Let me take you back to my early days in NYC where some could almost still find an unrevonated loft as an artist, if you were lucky. I often had to sell my clothes at Beacon’s Closet to buy fancy Bedford Cheese Shop cheese to serve my friends, and I wore my shorts very short with tights underneath. I wanted to shop at Barney’s, Opening Ceremony, and TG170 but I would really only buy vintage ensembles at Ghostown in Williamsburg that came with vests, and I had to have bangs.
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Photo by Sara Wilmer of Au Revoire Simone in the AW 07 Collection
This was pre-instagram during the blog era and it was the early days of Refinery 29 and they were all about featuring independent designers (here is an article from that time). I looked up to designers like Three as Four where I had recently interned, and I met fellow up and comers like Telfar, Rachel Antonoff, Pamela Love, and Electric Feathers on the scene in NY. I would eat and drink at restaurants like Dumont and get coffee at the Verb. The hip neighborhoods harked back to 90s grunge but whenever I tell friends about this time, I tell them I think the aesthetic was somewhat inspired by Harry Potter and Twin Peaks.
David Lynch with members of Au Revoir Simone
Thinking of the latter has made me really sad this week with the loss of the genius David Lynch, whose films transcend all my inspirations. I was lucky enough to go to a book signing of his at the Barnes in Nobel in Union Square in 2007 where my friends Au Revoir Simone performed wearing my clothes. I was so excited to meet this legend that I brought my dvd of the film Dune. I then was told at the event that he did not get final cut so I quickly bought a copy of the book. When it was my turn for him to sign it, he looked me in the eye and gave me a few hard dots after his signature, I felt I was forever blessed…
Behind the Scenes at the Fall 07 Fashion Show with Tricorn Hats from Atelier Pietro Longhi of Venice
At the time I wanted to look like a mod dandy elf because I wanted to bring magic to everyday life exploring the mysteries of NYC. I was fulfilling my childhood dream of moving to the city and living amongst artists of all types and finding my own little scene. Sitting in coffee shops then working so hard putting together collections, fashion shows, photoshoots, and collaborating with my friends and bringing people together to make really special projects is what I live for and I hope to do it for years to come.
Pre Spring 25 Castle Stripe
Today I am still at it and I channeled the Castle Stripe and brass buttons from my memories of this Fall 07 collection without actually looking at the pictures as they were buried deep in the archives. Now looking back, I got pretty close! (See the archive of the Fall 2007 collection below) I put together this pre-spring capsule collection that harks back to those halcyon days but I have brought it to life in new suiting pieces for you to mix and match as you see fit and bring a bit of magic to your everyday wardrobe.
Love,
Samantha Pleet
Here I am with my Tarot Card Inspired lookbook from that season
The Fall 2007 Runway Show
Fall 2007 Fashion Show
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Fall 2007 Lookbook photography by Nadav Benjamin Styled by Sarah McCormack