We had the good fortune of connecting with Michele Morrissey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michele, what do you attribute your success to?
Trust the process. There are always ups and downs, ebbs and flows to anything in life, especially in the world we live in. One main thing that gets me through on the daily is believing in myself and my creative vision. To not succumb to what the masses consider to be fashionable/stylish or on trend. I have this undeniable urge to stay true to myself, and that’s the creative expression that carries over and exudes through my brand BKLYN Affair. Dig deep and wear what makes you happy and feel comfortable. Not what you are “supposed” to wear depending on your body type, color of your skin, or what some random influencer deems as “in” at the moment. Here is a quote that I love that really exemplifies my feelings about styling and fashion, “Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.” – Gore Vidal

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
BKLYN AFFAIR is a shop that is solely pre-owned garments and accessories. I focus mainly on buying high-end and contemporary designers + vintage pieces. I travel pretty much all over sourcing the best of the best and working with different vendors from NY to CA to find unique styles that will showcase what BKLYN Affair is all about. When buying, my go-to questions are, Would I wear this?, How can I style this? and Who would wear this? If I can figure out all 3 in under a minute, I’m buying it and will figure out the rest later. During the week I take the time to prep for each show around the LA area and am on mom duty. This is the biggest struggle I have encountered thus far, switching business brain to take a step back and focus on giving my daughter the attention she deserves. The business will always be there, but these years will fly by and I have to remind myself to stay present.

Yea, there is tons of busywork to be done on the daily, but honestly I’m not here to “sell” clothing, I actually despise when people say… “Oh, you sell clothes right?”. To me, it’s so much more than selling, It’s about creating an experience for my clients, obtaining that genuine human connection with people coming together to breathe new life into these garments. I’m always honest, sometimes a little too honest. I will never let you leave with something that you aren’t 100% in love with. It just means it is meant for someone else out there. Sure, I still have a passion for and enjoy styling, seeing which silhouette works best on your body type, how the fabric should lay, and where to alter things. All the things in how to make the outfit work, but what matters most to me is how YOU feel in the piece, Does it fit within your style and what you feel most comfortable in. Is this piece telling the story that you want to tell? If not, let’s move on and find what’s right for you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A full week! Wow, ok.. While most of our days would be spent at the beach there’s a few spots that are completely necessary to hit up. For the best eats – C&M Cafe in palms for the best breakfast! Not the mention the owner Kalissa is the coolest, most badass chef in the culinary game. Just down the block is Madre (formally known as El Nopal) the best burrito and selection of mezcal on the westside. Then of course the sandwiches at Bay Cities Italian Deli on Lincoln blvd, It’s the closest to a NY Deli sandwich for me. For some shopping of course we would have to hit up Abbot Kinney and visit Guild LA and say what’s up to the fam there. Guild became my home away from home when I first moved out here from Brooklyn. It will forever hold a special place in my heart. Then we would hit up all the markets on the weekends, Artists & Fleas in Venice, Santa Monica Airport Antique Market, Rose Bowl, and Melrose Trading Post to round out the week. #shopsmall #supportlocal

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
BKLYN Affair would cease to exist if it wasn’t with the help of my partner, Noah. He really is the one that pushed me to just do it and go for it! “If we fail, we can get back up… but we need to take the leap first.” Knowing that I had this love and support means more than anything to me. Most importantly, his energy gives me the confidence to rise up against my fears of the unknown and put my heart out there. Not to mention his extreme dedication to helping me set up every weekend for different showings and events, and really engaging with me as my creative partner, brainstorming new ideas on how to grow the business all while holding down the fort at home with our 3 year old, Rosie when needed. I am truly blessed to have such an incredible man by my side and am forever grateful.

Website: www.bklynaffair.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bklyn.affair

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bklyn-affair-104388737991270/

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