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Margot Mayer has an eye for detail and good style. The antiques dealer, interior designer, and founder of Curio Shop has curated a home full of unique 18th- and 19th-century finds and a closet full of vintage and secondhand pieces.
“Good style is something that rings true,” she says. “I’m not the kind of person who would have a mohawk, but when I see one on the subway, it’s a treat. That works for that person. When someone is full themselves, no matter what they’re wearing, that is good style.”
The secret to her fashion finds? Timing and a lot of patience. She frequents different neighborhoods for secondhand finds, and she isn’t afraid to wait a little longer to find the right piece on Poshmark. Her approach to shopping is “zeroing in on this one thing I’m obsessed with, and methodically sifting through looking for it.”
Below, see where Mayer got the pieces that made it into her curated wardrobe and home.
Where did you get your nightstand?
My partner Matt’s grandmother. When we moved into our apartment years ago, she gave us several pieces of furniture. It has two big drawers and tons of room for books, which is mostly what I have in it. My favorite bookstore is Three Lives in the West Village. It’s small, but the way it is curated is fantastic; everyone who works there is genuinely a reader. I almost always come out with something.
I also keep a few sprays on my nightstand. I wake up very early, around 5 or 6 a.m. because I’m sort of wired on European time for work. My nighttime routine is usually just me falling asleep. I also keep a marbled notebook for my planning long term. It’s from Il Papiro Firenze, a company that does Italian marble paper, so it feels very special.
Where did you get your favorite piece of clothing?
My silk set is from Bernadette. I love the movie Great Expectations with Gwyneth Paltrow, which featured the original set. It’s the most gorgeous emerald-colored silk and almost mermaid-shaped skirt. The set in the movie was designed by Donna Karan at her height in the ’90s. I managed to get the skirt at Harrods on sale. I had both pieces in my cart. I managed to get the skirt and some other shopper got the top, so I had been looking for it for a couple of years, and then my friend sent it to me on Poshmark.
Where did you get the inanimate object that brings you the most joy?
I got my 18th-century glassware on a buying trip in France. I love glassware! The craftsmanship is so beautiful, and they don’t really make things this way anymore. As an object, it’s perfect. Normally, when I go on these buying trips, I don’t have a lot of room in my suitcase, so I ship things home. This was just one little glass, so it was like a treat for myself.
Where did you get the item you wear the most?
My Calvin Klein coat from Housing Works. On my last buying trip to France, I wore it all the time. It was so comfortable that I slept in it on a long flight. I also got a floor-length cashmere Calvin Klein cardigan and so many things at Housing Works. It’s a magical place; a lot of people forget about it when it comes to clothing. Aside from them doing really great work in the city, they have wonderful stuff.
Where did you get your signature scent?
I’m not a big perfume person and I have really sensitive skin. I love the smell of Dove bar soap, though. I’m also a big candle person. I treated myself for my 30th birthday to a candle from Moro Dabron. They’re these huge vessel candles based off of a British floral designer who made unique vessels for her flowers. The one I bought is called Garden and it smells like a beautifully lush garden.
Where did you get the item you splurged on the most?
My dimmer switch is from Forbes & Lomax, a British company that makes these 1920s- and ’30s-inspired fixtures. It’s almost like a little piece of jewelry. I didn’t want to Photoshop out the light switch on the wall where I photograph pieces. I wanted to add something more special. I also love to dim the lights, since it really changes the mood. If I’m having a dinner party or whatever, I can create some mood lighting. They’re all hand-forged and have to be shipped over from the U.K. My partner was like, “Do we really need this?” And I was like, “Actually, we do.”
Where did you get your favorite pair of shoes?
My Manolo Blahnik loafers are from The RealReal. I was going on a buying trip and I didn’t want to wear sneakers and be clocked as a tourist. I wanted something to throw on and be really comfortable and not stick out like a sore thumb, and they were nice and broken-in. The first couple of days in Paris were a little rough because I was walking a lot, but by the time I came home, they were the most comfortable shoes. I love how simple they are. I’ve worn them with shorts, dresses, you name it.
Where did you get the item that brings you convenience in the kitchen?
My fish spatula is from Williams Sonoma. It’s flexible, light, and inexpensive. We’ve had the same one for eight years and it really does make a difference to be able to flip something over, especially if it’s stuck in the pan. I highly recommend it.
Where did you get your favorite item to layer?
My thrifted polo button-downs. I stole one from Matt because his grandmother gave him one as a gift, and then another one I picked up at a rummage sale. I got it for $2. In the summer, I have this weird preppy streak that comes out of me. I wear these to the beach with my swimsuit.
Where did you get your artwork from?
Lee Miller Archives. She was Man Ray’s muse and creative partner. She was in the mêlée of Surrealism in Paris in the ’30s and friendly with Jean Cocteau and Picasso. Kate Winslet is producing and starring in a movie about her. She started out as Vogue model and then became an artist in her own right. She learned about photography from Man Ray and worked in Paris with him as an assistant. I wrote my college thesis about her, and I’ve been obsessed with her ever since.
