Today we’d like to introduce you to Jean Marie De Bernardi.
Hi Jean, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We are a husband-and-wife collaboration, Jean Marie De Bernardi and Maximiliano De Bernardi. The boutique was created from my love of finding great vintage pieces that I knew I could resell. I opened my first store with a few boxes of amazing things I had found in NYC and Chicago along with some jewelry and vintage Pucci and Gucci clothing my grandmother gave to me. I had been working in NYC for designer Luca Orlandi and fell in love with mixing vintage with new. I opened my first boutique, Jean Marie Vintage, in 1995 in South Beach. Then in 1996, I opened Fly Boutique on Lincoln Road, where we remained until the end of 2013. I also had a location in Chicago’s Wicker Park from 1999 till 2003. It’s hard to believe we’ve been open for more than 25 years! I met my husband and partner Maximiliano in 2007. With his background in architecture and design, it didn’t take long for the boutique to pull him in. His specialty is in the furniture and decor part of the boutique, for which he adds an amazing touch. When we opened our current location on Biscayne Boulevard we really started working together, expanding the boutique with the addition of vintage furniture and smaller home decor. And now in November 2022, we are excited to announce our new endeavor, Fly Studio, which will be an archive showroom and photography studio located next to the boutique.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For the most part, it has been a smooth road, especially because we had the chance to develop our reputation on Lincoln Road for 18 years. But in 2011 our Lincoln Road boutique had a fire that caused us to lose our location, which was very devastating and stressful. There we were able to reach tourists and clientele from all around the world and that really helped us to become a destination spot. We still have many of those same customers visiting us now on Biscayne Boulevard, which we always love to see!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are a vintage and consignment boutique that specializes in sourcing designer, archival and interesting vintage pieces. Every piece is hand-picked, taking into consideration its style, era, relevance, condition, and how well it is made.
We carry everything from unique and inexpensive vintage to rare and amazing vintage and newer designer pieces. In our ever-changing collection you can find Chanel, Dior, Cavalli, JPG, Missoni, Gucci, and Pucci just to name a few.
Our best-selling items are designer shoes and bags, dresses, and interesting vintage jewelry. I also have my own line of reconstructed and upcycled dresses, bags, and bikinis. The line is called Puglia and all of the items are one of a kind.
New items are brought in and put out on the floor daily and everything that we consider is inspected carefully and cleaned before we put it out. Most days I am out searching for amazing unique finds. And of course, we also have a group of talented pickers that consistently supply us with our selection. We couldn’t do it without them or our consignors, as it is now so much more difficult to find the great quality items we look for.
We are proud to be recycling styles and ideas from other eras. Every decade borrows ideas from the decades before and fashion needs to be inspired by vintage to continue. Because we have a large and changing inventory, we are able to sell to designers for inspiration as well as provide a wide selection for stylists and photographers for productions and photoshoots. And Fly Boutique has the most amazing customers, who appreciate vintage or simply love designer items for a much lower price. When they come to us, they are finding those unique pieces that they know they cannot find elsewhere.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Consistency. Be consistent with the quality of your merchandise and your environment.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flyboutique/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063647074843
Image Credits
Maximiliano De Bernardi
Luca Giannattasio
