Butik: Helena Christensen, Model Shopgirl
By Lauren David Peden
Fashion Wire Daily - New York - "My [business partner] Leif Sigersen and I became friends via our love and respect for vintage and antiques many years ago, and along the way we started toying with the idea of opening something together," Helena Christensen told Fashion Wire Daily of her latest career coup (she's also a successful model and photographer, and is creative director of Nylon magazine). Standing behind the counter of her charming brick-walled West Village oasis, Butik with her adorable five-year-old son Mingus by her side, the droll, low-key Christensen showed off the wares that she and Sigersen, a floral and interior designer who owned a similar shop in Copenhagen for fifteen years, have chosen with what can only be described as tender loving care."There are a lot of very personal, very specific objects," Christensen explained of the wonderfully eclectic - we would even say eccentric - new and vintage mix, which range from old metal garden chairs ($185 each or $1000 for a set of eight) to vintage linens (including never-used dish towels from the Swedish Army, $14), Summerbird chocolates, candles, soaps and sundries. There's also clothing and accessories culled from some of Denmark's best-known fashion designers, many of whom work only with vintage fabrics, in keeping with the duo's appreciation of unique or one-of-a-kind pieces that have been well-worn and well-loved.These include a sweet round-collared pink polka dot blouse with buttoned waistband from Pferdgarten ($220), soft striped long sleeved t-shirts - some plain, others with red banding around the neckline - from Mads Norgaard ($68 to $85), Ruzou's stunning green velvet leather-handled shoulder bag with beaded flowers ($280), and similarly old-is-new fashions from Ennik Vibskov and Stella Nova, among others.While we were browsing, Christensen's friend Michael Stipe - who had also graced the store's launch party a few nights earlier - dropped by and dropped bucks on table linens and super-cool spats by Bark, which come in solid and two-tone hues ($80)."We really look for things that have a very interesting history or that you will not be able to find anywhere else," Christensen said. "This is a place for curious people - people who love spending time looking for a particular special little object they won't be able to find anywhere else."That includes bespoke bouquets and flower arrangements, which Sigersen hopes to begin doing in a few weeks' time for individuals and events, once they've got a bit more experience running their new venture.Sigersen's design ethos can be felt in the wonderfully shabby chic decor, be it the old dressmaker's dummies, the distressed wooden tables, the purposefully haphazard wall racks strung with clothes on wire hangers, or a threadbare ivory settee the pair encourage visitors to graffiti."I already saw something I want!" a guest named Julie had scrawled in black magic marker on the welcomingly worn sofa.As had we. Which made FWD the first sale Christensen had to ring up on the credit card machine. After she erroneously calculated our sales tax at $3,008 (yikes!), Sigersen took over and walked the model-turned-cashier through the process, watching carefully as she tallied and wrapped our purchase."I'd better do this right or Leif will fire me!" Christensen mock wailed. Good thing she has something to fall back on.
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