On the 72nd rainy day of the summer, I went into Yigal Azrouel, a clothing boutique at 408 W. 14th St. Two of their sales associates, Eleanor (red-haired one) and Nate (black-haired one), graciously allowed me to interview them for this month’s special double-uberchic. Two uberchics, a first for Ask a New Yorker. A double pleasure.
AskaNewYorker: What are your names?
Nate: Nate, with an accent mark over the “e”.
Eleanor: I’m Eleanor.
AskaNewYorker: And the name of this boutique?
Eleanor: It is called Yigal Azrouel, he is an Israeli designer.
AskaNewYorker: Will Yigal be showing at Fashion Week in Bryant Park?
Eleanor: We’re having a fashion show here in about a week and a half.
AskaNewYorker: Who needs Bryant Park with a space like this?
Eleanor: Exactly.
AskaNewYorker: (pointing to Nate) Tell us about those earrings you’ve got on. Did Yigal design them?
Nate: No, they are kind of my trademark. I wake up in the morning, brush my teeth, and put my hoops in.
AskaNewYorker: What color are your mother’s eyes?
Nate: My mother’s eyes are brown.
Eleanor: My mom’s eyes are brown too.
AskaNewYorker: How long have you lived in New York?
Nate: Three years. I ended up on the upper east side, kind of by default, because I got a little more apartment for my money. A high population of single young women live on the upper east side for some reason. The boy I like lives in Brooklyn, in Williamsburg.
Eleanor: Four years. I live in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
AskaNewYorker: We get a lot of young girls on the site who are asking questions about moving to the city. Do you have any advice for them?
Nate: Before I moved to New York, I was in Miami Beach for three years. Then I met this guy and fell in love, and we moved to New York, we broke up, and I survived. My advice is that you have to have a good work ethic, you really have to want to work.
AskaNewYorker: And Eleanor, a boyfriend brought you here as well?
Eleanor: No, I came here to go to school. I went to NYU. I was a transfer, so I went there for two years. I just graduated. You have to be willing to do just about any job. You might not find the one you want right away.
AskaNewYorker: So where do you see yourselves in ten years?
Eleanor: Not in New York!
AskaNewYorker: Ouch!
Eleanor: In ten years if I’m not living by the park, then I’ll have moved to some other city.
AskaNewYorker: Lotus is right across the street. I’ve never been to Lotus (a happening night club) myself. Are you two Lotus girls?
Nate: Yes, it’s my second home. They pay ME to go to Lotus.
AskaNewYorker: It’s her curly hair…it gets her in every time!
Eleanor: And her dancing!
Nate: My dancing is very high-energy, rythmic and soulful. And very magetic.
Eleanor: I’m a bad dancer!
AskaNewYorker: Eleanor is a bad white-girl dancer! Do you dance together?
Nate: All the time. Eleanor is in the school of Nate’s underground dancing.
AskaNewYorker: How difficult would it be for a guy like me to get in, by myself?
Eleanor : Probably not too difficult.
Nate: It’s pretty difficult if you don’t know the promoter. You need to know the promoter, or be friends with the doorman, or something like that. Otherwise, depending on the mood of the doorman, you might get in, but you will have to pay a hefty door-charge.
AskaNewYorker: We’re going to get AskaNewYorker to sponsor a Lotus event.
At this point, William (see photo left) comes over.
Nate: William is a security-slash-stock person.
AskaNewYorker: William, how long have you been in New York?
William: Ever since I was six years old. I was born in Mississippi.
AskaNewYorker: Thank all of you for spending time with me! You guys are the best. Good luck with your fashion show!
