A Memory and a Tear
This post seems to mesh nicely–if sadly–with the previous remarks about remaking our sad and ragtag Salt Lake City Main Street.
A City Weekly reader, Jeanne Allein, just sent me this e-mail:
Emilie Segil Martin left us on July 2nd at the age of 87. Do you know the history of this remarkable Salt Lake woman? In the 1960’s I worked at Adrien ‘n Emilie’s boutique with other young and naïve women . . . seven of us are still living in the SLC area and we spent a delightful afternoon with Emilie at a bridal shower several years ago. Emilie was our mentor and friend and she shared all of her worldly knowledge with us. She helped change the face of downtown Salt Lake, along with her brother, Adrien.
I immediately wrote back to Jeanne. I told her about my first-ever pair of bell bottom pants. Purchased at the Cottonwood Mall Adrien ‘n Emilie store in 1970, they were pumpkin orange, fine-wale corduroy with the widest bell legs you could imagine! My mother even sprung for a cotton knit “body shirt” — purple with orange stripes and a little scalloped edge at the neck and hems of the long sleeves.
What an ensemble! I was 13, in the eighth-grade at Olympus Junior High and HOT.
I know that Adrien Segil was killed some years ago while riding his bicycle in town. That was tragic. And I know that Emilie–who skied regularly at Alta into her hearty eighth decade–was a pioneer along with her brother in Utah’s fashion circles in the ’60s and ’70s. Their shop was on upper Main Street. Very cool place.
I’m sorry to hear of Emilie’s passing. Does anyone else remember their great store?
July 5th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Cathy Iucker, model……..1964. Wow !
July 5th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I do remember this store! You just took me down memory lane. When I was in high school, I was one of few young women who had jobs and I had the most beautiful clothes. When I married in 1971, I moved to Rhode Island to a Navy Base with my new husband. My wardrobe was admired by many high-class Easterners. This little girl from Utah was grateful for some well-selected outfits from Adrien and Emilie’s.
July 6th, 2007 at 7:26 am
Yes, I remember that store very well…it was so “hip” for Salt Lake City. We used to take the bus downtown, remember Holly…and visited more places than the Deseret Gym! There was also Auerbachs, Chesters Drawers across the street where you could also buy some pretty cool clothes as well. Also, even though not on Main Street, there was the store Makoffs, which was upscale as well. I declined a job there and took one instead at Macys Market. (Makoffs would have paid $1.80 per hour, Macys paid a whopping $2.50 per hour) Down the street from Auerbachs was The Yardstick, a great fabric store. I’m rambling and will stop. As I told you, I was saddened to see the condition of Main Street. Something could be done to revitalize it, if only people cared.
July 6th, 2007 at 7:49 am
Just thinking back in time again….has anyone seen the new issue of Rolling Stone about the 40th anniversary of The Summer of Love….1967? I remember my cousin buying me Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heartclub Band album, at a record store on Main Street….but don’t recall the name of the store. Those old enough, do you remember 1967? I certainly do, believe it or not!
July 6th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Windy, Light My Fire, Ode to Billy Joe, I’m a Believer…the first year for heart transplants, Earth Day, and Sesame Street. Arab Israeli Six Day War. I was sixteen. That summer I came to Salt Lake from SoCal for a softball tournament, bought a Lovin’ Spoonful album as a memento. Maybe from the same record store on Main Street. Sigh………