Vintage Fashion

"I'm feeling 90's conceptual grungy punk grandma at the moment," reveals Masha Orlov as she scans the clothing rack in her living room. This may sound somewhat A-D-Disorderly and unpractical to some of you but it is just the kind of existential phase one can expect from a colorful girl like Masha. "This here is just what I got in Europe this past month," she reflects with a hint of excitement. "I bought so much stuff. By the time I got to Italy I didn't dare to go shopping anymore. My suitcases were so full I didn't even go to the flea market!" Like most stylists, Masha Orlov is a die hard shopper and she loves vintage. When I look around her apartment there are bags and boxes and towers of clothing everywhere. But her passion is not just a random obsession. Every season she undertakes a focused mission to find her new staple coat, hat, glasses and shoes and adds on to her finely edited collection of Comme des Garcons, Junya Watanabe and Christian Lacroix. When winter descends upon New York, her summer clothes are stored in the basement. And a new Masha begins to occupy the Upper West side apartment.

When I meet Masha she is just getting over a cold. Her place smells like garlic, but in a good way. "When I heard you guys were coming over I stuffed myself with garlic all weekend." I am accompanied by a team of three from Stylecaster.com, a wildly popular on-line magazine run by Emily Finkbinder, formerly of Interview Magazine. A photographer is taking (these amazing!) photos and an editor is leading our interview. We don't mind the smell. We are too wrapped up in Masha's World, where the wall art is funny and the pillows are embroidered.

Russian jaquard coat, the Russian tag intact.
"A lot of my world is marked by Russian influences. My mom lives in New Jersey and we go shopping all the time.
Her style is more classic and timeless than mine."

Cobalt blue, perforated two-piece suede Thierry Mugler suit she found in Paris.
"This is exactly how I wore it to my friend's birthday party last week."

Issey Miyake wool cardigan with suspender closure, Andre Walker lavender dress, 1950's glasses.
When I tell her I've never heard of Andre Walker, she has a mini fit. "Andre Walker is one of the reasons for moving to Paris. He had a big moment in the 80's and was part of the Warhol Diaries".

Masha is wearing her "new coat for this winter", faux leopard fur and prune 1950's lace dress, "which fits like a Jil Sander dress". I am wearing a Zac Posen fur, vintage Pucci skirt and Viarnet ski "technicolor" sunglasses.

Lacroix trench, felt hat and purse from Mexico City.
Masha went to shoot a movie in Mexico City this summer. There were over 100 characters to style for all the scenes!
She had clothes sent from designers in New York, went to the actors' closets to sample their own clothing, pulled clothes from costume studios in Mexico and rummaged flea markets.
"Mexico City is a great place to shop. This cow skin bag was super cheap. I replaced the leather straps with metal chains that ended up costing more than the bag!"