I’ve been holding my breath all morning. From the moment I woke up, while I was eating my goat cheese and spinach omelet, the entire car ride to the store, until now – it’s just about 2 PM – pulling the clothes, I’ve been anticipating and mentally preparing for that annihilating text. Because there is a very large chance that Sarah Staudinger won’t show up to C Madeleine’s. She warned me last night: “We’re going to watch Ross DJ at Mansion! It’s kind of tradition that Harley [Viera-Newton], Ross, and I do at least one night of non Basel stuff aka super clubbing. Actually in the past we mostly did non Basel stuff; usually because it’s just more fun.” I won’t argue with that. It’s just that, if she bails, I will be stranded in this incredible oasis of vintage marvels and have no one to dress up.

But she does make it, “despite the headache, insatiable hunger and nauseating Uber ride over…” and I am grateful. Not only because at five-feet-eleven and blessed with stunning German/Lebanese looks, she’ll make a great model, but also because I want to share her exciting news. In the spring of 2015 she and her partner Carolina Santo Domingo will be launching Brut, “a customizable clothing line and social styling platform”. Based on vintage finds, they have designed a few basic dresses, jump suits, pants and tops that can be shaped and sized according to the customer’s preferences. “My first collection is called ‘Good Vibrations’ and it’s like late 50s surfer girl by way of 90s revival,” she reveals. She showed me her first samples and I am impressed.

To this day, even after all my travels, Madeleine’s store is my favorite. But it’s a tough place to work because the merchandise is exhaustibly inspiring. From the crochet bikinis to the leopard coats, it’s too overwhelming for a chameleon like me. I would either buy everything, or nothing at all. (It’s not cheap either!) Even styling this shoot is confusing. Do we need a theme or do we just show whatever strikes our fancy? I finally decide to let Sarah steer the selection, “the Staud way”. Her style is “really mixed”, she finds. “Obviously it’s the most cliche answer of all time but it’s true. It’s one designer piece, usually an accessory, always something vintage, and always at least one stain or hole somewhere. Also I’m usually in pain if I’m not in a simple slide or flat boot. Which happens often because of my size ten feet. Also lately I’ve come to realize that I’m a huge knits person. My sweater collection is getting pretty nutty, but I just can’t  get enough weird Courreges turtle neck things…”

Sarah is a trooper. “Does anyone have Advil?” she calls out a few times from the fitting room. She schlepps her tired body across parking lots and train tracks without so much as a sigh. We watch Jeremy Scott dive into the racks in search of Moschino inspiration, and recruit Madeleine’s dogs for a shot. In the end we manage to shoot quite a lot of finally shut the store at 5 PM, when Madeleine has put on her running shorts to get her daily work-out. I might regret not buying the crochet dress, and the green floral top, but my closet and wallet say no…

Many thanks to Madeleine, Richard and the team of C Madeleine’s for giving me free reign of their glorious stomping grounds. And to Denisa at Modisteblog for her assistance.

All clothes shown are for sale at the store. Kindly contact any of the girls to inquire and/or make a purchase.

Look 1: Yellow, lace polka dotted gown with bell sleeves (please contact vintage@cmadeleines.com for price and delivery date); wooden coconut clutch: $110; 70s pastel crochet bikini: $150; Black Prada sunglasses: Sarah’s own

Look 2: Yellow cashmere maxi dress with matching maxi cardigan by Halston: $1200; Straw sunhat: $95; Brown, leather purse by Gucci: $300.

Look 3: Lurex Halter dress by Missoni: $700; 70s striped tube dress by Aled Couture: $500; Oversized knit cardigan by Missoni: $625; Rhinestone sunglasses: $475.

Look 4: Black shift dress with pearl neck line by Donald Brooks (please contact vintage@cmadeleines.com for price and delivery date); 60s black leather purse with pull latch by Bienen Davis: $175; black shoes: Sarah’s own; Dogs: Theo and Lola!

Look 5: 50s red raffia woven skirt: $850; deadstock floral, long sleeve T-shirt by Nanso: $80.

Look 6: Burgundy suit by Gucci: $700. White turtleneck sweater: $95.

Look 7 (on me): Copper lurex knit dress: $500; my black Teva’s; Ombre sunglasses by Oliver Goldsmith.