Market Publique, an online market place specifically for vintage fashion, is the creation of Pamela Castillo. We anticipated that Pamela sense of creative style would carry over to her home as well. And her chic New York pad definitely impressed! Pamela’s appreciation for vintage is made clear through the unique second-hand pieces highlighted throughout her home, and the modern touches make for a one of a kind space. We love how the small bursts of color play up the otherwise monochromatic hues in such a perfect and glamorous way.
Photography by Kate Sims
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Where did your love of vintage come from and when did you decide to launch Market Publique?
My love for vintage comes from my grandma and the search for beautiful and unique things. I would always browse through her closets and go antique shopping with her whenever we visited the US (I’m from Guatemala originally. After moving to New York, my closet shrank a lot and vintage got way more expensive. So I started buying and selling vintage on eBay. Frustrated by how hard it was to make anything look good on eBay, plus all their fee and feedback changes, I looked for alternatives. When I found that there were not any vintage-specific alternatives, I built Market Publique, and launched the blog in 2008 and the marketplace in 2009.I have been switching gears lately, going back to Technical Product and User Experience design consulting (full disclosure: I am as much a computer nerd as a fashion nerd, and proud of it!), and also launching a new content website called Spright.ly.Spright.ly came about much in the same way– as I got busier running my startup and with consulting, I found less and less time to keep up-to-date and read some of my favorite blogs, including The Glitter Guide. I felt that Google Reader was not the right solution for me, and the ‘unread’ count on both Google Reader and Bloglovin’ was stressful, instead of relaxing. Plus, I would set them up with the blogs I knew about and would never get around to discovering new ones and adding them in.
So in February, when my friend Jorge left his job as VP of Innovation at Refinery29, we decided to build a platform where you can customize the content you want to read, discover new content based on subject and browse visually. Spright.ly is in beta right now and invite-only, but here is a special link for Glitter Guide readers to sign up for an early view. Let us know what you think and which blogs we should feature!
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“Our apartment is a combination of modern and vintage pieces, and it took us a while to get the right mix on a budget. The Arco Lamp and Wassily chair are my favorite things ever thrifted, they came from Housing Works. The striped rug is Ikea, and the kilim over it was an old rug from my in-laws, but I turned it over because the colors were brighter on the underside and it kind of looks like a Jackson Pollock painting that way.”
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“Our apartment gets a lot of light, so I maximize it with tons of shiny objects. The prism is from The Wild Unkown at Bona Drag. The coral is actually made of resin, and it’s vintage. And the selenite lamp is from a local store called Ad Hoc. ”
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“More proof of our love of art, vintage and fashion. The dresser is vintage Milo Baughman. The shoes are vintage Chanel, Miu Miu & Charlotte Olympia. The art: robot drawing by our Parsons friend Todd Vanderlin; vintage lion drawing from Paris; painting by Michelle Armas; drawing by Guatemalan artist Magda Eunice; magnetic tape artwork purchased at the NY Art Fair.”
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“My skirt is Prada, with a trompe l’oeil skirt print, which I bought second-hand! The top is Zara & the shoes are YSL. Lipstick is NARS Funny Face.”
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Where do you search for amazing vintage finds for your shop? For your home?
Vintage is a game of opportunity. I find (and look for) things everywhere, from Goodwill and Savers to specialty vintage boutiques.In New York, I love Rabbits, Amarcord & Horizons for vintage clothing, and Portmanteau, Ugly Luggage & Housing Works for furniture.
Online, I regularly visit Telltale Hearts for affordable and trendy items, newcomer BOLO Vintage (who also has amazing photography!) and I splurge occasionally on items from Bustown Modern, TinRoof Vintage, Thrifted & Modern and Rice & Beans -
Your home is so unique! What are your tips for decorating with vintage?
Thank you! Our apartment is very modern, so we had to bring the right mix of vintage and contemporary items so that things didn’t look out of place. Erin from Design for Mankind really helped me nail down what I really liked and create a virtual inspiration board.Picking a monochromatic palette of black, white, gray and metallics was key. We added the bursts of color in the pillows and with plants, which we can change inexpensively.I also got super lucky and scored some amazing vintage pieces (the Wassily chair, Arco lamp & C. Jere mirror), but there is a lot of IKEA in the mix. IKEA is fabulous if you know what pieces to buy (and you read the instructions before putting it together!). -
“I’ve been really into tiny handbags with long straps lately. They are great for keeping your hands free (for coffee or going through the racks!), and they force you to be disciplined in keeping them organized and only carrying the essentials.”
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“Shoes are my obsession. I keep them on glass shelves so I can see them from below and have easy access. I am picky about quality and style, but not brand loyal – I have everything from Zara and Gap to Louboutin, YSL, Chanel and Charlotte Olympia.”
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Any favorite pieces in your home?
Most of the artwork and a few items in my closet are true favorites. They are not expensive or fancy or anything, but they are things that I love looking at every day.I love the patched alpaca rug our in-laws gave us, and it helps me step out of bed every morning and feel a bit better about starting the day (I’m not a morning person!). I also love my twin trees, which I ordered from Sprout as soon as we moved in so they could find me two that were the same height. -
“My dress is Prada, which was a very exciting find at INA NY, especially because it was in the Prada Schiaparelli Met exhibit. My earrings are vintage Larry Vrba. I am a vintage and second hand junkie, I love the thrill of the hunt, getting pieces with history and doing a small part by keeping beautiful things out of landfills.”
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“We love entertaining, so this bar has been with us for a while. Jon, my husband, found it on the street pre-NY-bedbug era. The gold circle mirror is vintage C. Jere. “
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How would you describe your decorating style?
I think Brooklyn meets Hollywood Regency? Or glam on a budget? I think most people would say eclectic, but I think that word is so over used!How would you describe your personal style?I guess crazy old lady with a penchant for creepy prints and super tall shoes. My friend Erica says I dress like a classy lady biker. I’ve often said my ultimate goal in life is to be featured on Advanced Style.I am kind of a lazy dresser, but an enthusiastic accessorizer. I would much rather wear something simple, like a dress, with some fabulous shoes and rings on every finger. Layering is just too much work, although I have learned a lot from my fave personal style bloggers. -
What’s on the horizon for you?
A lot is changing for us right now. I am working really hard on Spright.ly, as well as figuring out the next step with Market Publique. We are also considering a big move, as I have the opportunity to move to London with the hubby. Whatever we choose, they all sounds like great, fun options. But right now, I am overthinking everything, as I am prone to do. -
“Even though I would consider myself a feminist, I am really girly and love to be in the kitchen (but so does my husband!). Vintage monkey print dress from Wildfell Hall. Vintage apron. Charlotte Olympia shoes.”
How do you sparkle?
I sparkle when I have a challenge or design problem to solve. I am scrappy, hard-working and determined — I get things done. New York and the Internet have been welcoming and encouraging environments for me.Tons of people have helped me along the way, which has been lucky: my family, my mentors, my friends, my blogger & vintage ladies, many of whom I have to meet in person (one day!), and I am always grateful. I try to help everyone I can as well, whether they have helped me or not, and I think that makes me sparkle the most.
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