It’s that time of year to go shopping and quite frankly, you don’t want to buy what everyone else is buying. How boring to be giving the things seen in all stores.
Instead you can shop the “European experience” of ViaMarisNYC.com which is an online store based out of NYC that presents a highly curated European shopping experience that offers a truly international experience with very little in the way of merchandise that is from the US.
Veronique Marin created this online shopping mecca to reflect her international tastes and share some of her favorite things (and soon to be your favorite things) with people here in the US as well as abroad. There is an earlier post about this wonderous online store HERE
LA-Story.com was able to snag some time from Veronique for an interview. This interview has been broken up into 2 parts because it’s a bit long. You will see items carried in her store featured as breaks and they will be hyperlinked.
LA-Story.com:
You are obviously a world traveler and having come from France and based now in NYC, what are your top 3 favorite places to go visit?
ViaMarisNYC.com:
1)Rajasthan region in India, the palaces, the clothes, the jewelry, the Taj Mahal, the Wind Palace,
2)The “Calanques” in Marseilles”, to swim or have lunch at le Belge, because there are no hotels, no roads, you just have to walk there.
3)The mountains of Switzerland overlooking their lakes
4) Alex Vervoordt’s residences, the Castle of ‘s-Gravenwezel outside of Antwerp and also his new palazzo in Venice. C’est magnifique. See his book “Timeless Interiors“.
LA-Story.com: Most items in your online specialty showroom are from very diverse countries. Is there a thread that ties everything together when you “buy” for that store?
Veronique Marin:
Not a thread between them but “one” good reason for me to buy it, like Chris&Tibor leather bags are perfectly crafted and feather light which is #1 for travelers. (How many women end the day giving up their bag to their man to carry?).
Chris&Tibor Prairie Leather Bag (note the delcious pintucking)
LA-Storycom: What is it about an item that catches your eye?
Veronique Marin: Quality and uniqueness
LA-Story.com: How do you gauge the unique aspects of an item/clothing/accessories to fit in with the mix of what you are selling?
Veronique Marin:
Some clothing or jewelry are “statement” pieces. As a traveler, I am not carrying a lot of luggage but I have several big necklaces which are going to dress my jeans and white pressed shirt or little black dress. Or it will be a cocktail coat which is enough by itself and keep you warm in freezing museum galas, openings or concerts in churches in Paris.
cocktail coat.
For the cotton, it is the hand-spun, hand-woven, super-soft and precious quality of Khadi & Co collection: true quiet luxury.
Khadi Kurta dress — and there is so much more from this designer!
For Anne-Laure Frizot jewelry, it is the craft and idea that she had of pearl embroidery fixed on epoxy and dangling on an invisible thread. Her silver closure is trademarked, and really easy to use. The Epoc necklace is jaw dropping
Epoc Necklace by Anne-Laure Frizot
and the “neck-tie necklace” is fabulous on a white long kurta in summer or a long black dress in winter. I love the Judith necklaces, the spider is awesome on a décolleté with its big diamond…. I love them all.
LA-Story.com: When did ViaMarisNYC.com officially come into being?
Veronique Marin: The site went live late November of 2007
LA-Story.com: How did you get the idea to create such a unique online store?
Veronique Marin:
I remember reading about how people get fed up of globalization and, like me, were in search of the unusual in a world that is becoming increasingly and frighteningly homogenized. You know, ideas like the “it bag” which everyone knows is passé and replaced one month later. Some customers felt they were taken for a ride: (the question)about what to wear, what to look like, extra thinness, looking like so and so just thought I will go off the beaten path and offer eclectic, fun, unusual things.
LA-Story.com : How often do you go on “buying” trips to find things to fill your store?
Veronique Marin:
All the time, I cross the pond nearly every month and wherever I go, I look: Paris, Brussels, Barcelona, Zurich. Last weekend, I met a goldsmith from Vienna (Austria) and thought I would show some of his handcrafted pieces: keepsake mini Christmas trees in sterling silver. One even has a little 18k gold star on top..
LA-Story.com As a little girl, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Veronique Marin:
Nothing in particular except I remember wanting already to be an adult at age 11.
LA-Story.com Have you accomplished that dream and how has it changed?
Veronique Marin:
I have always been curious and did not hesitate to change places and try new avenues. I studied and started in finance, then, I had an encounter with the world of essential oils and aromatherapy. I was offered the challenge to create new fragrances for “Calypso St Barth” and got to work with talented perfumers.
Life is beautiful but short. I believe in opportunities. Just look and listen. It can be scary to change but then it become fun and addictive. In life every minute counts– made of “little” moments and “big” events. I love friends and family moments (watch the mini video posted on ViaMarisNYC Facebook page). My family and I gather every summer -and every Christmas- around my parents in France like an old clan. It is my anchor especially since I live abroad.
LA-Story.com : You are based in NYC… what is it about the city that keeps you there?
Veronique Marin:
I have lived in Paris, then NYC, then Paris again but NYC is my town. I love the hustle bustle the energy the clear sky. Every time riding from the airport and seeing Manhattan skyline makes my heart sink.
LA-Story.com What are your favorite things that you take with you when you travel?
Veronique Marin:
Not much these days, since I don’t like to wait for my luggage. ( I pack) white tees, one jean, one black pant, 3-4 necklaces, 1-2 scarves, one tailored jacket, low ankle riding boots and pumps.
(The ultimate packing light person. I need to take lessons from Veronique…. Stevie )
LA-Story.com When you return home, what do you do to decompress and relax?
Veronique Marin: When I arrive in France, my father makes sure that I have speciales #3 oysters from Oleron and chilled champagne.
This is the perfect place to stop for part 1 of this interview. Veronique Marin’s “part 2” of the interview will show up next week! Please stay tuned for that .
There was recently a piece done featuring ViaMarisNYC.com on Time Out New York
Do check out her store www.viamarisnyc.com — it’s incredibly addictive and I have my eye on a couple of pieces of jewelry as well as some other things.
Stevie Wilson
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