Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY LISA RICHOV/ELEVIN STUDIOS (STORE) L ike scores of great success stories, Elie Tahari's career started out courtesy of a mistake. Newly arrived in New York, Tahari says he was quickly seduced by the adventurous spirit of '70s fashion: "Women felt liberated and were not afraid to show a little skin," he says. One day the 21-year-old Tahari stumbled upon a gross of stretch-fabric tube tops, a man- ufacturing error that had been unloaded on a boutique for a rock-bottom price. "I bought a pile of them for $2 apiece and resold them for $4," Tahari recalls. His method? "I snuck into a trade show with my bag of tubes, no cre- dentials, and pictures showing how to wear them. By the end of the day, I had thousands of orders. That was the beginning of my wholesale career." Four decades later, Tahari's oeu- vre has moved into original designs that highlight his refined modernist aesthetic, which you'll find everywhere from Saks Fifth Avenue to Nordstrom to his 10 US boutiques, including a This Is 40 BOSTONIANS LOVE ELIE TAHARI'S CLASSICMEETSMODERNIST DESIGNS. HERE, HE TALKS ABOUT HOW HE GOT HIS START, HIS ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION, AND THE POPULARITY OF HIS COPLEY PLACE BOUTIQUE. BY LAURIE BROOKINS STYLE SETTER FROM LEFT: Lexington dress, $398; Elie Tahari's 2,600-square- foot space in Copley Place is one of his most successful boutiques. high-profile spot at Copley Place. The 2,600-square-foot space, designed by architect Piero Lissoni, opened in 2006 and is among his most successful. "Like the New York woman, the Boston customer is looking not only for style but convenience," Tahari notes. For Spring 2014, Tahari was inspired by the architecture of the Brazilian capital city of BrasÃlia. Tahari says the collection "brings together elements of sport with futuristic components." Meanwhile, the designer is celebrat- ing his 40th anniversary with Elie Tahari Edition 1974, a 20 -piece capsule collection featuring updates of signature pieces from the label's archives. "I named each piece from the collection after an iconic New York land- mark," he says. Also new for spring: an eyewear collection, sunglasses, and optical pieces. His spring men's collection is crafted in a palette of cool blues and grays with a hint of teal, as Tahari embraces the trend of inject- ing more color into menswear. At press time Tahari was planning a tour of his boutiques for his 40th- anniversary celebration; Boston is high on his list, and he cannot wait to interact with his clients. Tahari says it's that communication and feedback that continues to drive and energize him. "I am so humbled and forever grateful to my customers, who have helped turn my dreams into a reality." Copley Place, 617-536-5851; elietahari.com BC BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 79 078-079_BC_ST_TasteMaker_Spring14.indd 79 2/7/14 12:18 PM