If, like us, you're ready to overhaul your closet with the intention of filling it only with designer pieces (Fashion Week inspires) 9th St.'s newest tenant, Change of Season, is here to make the fantasy (somewhat) attainable. We got inside the shop yesterday to chat with owners Clinton Curtis and Marco Querci about their first ever retail venture.
The store concept is nothing if not timely: carefully chosen past season designer pieces, all new with tags, at 50-70% off original retail prices. On offer- Balenciaga, Dries Van Noten, Chloe, Vivienne Westwood and Comme des Garçons- not to mention several brands that are difficult to find stateside including Isabel Tonchi, Bruno Bordese's line of footwear, Clone, and Sarti scarves.
"We noticed in every city we would visit, we would discover these great designer outlets and they just doesn't exist in New York," explained Querci. (Note: absolutely no comparisons can be made between their shop and the other mecca of designer goods at outlet prices, Century 21.) The duo has curated the store exactly like an upscale boutique. The interior was developed to mirror a well appointed hotel lobby and includes old fashioned suit cases, blown up images of postcards scored on ebay and even clothes hanging from a luggage trolley.
Veterans of the industry, Querci currently reigns as Accessories Director of Banana Republic, and Curtis worked in the business as a video editor (now Curtis is devoting his time fully to the store.)
Doors open today and the official launch party takes place on Wednesday evening. We've got to say it's refreshing to break up the week with merchandise we can actually afford...
Change of Season is located at 341 E. 9th St. between 1st and 2nd Avenues
