Insider: Janel Molton

name: Janel Molton

occupation: Founder & President of RelicNY.com, a new online vintage and designer boutique

hometown: Born in New York City, raised in Montclair, New Jersey
homebase: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

describe your first vintage: My first vintage piece was my Grandmother’s fabulous Gotti style to the floor white mink coat. I still wear it all the time in the winter.

how did you come up with the idea of Relic? I have always loved exquisite crafted clothes. It is so rare in today's mass produced market to find something finely made. When you do, you usually need to pay exorbitant prices. After moving to LA to attend the University of Southern California I discovered the city's hidden fashion hubs looking for fabulous frocks at college budget prices. Soon, my closet was bursting with posh once-used finds bought at below-market prices. I started taking and dressing my friends who couldn't believe my designer finds. I moved back to NYC last summer and discovered the city and web lacked the quality vintage clothing that I had become accustomed to. Every time I went online to search for designer vintage I ended up at mostly eBay related sites with awful photography and no styling. It was then I decided to open Relic NY.

what are some tips on how you can tell it's good vintage just from seeing it online? First and foremost, good photography is incredibly important. It shows that the seller really cares about the vintage piece and wants to display it as its best rather than sell it off quickly. It is also imperative to describe the item in meticulous detail (including sizes, problems, etc).

Christian Dior vintage canary jacket

what is your favorite september issue so far? (obviously, not for the novices, I mean actual september issues.) I always love the standard September issues from the top dogs (Vogue, Elle, Bazaar, etc) but I was really surprised by how good Marie Claire’s issue was. Nina Garcia (in a little over a year) has truly transformed the magazine into a top fashion contender.

best party you attended during new york fashion week? Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld, Andy Valmorbida & Giorgio Armani’s exhibition & party for 80’s artist Richard Hambleton was by far the best fashion week party this season!



there's literally five minutes to change from day look to cocktail party attire ...what's your default attempt for a well-groomed-ever-so-chic-without-trying look for this time restricted feat? (accessories included) Little black backless dress (chic, sexy & classic rolled into one garment), long blazer, YSL pumps, costume studs & bangles.



who are you following on twitter? All the major fashion magazines! Also my fabulous magician brother; @jaredmolton & filmmaking mother; @VoicesVisions.

what is your bag and what is in it right now? Right now I am carrying around a Kara Ross Nola bag. It fits everything (Blackberry, keys, wallet, Blueberry gum, Burt Bee’s balm & extra jewelry & heels) but looks so chic! I walk in flats but always have an extra pair of heels because in NYC you never know when you will need to go to an impromptu event.

*profile photo by NY Social Diary