No. 105: Dawn Nguyen
Prada’s SS 2002 collection, the Ritz in Paris, L'Ensemble, Role Models by John Waters, and a Barkley L. Hendricks painting.
Dawn Nguyen is the owner of L’ENSEMBLE, a Brooklyn-based boutique carrying a thoughtful selection of womenswear and menswear. A former buyer for La Garçonne (another forever favorite), Dawn has a curatorial sensibility that has just the right piece for every moment of the day. It’s a one stop shop, if you will, with a collection that ranges from this sporty Wales Bonner zip up to these perfect double-breasted black coats by La Collection and LouLou, a frosty Judy Turner v-neck and this sheer Kallmeyer dress. Beyond the clothing, I come back to L’Ensemble because it’s one of the few boutiques where I actually like to stay a while. From Dawn –
I. a collection
Prada’s SS 2002 collection is one of the reasons that I got into fashion. The collection was eye opening and remains a big influence for me.
The combination of a tailored silhouette with a pajama chemise, and the layered mix of fabrics of gold threaded boucle with a knit presented a completely novel and exciting approach. I still to this day reference this collection. Also, the campaign by Steven Meisel was equally influential.
II. a hotel
My boyfriend and I stayed at the Ritz Paris on our first trip together, which felt especially memorable since we had only been dating for a month.
We both work in the service industry, so we were genuinely struck by the warm hospitality and the exceptional attention to detail. It was a treat to experience the hotel and watch how seamlessly everything runs — it’s truly inspiring. Every action felt intentional. It’s still one of my favorite places to visit whenever I’m in Paris.
III. a place
Building L’ENSEMBLE has been quite a journey. Starting this project has been one of the hardest and most humbling things I’ve ever taken on.
Every part of what we do is thoughtfully considered — from the brands we select to the way we curate and merchandise. As demanding as the work can be, it’s incredibly rewarding when a client shares their experience with us or sends a photo wearing a look we helped create. Moments like that give us the inspiration and drive to keep pushing, and to continually elevate the client experience.
