The Way We Wore Opens in NYC
Designers from brands Polo Ralph Lauren, Pucci and Michael Kors have all asked Los Angeles retailer Doris Raymond for inspiration.
They found it at Raymond’s The Way We Wore boutique, located at 334 S. La Brea Ave. in Los Angeles. The designers poured over the store’s swatches and costumes from the 18th century to the 1980s to gain inspiration for their new collections.
Raymond gained her expertise by spending a career collecting historic fashion and high-value vintage that she often sold to museums and film wardrobers. She opened her Los Angeles store in 2004 and cultivated an avid fashion-consumer following for the boutique’s high-value vintage. Recently, Raymond announced she will be expanding to New York.
In late July, she will open The Way We Wore New York at 336 W. 37th St. in Manhattan’s Fashion District. The 750-square-foot space will house swatches and other materials from the 1830s to the 1970s. Price points for swatches start at $125; the unique store’s core price points will be $150 to $250. The new location will provide easier access for Raymond’s New York and overseas clients.
She estimated that two-thirds of her designer clientele is New York–based. Most of them visit Los Angeles once each year to research collections. Because most of these high-profile brands create two to five collections each year, Raymond estimated she was missing out on a lot of designer business.
She will work at The Way We Wore in New York every six weeks. Otherwise, sales representative Kris Goojha will be minding the store. He can be contacted at (917) 251-8303.—Andrew Asch
