Shop Talk: Sue Goodlow of Prada Fifth Avenue

Name: Sue Goodlow
Location: Originally Seoul, Korea but I grew up in Fairfax, Virginia. Shortly thereafter I moved to New York and never left!
Chosen Occupation: Sales for Prada
Unchosen Occupation: Aesthetician or landscaper
Side-gig: Definitely designing ponds and perennial beds by the thousands -– filled with English Roses and flowering shrubs!

What is the typical customer who walks into the store like? Do you have a mostly uptown or downtown clientele?
The typical customer who walks into the store is someone who knows what they want and has a certain style, but still wants to expand their wardrobe. I sense that each customer –- no matter what their age –- tends to favor things which are simple, clean, and bursting with pronounced color... and yes, a piece from the runway that can be easily worn without looking like they tried too hard. Every one of my clients continue to wear pieces that they bought years ago (even harkening back to iconic collections like 1999) and they still look great. What I love about Prada is that Miuccia's timeless collections are not composed of pieces that you buy for a season and never wear again; their distinctive beauty allows people to wear them over and over without feeling uncomfortable.

Of Prada's practically seasonless staples -– perfect cardigans, signature 'drab' coloration (bottle green, burnt sienna), omnipresent nylon bags, "Miuccia" pleated skirts -– which have been the most sought-after by customers in store?
The most sought-out pieces are definitely Miuccia's cashmere-and-silk blend cardigans. They are so simple but so ridiculously flattering. It doesn't matter if you are a size zero or 14 –- they still look great and becoming. They have no details; they simply are flat, V-neck cardigans. Her ribbed-silk cardigans are also very in-demand... along with her signature pleated skirts and poplin button-down shirts. Speaking of coloration, Miuccia also utilizes the most amazing blue... it's almost like a sapphire hue. She deploys such a vast variety of different shades... a specific set of colors that flatters every skin tone. Amazing is the key word!

Of the austere, outdoorsy Fall/Winter 2009 collection, what are you most looking forward to arriving in stock?
For the F/W collection, Prada is going back to basics: focusing on classics of the utmost quality. Miuccia is very detailed... I can't express that enough! Every single piece that I have seen is so rich in its lush use of colors, fabrics, and materials. Ranging from her accessories and shoes to her clothes: she truly understands and captures how a women wants to feel and look. All my clients are calling for her thigh-high boots, beaded dresses, and coats. By mid-July, every person who was on the waiting list for her belted 3/4 length down coat will be phoning me to purchase their reserved pieces. Can't have enough of them!

What do you most enjoy most about working at the bustling Fifth Avenue flagship?
The thing that I enjoy most about working in the Midtown area is that I get to meet so many different people from all over the world! It's so rewarding.

What summer sale items merit running to Prada right now and snatching up before they disappear?
Everyone should be marching into the Prada store on Fifth Ave. because not only do we have some killer knits, but we actually have the cardigans in stock that everyone covets (at least in a few colors)! But the best part of the sale is that anyone can find something that is on their wish list at least 50 percent off!

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Previously on Shop Talk...
Rachel Kichler, Rag & Bone
Meghan Farrell, Opening Ceremony
Amy Sall, Pas de Deux
Rocky Banks, Screaming Mimi's
Chelsey Grygorcewicz, One Lucky Duck