Charlotte Moss Townhouse – Part III
by habituallychic
08 . 24 . 07
So, I failed to mention earlier what I was doing with the rest of my Friday. Well, this morning I was touring the Charlotte Moss Townhouse with none other than Charlotte Moss herself and her wonderful assistant Cathy! Go ahead. Take a moment to hate me. I know you want to. I would hate me too. But let me tell you how it happened anyway.
I got home last Saturday after a day of shopping in the city to find an email from, I almost fell off my chair, Charlotte Moss. I had to look at it a few times to make sure no one was playing a trick on me but apparently, Ms. Moss had learned about the wonderful world of blogs! She was so gracious and flattered that I had included the shop on my blog and wanted to meet me! Me! Crazy! So we planned a little interview and meeting!
I thought I would be too nervous to ask questions and write down all the answers legibly and comprehensively at the townhouse so Ms. Moss was kind of enough to answer a few questions ahead of time with the help of her very sweet assistant Cathy. After the interview section, I’ll get to the tour!
Yes, I was creative as a child but got sidetracked to Wall Street. In college, I wanted to major in interior design but was too intimidated to complete the portfolio required because I couldn’t draw. So instead, I majored in English and took all my minor credits in art history… and as the story always goes on Wall Street…mergers. When the firm I worked for was acquired by a larger one, it was the perfect time for assessing the future. It just seemed like the right time to get a business plan together, take the bonus and go buy a container.
You had a shop on Lexington Avenue from about the time you started your business until it closed in 1996. What made you decide that now was the right time to open another shop, especially one on such a grand scale?
When I started the business in 1985 it was done with a concept similar to an English decorating shop which was foreign in the US. A couple of years ago, I started to get the retail pang again because I felt that something was missing in the shopping experience. As an interior designer and after having done 13 decorator showhouses in my career, I’ve heard the oooos and aaaahhs from visitors to those rooms – hence I know the value of the finished product. The finished product more often than not isn’t only about the contents but about the atmosphere. I wanted to again create my own retail atmosphere as if I were inviting people in to my own home.
Very simple – the restrictions imposed by being in a historic district as well as what the city of New York and the landmarks commission will and will not let you do – it’s as simple as that.
I couldn’t possibly name a favorite book! I have 3 libraries so it would be like naming which is my favorite library. I’ve read too many books to only name one but let me just say if someone gave me a day off I would spend it locked in my library. I have 3 books I’m working right now, Hermoine Lee’s biography on Edith Wharton; Istanbul and Deluxe by Dana Thomas. I usually read 3 or 4 books at the same time – all very different. I do that too but my problem is that I never finish half of them!
Child welfare, literacy, immunological research…Unicef, Operation Smile, The Leukemia Society.
Maybe sometime in the future (first I have to decorate the next Winterhouse – but that’s after I merchandise the store for Christmas) but before that you will see “A Flair for Living”, a lifestyle book being published by Assouline for Spring 2008. You heard it here first folks!
My previous store, lectures and books have always had a strong Southern following – after that all you can do is pray.
Well of course we won’t let the whole cat out of the bag – BUT – as I mentioned above, my next book “A Flair for Living” will be published by Assouline next spring. We’ll have a new fragrance at the same time and depending upon how much energy I have a great CD as well. We also have two new collections of bedding to launch in February, two new china patterns this fall, and of course lots of Christmas goodies so please come shopping! We’re going to have a great article in the October issue of O Home hitting the newsstand soon – check it out. We are soooo excited! And so are all of us!!!
I have to say, meeting Charlotte Moss today and having her show me around the shop was such a treat. She pointed out so many details that I would have otherwise missed and was so passionate about everything. She was very eager to point out that the shop was specifically designed to have a diverse array of points, not just so everyone can find something for their price range but because “that’s the way we live”. We now live in a culture that mixes their Manolos and vintage YSL with current J.Crew, just the way she does!
