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Marci Hirshleifer - Global Personal Shopping Director/Women's Buyer, Hirshleifers
00:30:26
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- [00:00]
A
We have people that shop from all over the world that come in and you know Hirschleifers is a destination. So we have something for everyone. Always.
- [00:11]
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What's going on, everybody? And welcome to Collector's Gene Radio. This is all about diving into the nuances of collecting and ultimately finding out whether or not our guests have what we like to call the Collector's Gene. If you have the time, please subscribe and leave a review. It truly helps. Thanks a bunch for listening and please enjoy today's guest Uncle Collector's Dream Radio when it comes to collecting, few people do it with the same passion, precision and pure joy as Marcie Hirschleifer. As a key force behind the legendary luxury retailer Hirschleifers, she's not just curating for the store, she's curating for herself. From an ever expanding rainbow of Chanel flatbags to vintage and modern Hermes Kellys and Birkins that have been worn in just right, her collection is both deeply personal and endlessly aspirational. But Marcie isn't just about amassing things, she's about using them. In a world where collectors often keep pieces locked away, she believes that luxury is meant to be lived in bags inside of bags, jewelry stacked to perfection, charms that make every single piece feel like hers. Marcy's effortless maximalism has become its own form of influence, inspiring collectors around the world to embrace their own styles. Boldly, of course, collecting is in her DNA. Hirschleifers has been setting the standard in luxury retail for over a century, and while her mother and aunts didn't always see themselves taking over the family business, for Marcy the pull was undeniable. A big reason for that her aunt, Lori Hershleifer, who has been a guest on this very show, was more than just family. She was a mentor, a style icon, and a major influence on the way Marcy collects. The two share a love for the hunt, an appreciation for both the new and the storied, and a philosophy that true luxury is about confidence and self expression. Now, as the head of personal shopping and a driving force behind the women's buying team, Marcy's in a unique position, balancing her own collector's eye with the ever evolving tastes of the clients that she styles. Today, we're diving into the mindset of a true collector. What makes a piece worthy of her collection, the thrill of the hunt, and why some of the most valuable things are the ones that get used and abused the most. Let's get into it. This is Marcy Hershleifer for Collector's Gene Radio. Marcie Hirschleifer, welcome to Collector's Dream Radio.
- [02:27]
A
Hi, how are you? Thanks for having me.
- [02:29]
B
It's my pleasure. I'm so excited to have you on, and I don't think that you or Hirschleifers will be a stranger to the audience here at all. So let's dive right in because the Internet, I would say, lives to see what you and Lori have on each day, from the fit to the bags inside of bags and the jewelry stacks. So let's hear what. What you're rocking today.
- [02:47]
A
So I'm working from home today, so it's a little casual, but I'm wearing an old Celine sweater cardigan, and I have on all of my most favorite jewels from uniform objects. Horse and boots, Darius, Jenna Blake, Sophie, Billy Bray, Shambhala, Nadine Gosin. A little bit of everything.
- [03:10]
B
Amazing. Basically, a little sample of everything at Hirsch Leibers.
- [03:15]
A
Exactly. Little sample.
- [03:18]
B
And it's no secret that, you know, Hirschleifers has been in business for over 100 years. But what I find interesting about this story is that your mom and her two sisters weren't necessarily sure about taking over the family business, and it wasn't always in the plan. So I'm curious to know for you, since you're the next generation, was it a no brainer for you or did it take some time to come around to that?
- [03:40]
A
So I think it was a no brainer for me. Like, in the back of my head, I knew eventually it would end up here, but it was really important for me and for my grandparents to know that I learned from other people. And, you know, I started doing wholesale first, which I definitely learned. I did not want to be on that side. And then I worked in a few retail stores. I worked in Henry Bendell's, I worked at Intermix, Searle. So I kind of dabbled in all different places and tried everything out before I came in. And then when I did come in, I learned everything. I wanted to know how to do everything from the receiving department to cashiering. Really learning it all.
- [04:30]
B
You and Laurie are one in the same. And while she's your aunt, I think it's the effortless maximalism, I would say that you two exude that I think gives a lot of people around the globe that follow you the confidence to do the same. Right. I don't think anyone besides you and Lori have this maximalist attitude towards all the things that you love. And I'm curious to know, did you kind of always look up to Lori growing up as a family member that was also kind of a style icon for you, maybe.
