Donna Saslove And Simon Lugassy - JO LEE Magazine

JL
us about going through
your golden gate.
DS: Jo Lee, as you
know, our first floor has
many, many, many shoes
from all levels of comfort
to designers – to the
most different things you
could want. We carry
handbags of all types
from casual to evening
to Vivienne Westwood,
which are always
beautiful. We have a lot
of accessories, jewelry,
hosiery.
JL: And then – you
enter heaven!
DS: There are easily
5,000 dresses or more
from the tightest to
the poofiest. You can
buy a basic black or the
most elaborate thing on
earth. For competitions,
anything you want.
JL: Do you ever think of
yourselves as the power
couple?
DS: I never think about
what we are. I think
about the goodness
of what we can do
tomorrow.
SL: There’s no time to
stop and analyze.
JL: Tell me about your
four boys?
SL: Well they’re all good
looking. None of them
are even close to being
alike but they are all
artistic. They have big
hearts.
DS: They’re sweet boys;
11 to 17 all doing their
own thing.
JL: What would you tell
young people asking,
“Where do we begin?”
DS: Don’t get into a
business if you’re not
willing to commit all
of your time to it. If
you’re going to just hire
a manager I would say,
“Don’t open.”
SL: At the end of the
day: it’s about having
the business sense, the
passion and the taste.
JL: When you think of
what you’ve achieved –
you’ve had luck!
DS: We’re very lucky.
Luck is very important.
That’s what my
grandmother used to say.
All you need is luck. I
thank God every day.
SL: Every day I feel like
I’m standing on a stage.
This is the store and this
is my stage.
JL: And what do you say
to women as they grow
into age?
DS: There are people
my age and I look at
them and say, “How
can that be?” They tell
me “I couldn’t wear
that because I’m 35.”
“Pardon?” I ask. I tell
them they should try
something fun.
SL: It doesn’t really
matter if you’re not
standing straight some
day. It doesn’t matter
that you’re not as good
looking as you were. It’s
the miracle of life that is
everything.
Donna’s grandfather was
my hero. I remember
he would come into the
mall and watch us build
the store. The way he
stood, watching us work
was so important to me
because everything we
did was important to
him. He was watching
us and taking care of his
Donna.
JL: Gosh, I’m in awe!
What quiet elegance
you have with heart.
This rare breed of
innovative intelligence
that built a retail fantasy
where originality and
power prevail. The
Incomparable Two!
SL: Donna, retirement
is not a good thing.
DS: Oh, I don’t know.
SL: That’s how I see
it – if you want to stay
young.
Jo Lee Power 2011 33