Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/880220
Is any breed of expert quite as chic as the fashion nerd? Add a mop of dark curls and a Parisian accent into the mix, and you've got swoon-worthy Maxime de Laurentis, one of France's preeminent couture and archival designer dealers. De Laurentis travels the world — Japan, Italy, and Belgium are all regular stops — to find exclusive fashion for his clients and his own collection. Following five years designing menswear at Maison Martin Margiela and two years at Yves Saint Laurent, de Laurentis struck out on his own, opening his shop De Laurentis, which sells important archival designer runway creations with a focus on couture. An impressive network of vintage retailers and celebrity stylists set aside important pieces for him, primarily womenswear, shoes, and accessories from the '80s, as well as iconic pieces from more recent collections. He offers menswear twice a year, during Paris men's fashion week in January and July. A master of European discretion, de Laurentis is reluctant to name names when asked about his clients but reveals that along with Vogue's dapper international editor at-large Hamish Bowles, many artistic directors, museum curators (from France's Palais Galliera and Belgium's MoMu Antwerp), and private collectors all stop by his shop, as do archivists and designers from fashion houses Isabel Marant, Dior, Damir Doma, Lemaire, Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Hermès, Calvin Klein, Balenciaga, and Chloé. In addition to individual pieces available for sale, de Laurentis also maintains a personal archive that he occasionally loans — for a price. Naturally, the price of such an arrangement is quite high, given the market value and his personal attachment. But he isn't overly sentimental and understands the fanaticism of his collectors. "If s o m e o n e i s desperate, and PARIS' MAXIME DE LAURENTIS DEBUTS HIS COLLECTION OF ARCHIVAL COUTURE AND ICONIC VINTAGE RUNWAY CREATIONS AT M. NAEVE — TEMPORAIREMENT. BY ANNE LEE PHILLIPS. LA CRÈME DE LA CREME PHOTOGRAPHY JAY TOVAR. ART DIRECTION AND PRODUCTION MICHELLE AVIÑA. MODEL ANAÏS NGUYEN FOR PAGE PARKES. ASSISTANT STYLIST REED BUSSEY. Louis Vuitton prototype shoes, Palm Springs 2016 resort show Vintage Comme des Garçons limited-edition logo necklace