On staying curious... and eating pizza with Mickey Drexler 🍕

Does LA have the best slice?!

Last week, I had dinner at Jon & Vinny’s in LA with someone very special: Mickey Drexler.

I’ve admired Mickey for years (including the eight we worked together at J.Crew). I love spending time with him and experiencing his magnetic curiosity. It’s a rare quality, and Mickey has it in spades.

I will never forget an early encounter when I was just starting at J.Crew, a year out of school and very, very green. One day, in the hallway, Mickey looked me in the eye and asked me a simple question: “What brands do you think are cool for J.Crew to carry?” I took the evening to gather my thoughts. I sent him an email the next day — a message that was, quite honestly, one of the most nerve-wracking things I’ve ever written. But that email, that answer, changed my career.

A print out of the email I sent to Mickey in 2010. (I believe in keeping a folder of magical things, this is from mine).

This is the thing about Mickey. He is relentlessly, boundlessly curious. I’ve watched him follow that curiosity time and time again. He can make conversation with anyone. It’s never small talk with Mickey — he’s genuinely interested. He wants to listen to your answer, wants to know what you’re thinking. Wants to hear you. He wants to learn. He wants to be inspired.

It’s inspiring to watch. That’s the magic - letting your curiosity guide you and watching what unfolds.

This is a principle I carry into my own work. It’s an art form I learned from observing Mickey, and it’s a lesson I treasure deeply.

Because Mickey listened, and because he saw something in me in that moment way back when... He opened the door to a life-changing opportunity. One day, I was organizing sweater samples, and the next, I was on a plane to Europe for an executive research trip. Not long after, I began a new role at J.Crew and spent the next eight years creating over 200 brand partnerships that helped shape the story of the iconic American retailer. 

I’m endlessly grateful for his mentorship, friendship, and encouragement. And because Mickey (& Meaghan & Kelsey - TY!!!) asked me to dinner, I got to learn something else: the Jersey pizza at John & Vinny’s? Absolutely, 100%, an under-the-radar hit. Dare I say, the best pizza I’ve ever had?

That, my friends, is profound joy.

Alla prossima ♥️