- [05:00]
A
Yeah, definitely. Always looked up to her. Learned all about buying from her. From a young age, we've been very close and remain really close, which is why everyone thinks we're sisters. We call each other best friends, we talk numerous times a day, we travel together, we go out together. But yeah, I definitely learned a lot from her and continue to. So it's, you know, it's amazing. It's great and very lucky and it's a special relationship that we have.
- [05:31]
B
And it's no doubt that you two love to collect the same stuff. I mean, I'm pretty sure the same stack that you just told me you had on was the same stack that she had on when I interviewed her. And I'm curious to know at what age, you know, collecting really started for you and where did you start?
- [05:48]
A
So I've always loved, you know, collecting. I mean, my grandmother used to hand me down things. Lori would hand me down things. My mom would, you know, whether it be this amazing, like, leather Chanel, I don't even know. It's not a handbag. It's. You could either put your cosmetics in it. I have like some old jewelry that I keep in it, but my grandmother gave me that. And, you know, then I was like, this is really cool. It's vintage. I'm going to start collecting. So I love collecting vintage Chanel. I love collecting Hermes, as, you know.
- [06:23]
B
Yes.
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A
Whether it be new or vintage, just always on the lookout for, you know, something new and cool. And the chase is probably the best part, trying to find it.
- [06:37]
B
And I think the idea of passing that kind of stuff down is such an interesting concept because it's not very often that you're getting tossed, you know, vintage Chanel bags and cosmetic bags and all that sort of stuff. But I would have to assume that, you know, you grasped onto Chanel pretty early on. And I know that it's, you know, not only a brand that's near and dear to you, but to Hirschleifers as a business because you guys have the only non Chanel owned boutique. And I think there's something to be said about that. But what is it about Chanel that you love so much? Because obviously it's such a storied brand and a lot of people love Chanel. But I really feel that, that you and Lori are such walking examples of, of what Chanel is all about.
- [07:22]
A
I mean, it's, it's the way the product's made. It is timeless. Like, really, really timeless. I think a lot of people hear Chanel or, you know, think Chanel, and they think of tweed jackets and they're like, I'm too old. I'm too young for that. I can't wear that. But it's just the beauty of being able to wear it and mixing it with a jean or, you know, not being in head to toe Chanel. Right. It's. Or if you are maybe doing it from all different seasons and putting vintage with new. I mean, some of my most favorite pieces are very old, vintage pieces that, you know, you still take out from time to time and you wear. And I can't say that there's a lot of collections that you can actually do that with. So that's a huge bonus in my eyes with Chanel.
- [08:13]
B
Well, and your collection's pretty incredible. So let's start with the bags. And I know that the flap bags are something that you covet, but let's go through it all.
- [08:21]
A
So I have always loved the classic flap. To me, it's just so chic, timeless. The colors, the leather, it always looks good. It can never look bad on anyone. So. So I do collect those, and I have an array, or I should say a rainbow of colors at the moment, and they always come out with new iterations, whether it be a tweed or jersey fabric, two tone. So those are fantastic and look amazing. In my closet, I love my Cuba bag that I have. It says Coco Cuba, and it's from the Cuba collection, which was a great collection. And, you know, the. What was it? The Airport collection? I think it was. Or maybe it was called. I think it was the Airport collection. It was so cool and just really amazing pieces. Carl was truly beyond incredible. Really incredible.
- [09:28]
B
And like you said, you've kind of been building this. This rainbow of. Of the classic flat bags for years. Has there been a color or a new material that they came out with that was maybe the hardest to track down? And is there something that's maybe still missing from your collection?
- [09:42]
A
Well, you can always get more. You can always add more. Never anything, you know, missing. Yes, but, you know, they always get. The best part is to have to continuously want and look for. So the hunt is always on. But I think, like, the olive green colorway was very hard to get. I don't know why, but they're not all over the place. So, you know, we may get two or three of them, and, you know, that's it. So that's also the beauty of it. You're not going to see yourself coming and going. But there was a patent leather One that actually Lori has, that was signed by Inside. That's such a collector's piece. It's unbelievable. So that's definitely one to look for.
