Photo: The Marcy Stop
In the heart of Brooklyn’s eccentric epicenter of indie fashion, music, art and culture, it would seem only fitting for fashion’s avant-garde to reside and thrive in this bustling borough. Not to our surprise, this is exactly where we found up-and-coming photographer and muse duo, Micol and Lauren of the aptly titled blog “The Marcy Stop.” Arriving on the blogging scene this past January, the two fashion industry insiders teamed up to create this Williamsburg-based and -inspired side project that, in a nutshell, reveals just how cool they are – and it doesn’t stop with their style. They are also members of a biker gang called the Southside Heartbreakers – yes, you read that correctly. Read on for more fascinating facts about these style stars on the rise.
Photo: The Marcy Stop
MINKETTE: Tell us about The Marcy Stop – how did it all begin?
Micol: I first worked with Lauren when my friend Aviva, an up-and-coming fashion designer, needed a model at the last minute for a lookbook shoot. I immediately thought of Lauren. After that initial shoot, Lauren was always open to helping me out on whatever photo projects I was working on. I frequently joke that my portfolio should just be called ‘pictures of Lauren.’
Lauren: We definitely work together well, and always have. Micol has a great aesthetic and keen eye, and I trust that she’s not going to toss up any unflattering photos of me. We also share a love for many things outside of fashion and photography, so doing a blog together really just felt like another extension of our friendship.
MINKETTE: Photographer meets muse – sounds like it was meant to be! Is this is a side gig or a full-time project?
Micol: Both Lauren and I currently have full-time jobs. I work in online marketing at Saks Fifth Avenue, and Lauren is a design director at an ad agency in Brooklyn, so between the two of us we’re pretty busy. But in our free time the blog takes priority…we’re not sure where the success of the blog could lead us but lately we’ve received more requests for partnerships and collaborations with other bloggers and brands, and those prospects are super exciting. We love the idea of collaborating with companies and brands we love, bringing our own personality and aesthetic to the table, and inspiring other fashion addicts like ourselves.
Lauren (left) and Micol. Photo: The Marcy Stop
MINKETTE: How would you describe your style and what inspires it?
Lauren: I always say my style changes depending on my mood. I love bright colors, patterns, and bold shapes, but I also really dig minimalist, monochromatic, sleek looks. It’s not what you’re wearing, but how you wear it, so the most important priority for me is feeling comfortable and confident in whatever outfit I have on.
Micol: As I have to dress a bit more conservatively for work, in my downtime I like to be far more playful and experimental. It’s impossible to pin it down as I’m just as likely to cavort through my neighborhood in a denim romper and vintage Italian shades as I am to throw on a black baggy shift dress and flats causing Lauren to remark “Someone’s feeling very Rick Owens today…” Of course we live in one of the most fashionable and creative cities so my inspiration is often other women I notice on the street.
MINKETTE: With a name like “The Marcy Stop,” would you say your blog is heavily influenced by Brooklyn style?
Lauren: Absolutely. Most of the locations we shoot are in Brooklyn, and we’re always talking about our favorite food, music and hangout spots in the neighborhood. We hope that the blog not only gives people a sense of our style, but of our lifestyle in general.
Micol: We’re very proud of our neighborhood and I would say, apart from the photography and the fashion, the location is the third major component of our blog. Recently my dad alerted me to a recent TimesCast on the front page of the NY Times talking about how Brooklyn is gaining a reputation as a cultural hotspot outside of the U.S. It’s exciting to see our area blossom and be apart of it all.
MINKETTE: What are your favorite neighborhood places to frequent?
1. Dinner at Traif, an amazing eclectic restaurant down the street from Lauren.
2. Trying to make it in time for happy hour at Maison Premier ($1 oysters Monday through Friday, and the BEST drinks you’ll find on either side of the river.)
3. Biking to Alter in Greenpoint with a pit stop at Ms. Kim’s for their Kimchee Bloody Mary’s.
4. Hanging in the backyard at Crown Vic, a bar with an amazing outdoor space.
5. Indulging at Smorgasburg on Saturdays.
MINKETTE: We will definitely have to check those out! P.S. – We love how you styled the red Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C. with the black tank and draped skirt in your latest shoot. Do you have a favorite RM bag?
Micol: The RM Mini M.A.C. is obviously a classic, but lately I’ve been coveting the Gold Snake Moonstruck Hobo. It’s the perfect silhouette for both day and night and the metallic snakeskin is both exotic and luxe.
Lauren: I’ve been loving the straw shoes and M.A.C. clutches that the brand rolled out for summer. Between the colorful neon accents and funky ikat prints, they’re right on trend and would easily glam up any outfit.
MINKETTE: Final question – and it’s an important one. Word on the street is you two are in a biker gang. Please do tell…
The gang includes Lauren, me and our good friend Kara. It all began last fall when we planned a Bloody Mary bike tour around Williamsburg. At our third stop we decided we needed to make bike dates a semi-regular occurrence. After doing a Google search for “bike gang names,” and as we were all living in south Williamsburg, the Southside Heartbreakers was born. We primarily stick to Williamsburg and Greenpoint and our destination always involves a lot of food and Bloodies. We may or may not have a ridiculously awesome logo designed in part by Lauren…
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