Why do you do what you do?

It’s just fun. By nature I am very curious, and I like to learn about a lot of different things, and this creative avenue allows me to do that in a focused way. I enjoy studying brands, designs and craftsmanship, and it fulfills that curiosity. I want to understand the process; who are the people that made it, why did they make it, what kind of materials did they use...it’s fulfilling from that standpoint.

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How did you get started?

I trace this all back to my time in Paris as a model. I was 18-years-old by this point, and I’d already done one season of haute couture for Christian Lacroix. I was a little bit more experienced, a little wiser, and a little more appreciative of what was happening around me. I remember people sewing me into my clothes before I walked out onto the runway. They were tailors, they were seamstresses, they were artists, and everyone was there putting in such tremendous effort, such collaborative effort, to send these visions down the runway. They were under so much pressure, and took it so seriously. Every single bead they were sewing onto my chest was added with such precision, like a surgeon. That always stayed with me.

At that time I didn’t buy couture, but it created a lasting impression on me, and I began to understand that there are so many human beings involved in the making of these items, and they are so special.

Along my modeling journey I began wearing more pieces that made marks on me - but the main one I credit is a Gucci 1999 nude silk dress with pale turquoise beading. It was designed by Tom Ford, and Jacquetta Wheeler wore it in the ad campaign. I wore the sample in a magazine shoot for Glamour US, and I was awestruck by it. Years later, when I started Sugar Shock Vintage, I started trying to track down some of those pieces that had made marks on me, and I tried to find that specific dress. I searched for two years and eventually discovered that it was never made for production, and that sample that I’d worn is in the Gucci museum in Florence.

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What’s your process for sourcing?

I once heard that Dolly Parton sets her alarm for 1 o’clock in the morning, and she gets up at that time so she has a few hours of uninterrupted time to be creative. That resonated with me because my creative time is also at night, when nobody can reach me. It’s a meditative moment for me to ideate and be creative.

I usually start my curation with one idea that comes to me. Currently, I’m thinking a lot about suede - Why? Who knows! But I go down the rabbit hole of suede. I want to look at all different types of suede, different colors, different applications. The process of researching that material, or that idea, sometimes introduces me to a completely new brand, or designer, and that is very inspiring and helps me grow as a curator.

I also have a lot of clients now who will come to me and say ‘I’m ready to part with a few things, and these are all of my pieces.' I can't accept everything, because sometimes the item doesn't necessarily fit with the thesis I have in my head for an upcoming show, but most of my clients have truly exceptional taste, so that makes it easy.

Occasionally, I just stumble across something that I wasn't even looking for and it’s just obviously spectacular - a showstopper. It makes my heart feel something when I see it, and even if it doesn’t fit the thesis for my current curation I will sometimes grab it anyways because it might inspire the next show!

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What’s your favorite piece that you’ve sourced?

Oh! That’s so hard. . . that’s like asking me which child I like more.

If I had to choose, it would be a 1996 Tom Ford black suede snaffle bit bag–it’s spectacular! I was initially going to list it, but I couldn’t let it go. Something people find surprising about me is that I actually very rarely keep pieces for myself. For me, just knowing that I've had them once, and had the opportunity to feel them, see them and hold them in person is enough for me.

Is there an item you’ll never sell?

The bag. It’s that bag!

There is one other piece that I might never sell, and I’ve been approached before but couldn't let them go. It's a pair of 2012 Alexander McQueen sculptural python heels. They’re magnificent. They don’t fit me by the way, I just love looking at them!

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Any trend predictions for 2025?

I think it’s already happening, but Alexander McQueen’s resurgence will definitely continue in 2025. It’s happening in the same way it happened with Vivienne Westwood. I can foresee a crescendo on the horizon with collectors coming out of the woodwork with some truly stellar pieces, and I'm excited for it.

I also feel like there will be a shift away from the “Big 5” fashion houses, towards smaller brands like Ann Demeulemeester, Jiterois and Issey Miyake. Norma Kamali is also due for some attention. I’d personally like to see more female designers get highlighted this year.

To be totally honest, trends are not really for me. I definitely take pieces that I love and make them work in a way that feels trendy, but still feels timeless–like pairing certain shapes or playing with fresh colors. Personally, I want the icon. I want the timeless, the trendless, the heritage pieces, the classics, the house codes.

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Who are your style icons?

Farrah Fawcett, Vivienne Westwood, and my grandmother!

What advice would you give your past self about starting Sugar Shock Vintage?

I’d actually give myself a compliment: ‘Good job following the thread and finding your way. Keep going. That little spark that gets you going - if you feel something when you see something - that’s your clue to keep going. Keep saying yes. Keep being brave and keep putting yourself out there. You know what to do.’

And I’d tell anyone who is looking to get started as a seller, ‘Learn a brand. Start with one single brand first and become an expert in it. Study it, know it, pay attention to the way it feels, the different materials. What does it feel like, how heavy is it, how does the hardware feel? Take your time to learn it and know it. Slow down and pay attention to the details.’

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Love that. What are you saying yes to in 2025?

I wouldn’t be here right now if I hadn’t taken a chance and said yes to a friend who believed in my taste and talent. I’m saying yes to more interpersonal connections, collaborations, expanding in every way—relationships, opportunities, success, friendships. All of it.

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