Marcia Sherrill
Marcia Asks
With the help of some notable local talents, Marcia tackles the slumping economy with tried-and-true tactics of resourcefulness and style
BY
Marcia Sherrill
PHOTOGRAPHY
Illustration by Christina Payne

Since my divorce, I have learned to economize on just as grand a scale as I was previously living, so this recent economic downturn hasn’t meant much. My brother actually joked, “Hey, good news; we didn’t lose that $200K in the stock market because we weren’t in the stock market.” I did move my antiques store to NYC and merged with a friend there to form a new biz—Marcia Sherrill at Roland Antiques. It’s sort of a “roommates” situation and, other than the suffering of the staff dealing with my demands to paint the walls in chartreuse and salmon, things are great. Below, tastemakers share secrets to surviving this slump without sacrificing style.

ROB KENNEDY
“What I do, which does not sacrifice on style, is the same as before we entered this new world order: I buy vintage! I just made purchases at City Issue in Virginia-Highland and at Victory Vintage’s new space at Kudzu. I’m getting amazing things, typically of higher quality than many newer things. It’s also a form of recycling, so much better for the environment.”—Kennedy is the brains behind the Coalition Society, a designer lamp line. CoalitionSociety.com

LAURIEL LEONARD
“It has always been my approach to mix current fashion with my favorite pieces of the past. I do my best to buy well, meaning quality signature pieces that will stand the test of time. One of my favorite items is a pair of Fendi slingbacks in deep plum with gold brooches, purchased years ago from the sale rack at Bob Ellis. I have nothing else this color in my closet, but they work beautifully with a black cocktail dress or jeans. My dear friend Tim has told me for years to just throw it all together and see how it looks! I truly believe the best thing you can wear is a smile and a positive attitude. It is going to get better.”—Leonard is the co-owner of Dex Studios. DexStudios.com

CAROLYN O’NEIL
“I have two words of advice to survive this economy: home canning! Actually, with a little more time and a lot more effort we can keep style alive. But you may have to learn a few new skills. Did you know that the best selling icon of cookbooks, The Joy of Cooking, was born to help post-World War II wives prepare fabulous meals on measly budgets? In home décor, it’s back to smart and savvy home economics. Don’t give up splurges entirely! Just splurge in smaller ways. I’d use the best fabrics possible—damn the cost per yard—if I was livening up accent pillows at home.”—O’Neil is the author of The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous! CarolynONeil.com

INSIDE STORY
Imagine having $50K in clothing and then having about 748 bucks a season—that was my economic downturn after my divorce. After that, I learned how to maintain my style and will never return to my old way of thinking. Missing the sales at the old Rich’s Couture Salon, I started sample sale shopping (OK, that’s easy in NYC where I have a pied-à-terre), but now—with the economy being what it is—there is an even better solution: online. Both Gilt Group and Shop It To Me Now have crazy deals on couture and designer fashions. I make sure to crank up the laptop at noon for the auctions—and so does the rest of the fashion industry. The proliferation makes being chic even easier. Even designers shop at H&M, Uniqlo and American Apparel and wear department store lines like Milly and Aqua. All you need are nice jewelry and a chic handbag and you’re ready to rumble!