- [10:28]
B
You could just swap it out once in a while for something else.
- [10:32]
A
Yeah, exactly. Let me borrow it.
- [10:33]
B
Yeah, exactly. And I think, you know, another interesting side of Chanel are kind of these different shape bags, right? There's some, some spherical shapes. There's even the, the new. Maybe they're micro or I don't even know what size you would call it, but they're so tiny. And it's the classic Chanel quilt and it' got a little handle on it and it's maybe the size of a piece of white bread. I mean, that I kind of see all over the place now. And there's so many different areas that you can go in. Is that kind of part of why also Chanel is maybe so collectible, is that it's, it's, it's kind of always giving and, and there's always something to look forward to.
- [11:12]
A
Yeah, absolutely. You never know what's going to be next. And there's always a new, exciting bad, whether it be, you know, the classic or the 19, and then it was the 22, and now it's, I think it's called the 25, you know, and it starts at one size and then, you know, it could be in like a jumbo or a mini or a micro. So they're ahead of everything and they're always thinking, obviously, and they're incredibly creative and it's always leaving the clients wanting more and, you know, having to find it and having to get it. The bag you were talking about, I think it's adorable. It's tiny, it doesn't fit a phone, which is everybody's biggest question, but it's like a piece of jewelry. You put it on, you wear it with another bag and, you know, it adds another element to your outfit.
- [12:06]
B
You know, something that's so interesting about Hirschleifers is that, and what makes you different than any other department store in the world is that you guys do have relationships with all the brands that you carry, right? The Chrome Hearts team, the Horse and Boost team. I mean, you guys are, are friends with all these, you know, business owners and the marketing folks and, and, and the creatives behind the, all these brands. And you, and you guys believe in the brands too. It's not, you're not just carrying these brands to sell them and, and make money. It's, it's a, it's a mutual thing, right?
- [12:36]
A
Absolutely. And the relationships, they come natural after a point of time. And the Starks, we've been, you know, in a relationship with them forever for years and years. And Lori and David, I, I don't, you know, I don't even remember when Chrome Hearts actually came to the store, but we're incredibly lucky to have it. They're an amazing family as well, and we continue that relationship as well. And most of the collections that we carry in the store, we have wonderful relationships with either the designer, the team, any of them.
- [13:09]
B
Let's talk about Hermes for a second because it's another passion of yours, especially vintage Kelly bags. But you also love the new ones too. And I'm curious to know from you what makes a broken in Kelly just that much more special?
- [13:22]
A
You know, I don't even know. I just love the way a box Kelly box leather looks like broken in and worn. It's, you know, like you would see Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen having wearing them. And, you know, it's completely, completely beat up, but it looks so good, right? And just makes you want it that much more when you see it that way.
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B
Would you say you lean more towards something new versus vintage because you really collect on both ends of the spectrum pretty heavily?
- [13:52]
A
Yeah, I think for Birkins, I, this might sound weird, but I prefer a Birkin new, not used. And the Kelly's, I mean, of course, don't get me wrong, you know, there's. I would never really say no to a new one, but I just, the, the vintage ones, maybe the vintage colors are call my. More.
- [14:16]
B
I would love to get your opinion on something because obviously the Kellys and the Birkins have become some of the most collectible items in the world. I mean, it's, it's such a frenzy, people trying to get them and, and I understand why. I mean, it really does all make sense to me. But a lot of times, you know, folks will get offered maybe a really odd color as their first piece because they want, you know, maybe the brand wants to see how loyal they'll be or if they're willing to purchase something, or maybe that's just what they get. But what's your take on, you know, if you get an acquisition offer for something like a Birkin or a Kelly, but it's really not the one that you want, but you do want to start that relationship. What's kind of the method to the madness there?
