I can't quite believe it's taken me THIS long to have an encounter with Luxor Tavella, owner of Paracelso (414 West Broadway), a New York Soho institution really considering her store has been there for 30 years, and I very often stay at the Soho Grand (she said she used to frequent the bar there before the music got too loud‚Ķ). I was first taken by the storefront, plastered with yellowing clippings but better yet, the arrangement of clothes that was haphazard and painterly – i.e. the exact the opposite of West Broadway homogenised and chi-chi stores. Luxor Tavella is a both an old and a new soul, remembering the past and embracing the new. The peeps that have passed through her doors is sort of mind blowing really…Warhol, Basquiat and she also kept talking about Agyness Deyn, perhaps assuming that just because I was English, we all knew each other in some way or another. Perhaps her world is an intensely small and creative one where designers (she cited Gianfranco Ferre) would drop in and buy up a storm from her textile fantasies – sourced from Japan and Italy mainly. There's no strict aesthetic to Paracelso's pieces but they do veer towards artisinal fabrication which means Luxor can drape, hang and have the pieces strewn about in a way that is to her liking. As we were taking pictures with my friend Brandon, she felt the need to art direct it with a fabric piece here or a whirly windmill there. I went in twice whilst I was in New York and she kept back a beautiful velvet shrug/cardigan made up of all the autumnal colours that I love to crunch about in and with that she also gave a dried leaf that she had found that morning on her doorstep – she suggested I needed to wear it as a brooch or in the hair – if I had an ounce of the creativity and free spirit that Luxor has, perhaps the leaf would be in my hair. Instead, I'm a cop-out that has placed it in front of the iMac, part of the technology that Luxor rejects – she actually asked that I send the photograph that I had taken of myself and her to her via snail mail. Must try and find a good way of printing it out so that it doesn't smack of Snappy Snaps, all that 'digital stuff' that Luxor isn't into… oh, and I need to improve my hand writing too…
The wall that holds TOO much…
Was most happy with my purchase, that I wore it straight away with my travelling outfit (was leaving New York that day… )
…but the colours TRULY shine here in these pics taken by The Streethearts (thanks to Tanya who alerted me!) It was the first day of LFW and I had just landed in from New York that day… not QUITE sure how I managed to look NOT half-dead here. Come on Streethearts peeps… retouching, some special kind of lens
(Wearing Paracelso velvet shrug, Crumpet checked wrap, Jaegar hat, TBA mushroom dress, Tory Burch bag)
That hat is so beautiful. Love your outfit, Luxor looks like a sweetheart!
you’re very beautiful girl, I’ve just came across your blog!
i like your bag and Jaegar hat is superrr!
the two last pictures – breathtaking
That hat! It is almost a trade mark. I am happy you get lots of use out of it.
She’s so interesting, so bohemian. She reminds me a bit of my MIL, who is an artist and the daughter of a thumping good artist, Lloyd Raymond Ney. There aren’t many people like that around anymore, so it’s really important to talk to them when you can.
Regarding the photo of you in the hat, facing the camera: WOW. It’s one of the best of you, as a portrait shot, that I’ve seen.
Hope you have a nice weekend Susie dear.
Hmmm! I like shops like this one: individualistic and truly one-of-a-kind. I wonder what your views are on London’s shopping scene: is it becoming just a bit too homogenized? do you feel there’s a lack of real diversity and just LOADS of Topshops, which can be great but also,ahem, grating??
And that Brandon guy seems like the kind of person I’d be happy to share a beer with. Silver chesty jewelry is just great! Feel free to contact me! ; )
I’m glad you like the pictures from The Streethearts Susie, thank you for the link. I didn’t do any retouching on the pics, you just have to face the fact that you’re pretty!
I saw you walking down Carnaby Street today! It was soso breif seeing as it was just ramrod packed with people as you would expect on a saturday
Sorry, I hope this doesn’t make me sound like a mad woman or something?
you have that TBA mushroom dress! it is so beautiful with all of those pleats!
Beautiful, touchable items in this place!
one of the things i love about you
is that you are such a miner.
it’s sensational that you have found this lady
and showed her to us.
next time i get to nyc i’ll sure drop by her store.
thanks susie, and keep the nice work.
omgg u deserve a big WOWW
check out my fashion blog at http://thetalesofselfindulgence.blogspot.com
Thanks for all comments on the nice portrait‚ĶI thank Eirik from The Streethearts of course‚Ķ.it’s his nice camera, NOT my nice face‚Ķ
Alex: Brandon is definitely an ACE guy for hanging out with‚Ķalas he’s in New York….!
Hmmm‚Ķ I don’t think London’s shopping scene is THAT homogenised, certainly, they fall into certain categories but I do think that true originals can still be found….
I might be working on a project where I investigate this very subject – independent retailing – so let’s see how that goes!
haha no worries susie! love the way you’ve worn the jacket in both pics 🙂
Susie you must check out http://www.stylelikeu.com. Luxor is featured on there and the site has been my absolute addiction for months now! I’ve literally watched nearly every video, they’re all so inspiring. I kinda wanted to keep this site to myself but thats just selfish non?
Katie Major
Katie: I actually linked to their profile of Luxor – it’s great!
I too agree that it is necessary to get travel advice from a trustworthy source. This will definitely be of great help to anyone who wants a joyful journey.
I bet she LOVED you!
CHINEKE!!!!!
lucylurve.blogspot.com
she is an artist, look at all those collections, much spend lots of time and heart to collect all those
What beautiful looking fabrics!
Luxor certainly didn’t like me … she followed my friend all around the store suggesting items of clothing that she thought my friend would like. Me, she ignored until she told me to take my hands off a linen shirt because “it’s too expensive and you won’t buy it anyway.” She’s certainly right that her clothing is too expensive – she charges nearly retail prices for many pieces of very ordinary used clothing. There ARE some nice pieces in the store, but be aware that Luxor either likes or you or she doesn’t … and she’ll be pretty rude to you if she doesn’t like you.
Susie! I met Luxor on a recent trip to NYC but she didn’t like me cause I STUDY fashion! I was very disappointed and bailed on the store, feeling quite uncomfortable ):
I’m pleased she was fond of you, though!
this is one of the fantastic blog with latest and friendly information.
I guess you are the only person I came across who knows Louxor and Paracelso in NYC. I leave in Paris but I have been buying clothes from this extraordinary shop for I guess 10 years and I love.
Bravo for you sense of discovery!
10/5/2015 – I just met Luxor this weekend and she is fabulous. She is kind, gives great suggestions for clothing options and made me feel very comfortable with a sense of eclectic style. I loved meeting her and having her be a part of my New York experience. It may take a while to get through the piles however it is sooooooo worth it.
Thanks for having you shop open to the girls from Dallas and Arkansas.