The Tiff's Man
The Age
Wednesday August 1, 2001
By rights and all that's logical, James Quinn (pictured right) be dangling with all manner of manly baubles and fancy trinkets. He is the vice-chairman, after all, of one of fashion's swishest labels: Tiffany & Co.
That puts him - in my headspace, anyway - in the same realm of reason and opportunity as Aladdin. (ie: "More gold! More diamonds! More sparkle-arkley things! Spit-spot - I'm the boss!") But the affable, impeccable bloke with the Ken-doll good looks who visited Melbourne from New York last week to officially open the new Tiffany & Co. store at 267 Collins Street, wore no fancier trinkets than a simple gold wedding band, watch and cufflinks.
"It's all I ever wear," he said, smooth and smiling, the personification of tasteful restraint. At least Quinn's terribly tasteful jewels were distinctively Tiffany: "That's what Tiffany is all about: when you wear something, you don't want it to scream, you want it to whisper."
Perhaps he did not meet certain of his more flamboyant Melbourne customers, particularly those so familiar with his employer that they call it - with the utmost affection, and on occasion, affectation - simply "Tiff's"?
Despite the wealth required to indulge in some of Tiffany & Co's fanciest trifles, Quinn believes Tiffany is all about accessibility - for want of a better word - and delivers this remarkable idea in silky American PR-speak: "We're dedicated to great quality, craftsmanship, superlative customer service and distinctive, classic design - but within everybody's budget." Presumably, he is talking about playing cards and Christmas baubles here, not sparkly two or three carat jobs to chase away a blue mood.
Quinn joined the 160-year-old Tiffany & Co. 15 years ago when there was only Holly Golightly's favorite Fifth Avenue shop and seven other locations in the United States. Now, there are 140 outlets around the world, and more to come, including five planned for Japan in the next couple of years.
Some of the stores replicate bits of the famous New York store: the Melbourne shop has a comparable speckled caffe-latte granite facade, classic frame windows and Atlas clock above the stainless steel front door. Quite gorgeous, and best viewed from the street with a dark chignon, long gloves and chic LBD while wistfully gripping a paper cup of coffee and a donut.
© 2001 The Age
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