- [14:53]
A
You know, actually someone was telling me that they have a new relationship and they've been offered like three, three or four and they keep turning them down. And I. I think to myself, like, well, that definitely can't be good or look good. And to me, I don't know. I don't really think I've ever. I have not said no, actually. I take that back. We have said no. We were lucky enough to get an appointment in Paris a few years ago, and my mom. We had actually brought my mom along for the trip. It was over the summer. We had an appointment, and he said to us, give us a list. And Lori and I are like, show us anything. We're not picky. We'd be happy with really anything. But he actually came out and he showed us a Constance in a very large size. And it was. I think it was an E. Taupe color leather, which was not for either of us. And we actually had to pass it up and say no. So, you know, I don't know if I would do that here in New York, but I. You know, I don't live in Paris, so I think it was okay that. That we did it there. But I don't. I don't necessarily think it's the best practice to do that. But at the end of the day, you're spending this money and, you know, you want to love it, and it's your first one, and it's going to be, you know, such a special memory for you. It would be terrible to not love it for sure. It's a hard question.
- [16:21]
B
It is. It is.
- [16:22]
A
Well, it's.
- [16:23]
B
You know, I think it's something that a lot of people, like you said, I mean, you even have experienced it with people, you know, they make it something offered in a weird shade of green or something that they're really not comfortable with. But it's like, how do you say no? And I find that happening with a lot of these luxury collectibles. But I want to talk about something that I feel like if you have the last name Hirschleifer, you can't have it unless you're putting bags inside of bags. And I would love to know how you organize your everyday carry, because I would have to imagine it's quite the process to unload all the pouches into new ones every day with all the things that you carry.
- [16:58]
A
So I've always been extremely organized my whole life. At a young age, I would always have little sections, whether it be for my gum or my keys or my lip gloss or Tylenol. So it is fun to organize them. And I like to change it up because, you know, I like to see different things in my Bag. But when I decide on whatever bag I'm going to be using, I make sure that I have all the pouches that I need, whether it be, you know, phone chargers in one, candy or gum in one, lipstick, money. So everything has its place. And it's fun to change up the pouches and mix them up. So it's always something different in there.
- [17:40]
B
You almost just need multiples of everything and that just. That are just ready to go in the pouches.
- [17:45]
A
You're right. That's a good one. You have one of those for travel, actually. It's all ready to go.
- [17:51]
B
Right. So let's talk about something that we mentioned earlier, which is the bag charms. They're a dime a dozen. You could go whichever way you want. Hermes, Loewe, Prada. Do you view these as something that you actively collect, or are they more of a way to personalize the things that you do collect?
- [18:08]
A
I honestly think both. I think that when there are so many choices. For example, you mentioned Loewe, like, there are so many, whether it be a panda, a corgi, there's so many different ones to choose from. So you, you know, basically personalizing and making it more of your own when you pick the specific charm, you know. And now Miu Miu has a lot of new ones, whether it be a mini handbag, a skirt, a sweatshirt, a leather jacket. They're fantastic. I hope it's a growing craze and I hope it continues because it's really fun and it makes your bags always look different.
- [18:49]
B
And I would have to imagine that there's probably some pretty rare bag charms. I mean, are there any that you covet that you know exist?
- [18:56]
A
Yeah, there's definitely a few Hermes ones that I've had my eye out for. You just have got to find the right colorway, and once you find it, you get it right away.
- [19:06]
B
Yeah, those are probably easy to. To turn down if it's not the right colorway. A little different than a Birkin.
- [19:12]
A
Yeah, absolutely.
- [19:15]
B
How much planning would you say goes into what you wear and carry every day? I mean, I know you're an organized person, like you said, but your collections are so vast and so diverse. Is it a big decision every day?
- [19:27]
A
It really depends on my mood. And I mean, a little bit of the weather, but it's really my mood and kind of also what the day is going to be. If it's a day that Lori and I are sitting in her office side by side, writing orders, which seems like that's never ending, you know, it. I Could I usually start with a pant and it could be much more casual and relaxed and you know, I'm not going to be on the floor, so I don't really, not that I don't care, but you know, I just want to be more comfortable. If it's a day that we're having a show or I'm going to be on the floor, I have clients to meet. I definitely will think about it and feel, you know, feel out what mood I'm in and how I want to dress. But you know, putting things together is definitely a fun thing to do and makes it easier for me to put, you know, clients together when they come in.
