Terri Gillis - may 2, 2018

Terri Gillis (@tg170terri) is an amazing lady! She is an individual and true pioneer. When I first met Terri over 10 years ago, her store TG170 was a well established and significant presence on the LES — first opening on Ludlow street in 1992. Terri is kind, and warm, and one of the most genuine people I’ve ever known. She loves kids, and dogs… and knows a ton about fashion! Terri’s style is the best—which def inspires me to be a little more interesting too.

Here’s my interview with Terri… all the questions I wanted to ask, then had to decipher!!! Ha ha:)

RN: How would you describe your personal style?

TG: My personal style is sporty, messy, funny and comfortable. I love simple clothes combined with an unexpected quirky piece, like an exaggerated sleeve or pattern. I love details and fabrics. I think I look friendly in my clothes, not too stuffy or perfect, but huggable!! Sometimes I aim for chic, but I’m more derelicty. I love fashion, but create my own style. I think my personal style is Terri style!

RN: What are you favorite pieces at the moment?

TG: My favorite pieces I’m wearing right now are: old school Gucci sneakers and a new pair of LV black sneakers — with white logos that say Louis on the top of one, and Vuitton on the top of the other. The logo is really big and obnoxious, and it is the same script as “That’s All Folks” from the Porky Pig cartoon.

I wear my vintage clothes mixed with Marc Jacobs track pants and his lurex sweaters. I also love my big grey sweatshirt by Marques’ Almeida. It’s longer in the back with these big, ruched, puffy Dumbo ear sleeves….so, it’s a very fancy sweatshirt.

RN: You’ve had a long career in fashion and have seen a lot of changes. As the former owner of TG170, a stylist, vintage retailer, and current brand ambassador for Marc Jacobs — where do you see fashion headed now?

TG: Fashion is a reflection of the times. Now people have access to everything because of the internet – so they can research any time, style, designer, lifestyle… anything!! I think with all this information, fashion should become more diverse. Everyone can find what they want. People are more fluid now, compared even to the last decade.

Also, I see less sexualized clothing for women in the future. The clothes may be feminine, but not overtly sexy. As women begin to be seen as equal to men, they will not want to be objectified. The clothes might become more androgynous. Less high heels, more comfortable and useful “working” shoes. I think that in the future, smart parents will be raising their sons and daughters differently — which will effect how they see the world and how they dress. Less gender specific clothes…. less pink clothes for baby girls, and less blue clothes for baby boys. Kids that are more equal will grow up dressing differently.

RN: TG170 was one of the original pioneers on Ludlow street in the early 90’s. What was the LES like back then?

WILD WILD WEST! Ha ha! No…it was the best, magical, cool, fun place to be. I wouldn’t have lived anywhere else. It was cheap and diversified. Lots of artists + musicians lived there so they could work part time and make their “stuff.” It had lots of Dominican families and old grandmas sitting outside in chairs telling great stories. People hanging out in the summer, grilling and drinking beer. Drug dealers with pit bulls, watching over their turf. Max Fish was the center at night where everyone gathered, and listened to music on the best juke box in town.

RN: How did TG170 begin?

TG: I lived on Ludlow in a studio apartment. I was making t-shirts and baseball hats under the name of “Home Boy NYC.” I actually rented out the windows of 170 Ludlow street where my friends lived to show my BB hats. When they decided to move, I negotiated with my landlord to LOWER the rent on the storefront. He rented it to me for $1200. It was big enough to share, and already configured into 2 large bedrooms & 2 bathrooms in the back. Ronnie moved in, and we both paid $600 a month. He let me take over the front; to display the hats and use as a workroom. On my days off from working part time at the FIT library, I was in my studio. People would stop by to show me their clothes, and I started to do consignment with them.

As the store grew, we kept tearing down the wall between the apartment and store — with the store getting bigger. Eventually Ronnie moved out and I had more room. I was there full-time, and met all these wonderful designers bringing in their clothes. It was a very organic process. It grew from word of mouth mainly — friends of the designers, neighbors, and Max Fish people. We were new and different. There was really no other stores like TG170 at the time.

We got a lot of press, which attracted more people. Eventually we had Japanese tourists and everybody coming. People like Christian La Croix, Loulou de la Falaise, and Tom Ford. All the fashion people came to see what we were doing!!! It was unbelievable!

