14: Secrets of Shopkeepers: Santa Fe
Paisley Mason dishes on New Mexico fashion, art, and green chile lamb burgers.
This is the first in my new series, “Secrets of the Shopkeepers,” profiling cool, indie boutique owners in the U.S. and abroad. First up is my chic longtime friend Paisley, who runs W Department, a fashion retailer-meets-art gallery on the plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her partner, Christopher Webster. Here, she reveals where to shop, chow down, bed down, and see art in her adopted hometown.
What’s your name and profession or passion?
Paisley Mason. I’m a purveyor of dope shit.
What’s the mission behind W Department?
To break down the silos between collector and consumer, between artist, designer, and maker. At its core, W Department’s mission is to share beautiful things with people who appreciate them.
What are your favorite brands you carry in your own store?
Rick Owens for both outrageous statement pieces and the most beautiful, perfectly constructed basics in the best fabrics.
Carla Fernandez is a designer in Mexico City who works mostly with Indigenous and mestizo groups throughout Mexico to make beautiful pieces that recognize and respect ancient traditions while being completely contemporary and fun.
We also stock Margaret Howell for classic, gorgeous women’s pieces, Issey Miyake for beautiful things that travel well and always look elevated, and Lemaire. Lemaire is honestly one of the most beautiful, understated brands on the planet.
Oh, and Comme Des Garçons, because Rai Kawakubo is an icon and her vision is still cutting edge.
How long have you lived in Santa Fe? What keeps you there?
I have lived here for 18 years. I’ve lived in cities all over the world, and I need to travel and get out of Santa Fe regularly. But it remains the absolute best place to come home to.
Why is Santa Fe great for both art and fashion?
Santa Fe has always been a magnet for artists and creatives. It is a small city, but a very cosmopolitan one, with a serious focus on the arts of all kinds.
My favorite fashion moment every year in opening night of the Santa Fe Opera. You see diamonds, tuxedos, blue jeans, cowboy boots. People throw elaborate tailgate parties with fine china and silver, and the mix is so Santa Fe.
Any places you shop in Santa Fe, besides your own store?
Other shops I like include Spirit of the Earth [sustainable women’s fashion and jewelry] Santa Fe Dry Goods [boho designer womenswear by names like Dries van Noten, Sacai, and Trippen] and the Visvim flagship store [Japanese womenswear].
Where should art lovers go in Santa Fe?
We are awash in museums and galleries! There is always something I’m dying to see. Museums I especially like include the George O’Keeffe Museum, SITE Santa Fe, and the new Vladem Contemporary. And the sleeper hit of the city is the Museum of International Folk Art. The Girard Wing there is just magical.
I also love the Art Vault. It’s neither a museum nor a gallery that sells art. It’s the display space for a private collection of mostly digital art, and it’s just extraordinary, They change the displays a couple of times a year, and it’s just so much fun. It took me some time to really understand new media arts, but now I love it.
Where do you take out of town friends to eat?
Joseph’s Culinary Pub has the best green chile lamb burger in the world and a kick-ass wine program. Izanami at the for the best Japanese food in the Southwest, and one of the most unique settings in Santa Fe at Ten Thousand Waves spa.
La Choza for traditional New Mexican food—posole, savory sopapillas, enchiladas–that we love to share with our friends.
Is there a Santa Fe style, fashion wise?
Santa Fe style is very eclectic, which is one of its charms. Santa Fe is open-minded, whether it’s vintage jewelry with Prada, or if you’re leaning hard into the whole look with boots and a big hat. No one feels out of place. We try to bring great design from other parts of the world to Santa Fe, and just about everything seems to fit right in.
Which hotel should I stay at next time I’m in Santa Fe?
I send a lot of people to the Hotel Santa Fe Hacienda & Spa. The property is owned by the Picuris Pueblo and has a lot of authentic Santa Fe in its DNA. I also like La Fonda on the Plaza, an old Fred Harvey hotel, or the Inn of the Anasazi, which is high-end and small. Inn of the Five Graces is really beautiful. If someone wants more space and to get out of town a bit, the Bishop’s Lodge is really lovely and historic.
What are your favorite non shopping/food things to do around town?
There’s non-shopping and food?
now i wanna go to santa fe