- [20:20]
B
So I asked you to tell me about your jewelry stack and it's another big thing and part of what you collect and as part of the buying team. You know, with Lori, I think jewelry is such a big part of her Slifers that in my opinion, it's almost like it may not, you know, numbers wise make up half the sales. But to me it's like half of what you guys do is about the jewelry because I think that that's what people besides your bags look to see what you're wearing every day. And you know, Lori has her staples. What are your staples? Is it also chrome hearts every day? You know, is it horse and booze every day? What are we talking about?
- [20:55]
A
So my staples that never come off my wrist, I have a mix of them, but it's from horse and boost to Shambhala. Uniform objects. Nadine, I mean, they just, they never come off my wrist and I never. I wear my M from Sophie Billy Bray every day on my finger. And then I have two necklaces that I never take off either, actually three that I never take off. So there are staples. And then, you know, it's about building from that, it's adding on.
- [21:25]
B
I love what Nadine does and she's a previous guest on the show here. And I just find that everything that she does is so fun. You can't be mad at it. It always puts a smile on your face. And I find it to be, as a collector for you, probably so rewarding because I think it checks a lot of boxes as to what you maybe look for in collecting jewelry.
- [21:47]
A
Yeah, I mean, she's fantastic. We had her collection years and years ago and we still communicate with her, still talk to her. We've been stalking her actually lately. Something in the store which would be incredible. But her stuff is fantastic. It's different, it's fun, it's special, it's made beautifully and it's not all over the place, which is a huge plus. It's really hard to, you know, find collections that you love that are so meaningful and mean something and, you know, are different from everybody else because, you know, sometimes people or collections, everything starts to look the same and hers definitely stands out. So it's very cool.
- [22:34]
B
And I would have to imagine that a lot of jewelry brands reach out to her ciphers to be put into the store on the website, whatever it may be. How do you guys choose what makes its way into the showcases? Because I know you obviously have to be diplomatic as business owners, but you also want to put as much great stuff out as you can.
- [22:53]
A
Yeah, I think, you know, of course, not everything is for everyone. Right? So, you know, you have to think of your clients first and what you either see your clients wanting what they've asked for, but I also think it needs to talk to us a little bit and it needs to be special and it needs to make sense in our store. We're not just going to put anything in the cases, of course, we have to feel a special way about it and, you know, love how it's made. And we're actually always looking for new. Always, always, always. But the collections we carry and that we have, we all feel really strongly about them. So that's something really important to think about when we are buying a collection.
- [23:36]
B
Let's talk about dealing with clients for a little bit, because that's a big part of what you do. You run the personal shopping and VIP team and obviously you tackle women's buying with Lori. It's clear that you two are so individualistic and you're trendsetters and you guys are great collectors, but that's gotta be a really tough push and pull as a collector yourself and working with clients in a business where you have to stay on top of trends with what you're buying. Right. But you and Lori typically are not going with the trends. You guys go your own way. And as a collector and a buyer and head of personal shopping, I'm curious to know how you balance that of you want to buy stuff that all your clients are going to want, but you also want to be unique.
- [24:19]
A
So you always have to buy what the trends are going to be. And Lori and I, I can't speak for Lori, but, I mean, I'm pretty positive that you wear what you love, what feels good and what makes you feel good. Even if we're buying something that is very trendy, you know, we may not wear it the same way that everybody else is going to wear it. So when we are buying collections, there's plenty of collections or, you know, styles from each collection that are things that we necessarily would never wear, but we know that our clients wear them. I mean, we have people that shop from all over the world that come in and, you know, Hershey's is a destination. So we have something for everyone, always.
- [25:08]
B
What does it take for you to add something to your collection? You know, does rarity matter much or is it simply what meets your eye?
- [25:14]
A
I would say it's what meets my eye. I mean, yes, rarity is amazing, but when there's something that I want and I'm wanting to add it to my collection, I'm going to get it. Whether it's all over the place or something very rare, I love it.
- [25:29]
B
Dealing with VIP clients and personal shopping and all that, a lot of those folks probably don't have a lot of time on their hands. They come to you to say, hey, you know what? I like, send me stuff. Do they also come to you for collecting advice? I mean, you guys do have a Chanel boutique and you guys do get interesting things in and, you know, amongst other brands that you carry. Are they coming to you for collecting advice?