The first fashion show TG170 had was in the windows of the store. Aaron Rose from next door played Black Sabbath on his boom box. Bill Cunningham came and took photos, and put them in the New York Times. One of my favorite memories is Bill Cunningham telling me that THIS was his favorite fashion show. That it had all the fun, vitality and fashion missing from the big shows! Every day would bring someone new. It was a magical, thriving place that nourished people. You had to be there…

RN: Who / what influenced you the most during that time?

TG: I had just gotten my MFA from Pratt and I moved to Ludlow in the 80’s. I was influenced by living in NYC and doing things. I went out to the clubs and danced all night! I was hanging out with Chan Marshall from Cat Power almost every day, and we would go hear music at the little clubs – CBGB, Thread Waxing Space and that place that used to be on A and 10th street. I went to art openings at Alleged Gallery, which opened up next door as I opened up TG170.

I got to be friends with Aaron Rose and all the skateboard artists. Mike Mills was one of them, and he ended up making my TG170 posters. I loved all the street style, especially the guys wearing big, baggy jeans, flight jackets and baseball hats. I think since I wasn’t selling my art, I used TG170 as my art project. I looked at everyone and everything for inspiration.

RN: Do you think young/ independent designers and artists had a stronger voice back then? Or that things are easier now with Instagram and social media?

TG: Both. The indie designers have Etsy, Instagram, social media and the internet to show their clothes, and reach a lot of people. Which is great. But I don’t think it’s as easy as it was “then” to afford the artist lifestyle, at least in NYC. There are fewer and fewer places that a person who is not wealthy can afford to rent. So, getting a storefront is impossible unless you have money. I think that cuts out a lot of creativity. The East Village used to be a place where artists thrived — now it is “safe,” respectable, expensive and not that interesting. Then kids moved to Williamsburg. Now that they can’t afford that, they are moving out to Queens or Bushwick. It’s hard to create when all your time is spent trying to pay for food and rent. I think it’s a harder time for creative people to be creative in NY. I think NY has turned into making money, buying things and Keeping Up With The Kardashians. It has pockets where the nonconformist can burrow in, but feels more constricted. It was much more inventive and free before. I guess I sound like an old, complaining person — but that’s my opinion.

RN: One of the things I love about you is your unique ability to make everyone look good. What is the secret to dressing well at any size or age?

TG: Know yourself, know what you do and what you need to do it well in. Be flexible and experiment. It doesn’t make sense that I would like what I liked at 20. My shape, life and mind have changed, so how I dress and present myself will have changed as well. To thine self be true or let your freak flag fly!

RN: One last question. When I think of you, I synonymously think of your three Westies — Mojo, Daisy and Pinky! Rest In Peace. Do you have any favorite stories of them?

TG: I have a lot of stories about them. Mojo, Pinky and Daisy were always at the store greeting people. They had lots of people and dog friends that came by regularly. When they shot an episode of What Not To Wear at the store, the best part was when the dogs all jump off the sofa, and go running and barking at the client and stylist! It was their way of saying “Hi, you’re here!!”

Mojo was my first Westie, and I took him everywhere. One night I was at Max Fish with Mojo sitting at the bar, and Taylor Mead (my neighbor and one of Andy Warhol’s Superstars), was sitting next to me. We started telling dog stories, and he told me he had always given his dogs scotch and an occasional chocolate. With that, he orders Mojo a scotch and Mojo happily lapped it up! Only on Ludlow would you get an old Warhol star buying an old dog a drink!

Also, a fond member is walking with them when I first moved to Bushwick. An old man stops me, asks me all about them and says “they are such happy looking dogs, they make me smile. I can’t stand looking at grumpy, mean dogs!” That touched me because I agree, they did make people happy.

Another story is after Pinky, my youngest dog died, I was very sad. My good friend Chan told me this wonderful dream she had: basically she was on the road and stopped at a gas station and saw Pinky walking around without a leash and without me. She was worried at first, then saw Beyonce and Jay Z, and thought Pinky was with them. Then Pinky just walks down the highway happy and free. Chan said she knew Pinky was ok then, that she was in heaven. That dream always makes me feel good. Also, after all my dogs passed away, my friend Biff said its ok — they are all in heaven with Biggy and Tupac. He said it so sincerely, that it puts me at peace, just like Chan’s dream. I loved them and still do ???