Jeanne Suica is not only gorgeous but she has gorgeous taste as well. Elegant and totally savvy when it comes to vintage clothing and items, Jeanne is the person to call when you need help finding a special piece, or for finding out what's in your closet! Prissy Mag recently asked her about her work and life in Paris. Here's what she had to say...

How long have you lived in Paris?
I moved here from London a year and a half ago.

What brought you here, was it your work?
Mainly family reasons, my husband was born here and our long term goal was to settle down in Paris. We lived in NYC for 10 years and then moved to London for his job. After three years in London I was ready to "settle" down.

Tell us about it (your work)
I'm a cross between a clothing dealer and a liasion between buyers and sellers. The main focus of my business now is finding the best venue to sell items for my clients which can be through auction, selling to collectors, other dealers, consignment stores or online auctions. I spend a good amount of my time rummaging through closets so it is a mixed bag of items and situations that I find. Are they moving and need to downsize immediately? Are they wondering what they can do with that 1920s Chanel dress they have inherited? Have they changed their lifestyle and realize that their wardrobe from the 1980s just doesn't fit their fashion style now? Have they just bought too many items and have no more space? It really is a mixed bag of clients and situations. I collaborate with a major auction house in London so better pieces usually go there. A lot of my private clients just don't have the time or patience to deal with taking photographs, following the process and shipping their items so I take care of a lot of that for them. Less important vintage pieces may be sold to collectors or private clients and newer items usually end up in a consignment store, online auction or are donated to a local charity. I have a nice size network built up so generally I take care of deciding where their items end up.

I have just started a blog which showcases some of my new stock for sale. This I hope will serve as a springboard fro some new projects that I will be working on in the near future.

You used to work on Wall Street, for The Harvard Business School,
and The French Culinary Institute. How did you make the leap into
vintage?
I started volunteering at a thrift shop when I lived in NY which led me to working part time at Encore the oldest consignment shop in NYC. It snowballed from there and I eventually ended up opening my own consignment store in Brooklyn. I had worked on Wall Street for a few years and then at The French Culinary Institute for seven years but was determined to turn a hobby into a profession. I loved my job so I actually worked full time but also was a co-owner which meant I worked seven days a week on stop.

Why are you interested in clothing from the 1980s? What makes them special to you?
Flamboyant styles and culture surrounding the 80s, everything from neon, early punk to Bonfire of the Vanities and Working Girl I adore!

You can look for specific designer pieces for people. How long does that generally take?
It really depends on the request. Collectors will ask me from time to time for special labels of pieces. Sometimes it is like looking for a needle in a haystack but I do like the challenge but only tend to work with serious collectors since it does take time and a lot of research.

Can you tell us the difference between fashion in Paris versus New York and London?
Paris in general is probably the most conservative but even all in simple black french woman always look elegant and effortless. London is over the top which is fun. The streets are a rainbow of color and the style is so varied it's really a treat to shop there. New York is a happy medium you can find just about everything there!

What's the most interesting piece you've ever tried to locate?
I'm not sure if there is just one. Right now I'm trying to find a gently worn Hermes Collier de Chien bracelet for someone. One of my favorite pieces is what started my serious interest in vintage. I had purchased a Gaultier dress that I found at a thrift shop for $40, never ended up wearing for Halloween, and sold it at auction for the equivalent of $1,000!

What do you typically find when you visit closets in Paris?
Lots of Hermes and Chanel of course!

Do you find "American closets" to be different than "French closets"?
Americans buy more and tend to not keep their items very long. There is a lot of impulse buying so I see a lot of items that have never been worn and may still even have the tags.

If you weren't doing this, what would you be doing?
I think that I've found or at least created my dream job but love so many things. I would love to work at an auction house and learn more about art and antiques on a professional level.

What are your favorite haunts in Paris?
Hotel Duorot is always fun. It's like a giant but expensive yard sale everyday!

What do you not like about living in Paris?
Taxes! It is hard for anyone to be an entrepreneur here.

If you left Paris, what would you miss the most?
I feel like I'm finally just getting settled here so can't imagine leaving or what I might miss.

Visit Jeanne's website today for more information, and stay tuned: Prissy Mag will offer a free give away soon and Jeanne will might be able to visit your closet!

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