- [25:53]
A
Sometimes, you know, there are clients that, you know yourself that they always want a classic or they always want whatever the special iteration is, you know, so the second that comes in, I'm going to say so and so will want that. They def. They're going to add it to their collection, but not necessarily coming for, you know, advice on how to collect or, you know, they might say, where did you get this? Or where do you go? You know, sometimes we'll name places we. Vintage shops we go to in Paris, but I would say, for the most part, not really.
- [26:27]
B
Is there ever, you know, a talk amongst the team there to have a whole vintage selection of some really rare bags and stuff?
- [26:35]
A
We would love to. We've talked about it so many times. I mean, not even just bags. It could be anything.
- [26:42]
B
Oh, clothing. I mean, I know you've gotten into the vintage watch stuff a little bit.
- [26:46]
A
Yeah. I was just going to say we have a bunch of really, really cool vintage watches that my uncle Lori's husband David buys, and they add a really great element to the store. And I mean, it's really. It's fantastic. It's. We have something for everyone always.
- [27:04]
B
All right, A new Chanel delivery comes into the receiving room. Who's in there first, you or Lori?
- [27:09]
A
Oh, God. It might be A race, to be honest with you.
- [27:13]
B
I guess first one with the box cutter wins.
- [27:16]
A
Yeah. Whoever gets to the store first. But I mean, we have a receiving text, so we get to see everything that comes in. So when it's a day that there's huge deliveries, we get there quickly.
- [27:28]
B
That's great. I love it. Marcy, let's wrap it up with the collector's gene rundown. You can answer these questions based on any of the things that you collect, whether it's bags or charms or fashion and shoes, whatever. It may be totally up to you. So the first one is, what's the one that got away?
- [27:43]
A
I really don't think there is one that gets away because when it does, I hunt until I don't even know what to get it.
- [27:50]
B
So that's the attitude. I love it.
- [27:54]
A
The best part.
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B
Yeah, it's the best part. How about the on deck circle? So what's next for you in collecting? Maybe something that you are hunting after.
- [28:02]
A
I am hunting a Kelly pochette. Pochette in a suede.
- [28:08]
B
Oh, very cool.
- [28:10]
A
Desperately looking for one, if you know anyone.
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B
All right, I'll keep an eye out. Any. Any color suede or, you know, you go on like more of like.
- [28:17]
A
Honestly, I'm not really picky. I'm really not.
- [28:19]
B
Okay. I love to hear it. The unobtainable. This is something that's too expensive in a museum. A private collection. Just complete unobtainium.
- [28:30]
A
Expensive. I'm not going to say definitely would be, but I would have a house full of a million different golden retrievers and be really, really happy.
- [28:41]
B
I love it. How about the page one rewrite? So if you could collect anything besides bags and shoes and fashion and charms and all that stuff and money was no object, what would it be?
- [28:55]
A
It could be, you know, jewelry, diamonds.
- [29:01]
B
Not a bad way to go. I always say to everyone's answer that answers that if you could collect whatever it is that you're deciding to choose, if money was no object, you could collect all the other things too.
- [29:12]
A
Well, that's very true. Exactly.
- [29:14]
B
How about the goat? Who do you look up to in the collecting world or who do you think is a great collector?
- [29:19]
A
Lori's definitely a fantastic collector and has taught me about collecting. We just had Tracee Ellis Ross at the store, and she's incredible, and I was listening to her collection, which is an amazing one. So I definitely look up to her and her collection.
- [29:36]
B
I love it and I think I know the answer to this one. The hunt or the ownership? Which one do you enjoy more.
- [29:42]
A
I think it's the Hunt.
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B
I think so, too. And most importantly, do you feel that you were born with the Collector's gene?
- [29:49]
A
I do.
- [29:50]
B
I love it. Marcie, thanks so much for coming on Collector's Gene Radio today. It was about time that I had you on, and I'm a big fan of Hirschleifers and yours and Lori's, And I'm one of the many that looks up to the both of you guys as great collectors. So we'll definitely get a coffee at Young's farm when I come in.
- [30:06]
A
Yes, please come visit. Bring the baby.
- [30:08]
B
100%. Thanks so much.
- [30:11]
A
Thank you.
- [30:14]
B
All right, that does it for this episode. Thank you all for listening to Collector's Gene Radio.