Charlotte Moss has so much going on, that I cannot understand how she is not exhausted! She is so passionate about the items she has chosen for her shop and she very much appreciates the craftspeople who continue traditions that are slowly dying out, it’s hard not to get excited too. There is so much forward momentum with her that you get the feeling she must wake up in the middle of the night with an idea for her next project!
I was very honored that she would take the time out of her obviously busy day to take a little blogger like me on a personal tour. I think that speaks volumes about the graciousness of Charlotte Moss. She also assured me that I am welcome back any time and there will be no need to sneak around taking photos! So sweet! I definitely look forward to reporting back on what I can only imagine will be some spectacular holiday decorations and accessories! Many thanks to Charlotte and Cathy for such a special and memorable tour!
Oh, one piece of advice, if you want to buy anything online or in the shop at Charlotte Moss, I’d do it soon because you know the minute Oprah’s O at Home magazine comes out, there will probably be a mad dash to buy up every fabulous item…but if that happens, I have a feeling Charlotte Moss already has a few new tricks up her haute couture sleeve to keep us coming back for more!
21 Comments
OMG!
Who do you think you are getting an email directly from the designing diva herself? 🙂
What a great interview. My taste isn’t as classic as hers (more a demerit for me than for her, certainly) but even so, I just think she’s badass. As I contend in my post about her, anyone who has their back issues of Vogue *BOUND IN LEATHER* is so far ahead of the rest of us, it’s not even funny. She’s just too fabulous.
http://decorno.blogspot.com/search/label/Charlotte%20Moss
Lucky you, Habitually Chic!
Oh my what a great Interview. How lucky can one girl get.
What a wonderful interview you have done. The blogging world is so great and so friendly. And your interview and meeting with Charlotte comes across that way.
Good for you and well done!!!!
Decorno, You’re too funny! I was thinking about her Vogue’s. I barely have room for a few of the regular issues let alone a library full of them bound in leather!
Also, I don’t think you have to have exactly the same style as Charlotte Moss to appreciate everything she has going on. The jewelry alone is reason enough to visit the store. She really is fabulous!
Wes, I think I’m going to go out and play the lottery just in case! 🙂
Thanks Patricia!
The best part of all this has been meeting fabulous people like Charlotte Moss and getting to share it with wonderful bloggers like you!
Very lovely interview :8)
OMG! What a coup! I love that this happened. The big names out there really are very nice. This has probably been a large contributor to their success. I mean, who wants to work with a meanie? I was lucky to have gotten a wonderful email from Benjamin Noreiga-Ortiz in response to a post I did about him.
Great post!;)
Wonderful interview! She is such a creative and SMART woman- a great combination. I just love her store- even if you don’t purchase something, you can’t help but be inspired by the beauty of it all. Thank you 🙂
Way. To. Go. This is a really lovely interview; such warmth and sincere appreciation on both your parts. And the book scoop…excellent!!
What an awesome opportunity for you and you did such a wonderful job. I thought you asked all of the right questions. I was riveted. I will be in NY in October for book signings and I can’t wait to go see the townhouse. Thanks for turning me on to it.
Jackie
WOW this is so great!! How very cool!
So great to have been abble to meet Charlotte Moss . I’m jealous
Congratulations on a great interview. It is great to know that some of the biggest designers are interested in reading blogs and sharing more.
this, my dear, is why it pays to blog! it is amazing to see design celebrities celebrating the blogosphere and realizing we are enthusiasts, fans, intelligent and knowledgeable about their work and design as a a whole.
You, my dear, are in the right city, that’s for sure!
Thanks again to everyone for the sweet comments. This is exactly why I love New York. You never know who you might end up meeting!
O.K. so we admit it..we do hate you (not really wink wink), but this must have been just amazing for you! Thanks for sharing!
thats amazing! you’re a great interviewer.
Oh my goodness…what a fabulous experience! Thanks for sharing with all.
I really love this article! Charlotte really is such a wonderful designer. But what is even greater is her love and passion for others. I look up to her so much. Afterall, she is my aunt!!! 🙂