Nicole Rae Styer — Q and A
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
The 20-minute interview — Nicole Rae Styer.
Nicole Ray Styer (right) with fashion partner Kera Anderson
Nicole Rae Styer runs a vintage clothing boutique on East Passyunk Avenue and has created a separate line of luxury clothing, K. Nicole, that she showed at New York's Fashion Week about a month ago. The UArts grad chatted with City Paper about why she opened the clothing shop, her family's takeover of the Avenue and the one thing she really dislikes about Philly fashion. Here is an edited version of that conversation.
City Paper: Describe your store. What do you sell here?
Nicole Rae Styer: It's all one-of-a-kind items. I really like to take the vintage base and reconstruct it.
CP: Who is your clientele?
NRS: It really ranges, from young high school to cool, trendy 50s, 60s ladies. I do a lot of custom work — my clients bring in items that they like and I embellish it. And I do a lot of weddings.
CP: Do they come in with something borrowed and something blue?
NRS: [Laughing] No! They are a little funkier than that.
CP: So, I heard you went to Fashion Week?
NRS: Yeah, that was another crazy thing. K. Nicole — I have a separate line from the store, and my partner for K. Nicole [Kera Anderson] was a customer here and I would do custom work for her — like crazy, cool pieces for events — and she got [a lot of] good feedback. So we were like, "All right. Let's do something together." And all of a sudden we were showing during Fashion Week three seasons ago. That showroom studio is in Northern Liberties. I just showed for spring 2015 in New York four weeks ago. It's very different from this store. It's more expensive, luxury brand than the vintage-y stuff here.
CP: I know nothing about fashion — Fashion Week is a big deal?
NRS: Yeah, it's like the Grammys for fashion. We had an awesome turnout, packed house at Pier 59 — this awesome, cool space in Chelsea.
CP: How does Philly compare to your New York/L.A./London fashion scene?
NRS: Well ... umm ....
CP: You're trying to be diplomatic with this answer, aren't you?
NRS: I love Philly so much. It's small, and I think it's pretty supportive of the small, independent boutiques and designers. But, like New York? ... I don't think you can compare it. It's just a different game altogether. But I love Philly, that's why I'm here and why I haven't moved.
CP: Why open up a shop on East Passyunk?
NRS: My brother has Fond [restaurant], down the street, and he opened up two years before I opened up my boutique. He knew I was outgrowing my studio in my house, and I guess I always listen to my brother. So I was like, "Yeah, why not?"
CP: So East Passyunk is Styer territory, huh?
NRS: Yeah! And my sister-in-law, his wife, also has a bakery another block up, Belle Cakery.
CP: Any grand plans for the future?
NRS: I guess just keep on doing what I'm doing, and getting better every time. The K. Nicole thing is really taking off, so I really just have to balance both of them, which is kind of crazy. But everything in here I make by myself. Interns here and there, but I like working for myself.
CP: What's the one thing you dislike about
Philly fashion?
NRS: Well, this isn't just Philly, but wearing pajamas out. I don't think people care as much as they used to. Now it's UGGs and pajamas.
CP: I'm so glad I didn't wear my UGGs and PJs. That would have been awkward.
