A -Archive

A = Archive

Rebecca Pietri, here to share tales of my adventures in the fashion closet at Condé Nast. The photo shoots were like rotating museum exhibitions, with each moment capturing a different designer and in-demand item. It was like a treasure trove of inspiration and where I honed my skills as a discerning storyteller.

But let me tell you, these closets were far from the glitzy and glamorous ones featured in "The Devil Wears Prada." Think of it as a room lit by the brilliant mind of Stanley Kubrick, but with no windows, just couture and sequins strewn about the floor. It was a humble and unassuming abode, with a makeshift desk, a filing cabinet, and a phone. And if you were lucky enough to have the key to the door, well then, you truly were the queen of the kingdom. And yours truly was the key master, always ready to open up the closet to the world.

Back in those days, before the internet was a thing, we had to rely on good old paper and a photographic memory. I created my own Dewey Decimal system and had to know the when, how, and what of every garment before it was selected for an editorial. It was a demanding job, requiring a level of fastidiousness rivaling Felix Unger of "The Odd Couple" TV show.

There was a pecking order at Condé Nast, with some editors being more fashionable than others. There was competition for access to the hottest designers and garments, and designated racks for each editor. The stakes were high, as a missing or damaged item could spell disaster.

But once the closet was organized, it was a thing of beauty, revealing the fashion stories and connections between collections and capturing the zeitgeist of the time. Great fashion editors are like artists, and their selections embody their style and the vision of the publication.

As the closet girl, my job was to keep the closet organized, but I was always ready to be a treasure map for the editors. And let me share a little secret: I was the bouncer at the door, guarding the treasures within, just like a teenage Gap employee protecting the perfectly folded sweats 10 minutes before closing. If you needed assistance, you better ask!

But alas, there was no shopping in the closet, only designated racks for each editor. Shopping meant browsing the racks for your next look, a privilege reserved for the most established editors. There were tales of envy, shenanigans, and even borrowed items, but a great closet girl is hard to keep.

Fast forward to today, and the closet has grown bigger, but the spirit remains the same. My clients now have multiple closets and storage spaces, making every photo shoot, video, Instagram post, and life event a potential fashion editorial.

As a BiPoc storyteller and creative visual strategist, I bring my expertise in vernacular styling to the forefront, creating personal and historical narratives that are steeped in care and sustainability. So, if you're looking to collaborate or just want to grab a cup of coffee, reach out to me at [email protected].