The TEll// By Thrift & Tell

Welcome to THE TELL//BY THRIFT & TELL: a celebration of fashionable women who dress as smart as they shop.

This week on THE TELL// I am excited to welcome Ajiri Aki founder of Madame de la Maison to the series. Ajiri has a deep love (and keen eye!) for vintage, one-of-a-kind pieces. Her company Madame de la Maison offers beautiful antiques and sustainably made linens that can be purchased or rented. I love this solution because it is not only much more sustainable but also gives the host the opportunity to create a memorable experience that is curated instead of mass-produced. If, like me, you love the hunt, be sure to follow Ajiri on Instagram as well. She is fantastic at finding the diamond in the rough at flea markets and vintage shops and often posts her finds. You will want to book a trip to Paris immediately (if you didn’t already!). It is a treat to have Ajiri be part of the series and stay tuned for more interviews to come. Enjoy!

//Your style in 3 words: Old, fun, elegant.

//Staple Outfit: Dress, scarf, and bold red lips.

//Style Icon(s): Dorothy Dandridge

//Your First Big Purchase: Vintage Hanae Mori dress

//Do You Still Have It? Yes

//Best Fashion Advice You Ever Received: Wear what you like.

//Types of clothing you invest in: Vintage dresses.

//Types of clothing you save on: Pyjamas

//Your greatest extravagance: Buying antiques.

//Brands That Will Stand the Test of Time: Madame de la Maison! Our linens are made to last and our antiques have already proven the test of time.

//Favorite High Street Brands: Monoprix

//Favorite Designer Brands: Martin Grant

//Favorite High-Low Brands to Mix: J.Crew

//Favorite Places to Shop Consignment: Thanx God I’m A VIP (in the 10th in Paris).

//Favorite Places to Consign Your Own Closet: Hmmm...I currently only have pieces I love but back in the day I used to take things to Tokio 7 in the East Village.

//Currently Collecting Dust in the Back of your Closet: Kelly green Chloe gown designed by Stella McCartney circa the late 90s that I wore to a wedding 9 years ago.

//Your Closet Tried and Trues: Linen wrap dress with full circle skirt.

//Most prized possession: 1940’s white tennis dress with accordion pleated skirt from Jean Patou that I can’t even fit in but loveeeee!

//Best investment you ever made in your style: Accepting what looks good on me and what doesn’t.

//Style Choice From Your Past That Haunts You: Tina Turner blonde weave with bangs.

//“It seemed like a good idea at the time” a.k.a Purchase you most regret: Knee high corset Ann Demeulemeester boots. (They were impossible to take on and off!)

//Closet From Which You Would Like to Borrow: Sarah Paulson as Nurse Ratched.

//Last Time You Splurged? Ordered a custom made coat from Hamazan Paris.

//Currently Saving Your Pennies For: Vintage Madame Gres dress.

//A Deal for the History Books/Your T&T Personal Best: Full set of unused rose and white Haviland porcelain from the early Twentieth Century in a box of a seller’s garage. He couldn’t care for it at all and I went bonkers!

//Advice to someone looking to define their own style: Focus on what you like and what actually looks good on you. You don’t have to or need to chase trends. More actionable advice is to start a Pinterest board or Instagram folder of looks that you are attracted to. This advice works for your home as well.

//Trend you wish would go away? Tight, short dresses.

//You feel great. What are you wearing? An A line dress with a full skirt that has an unnecessary necessary amount of extra fabric. The draping will be utterly to die for and move.

//Occasions when you splurge: When I see a dress that fits my dreamy ideal silhouette and love for draping.

//Occasions when you save: When I see something that I love the style and color but is from a fast fashion brand and I know will fall apart.

//Home Decor Style: I love a home that is full of objects that bring me joy and are full of memories and meaning. I love to mix old and new things together. This is one of the main reasons why I started Madame de la Maison.

//Favorite place to hunt for home decor: French flea markets in the countryside.

//Go-to for unique items, whether it be clothing, accessories, home or art: Antique or vintage markets.

//Your fashion motto: You look your best when you feel comfortable.

//Your life motto: Joseph Campbell’s words: “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

Fill in the blank:

//A woman should invest in- Herself //You’re never too old to—Spend an epic long afternoon eating and drinking around a big table with your family and friends. //A woman can never have too many- Statement jewelry pieces.. // Bury Me In: A 1940s Madame Gres dress (can you tell I am obsessed?). //True or False: More is More- True! Vrai!//Fashion is- Something you shouldn’t take too seriously. //Style is: Something you cultivate over time that makes you feel good about yourself.

Currently Loving:

//Music: Tones And I

//Print: Toile de Jouy

//Food: Ceviche

//Drink: Rosé

//Film: Mank

//TV: Dix Percent (Call My Agent)

//Podcast: Dare to Lead

//Instagram Handle: @only.provence

//Designer: Martin Grant

ABOUT AJIRI

I created Madame de la Maison because celebration is in my DNA.

I am Nigerian and my folks love to party. Their guest list is full of family, friends, and even welcomed party crashers. As long as there's food, music and good vibes, they’re happy. I learned from an early age there is power in gathering around a table and sharing with others.

After university in Texas, I moved to New York where I worked as a stylist and on fashion exhibitions for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of the City of New York. At this time, I found a group of Mexican girls with a similar DNA. Mexicans love a good celebration too! The ten years I lived in New York were full of wine- filled weekly festivities. Every Thursday no matter what was happening in my life, I met with my latin crew for “Juevesitos”: food, drinks, dancing, and chats. Some of the happiest and most memorable moments of that decade took place on a Thursday.

I left New York and moved to Paris, married, and started a family. Paris brought me many treasures but I missed that sense of community and joy that I derived from weekly fellowship with others. So, I decided to bring it back! I created Madame de la Maison to put the spotlight back on the table and help others to do the same.

Here’s my encouragement for you: Gather around the table and celebrate life with beautiful things whenever possible. Never wait to use your best pieces.

FIND AJIRI

//INSTAGRAM

FIND MADAME DE LA MASION

//INSTAGRAM

//WEBSITE

Photos used courtesy of Ajiri Aki