of Vogue in the 60’s. It was the the discovery of Twiggy, of Vogue in the 60’s. It was discovery of Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, Penelope Treat, and and Veruschka and and Jean Shrimpton, Penelope Treat, Veruschka all all of of these marvelous, marvelous girls. And that that these marvelous, marvelous girls. And intrigued me me when I saw what she she was was doing in a in magazine intrigued when I saw what doing a magazine and and transforming these women into into these wonderful creatures. transforming these women these wonderful creatures. So So as far as a as magazine, that that inspired me me big big time. as far a magazine, inspired time.