VIVRE’S EVA JEANBART-LORENZOTTI ON: The Collector’s Life

There is something to be discovered everywhere you go. From a secluded beach to an off-the-beaten-path bistro, hidden gems are endless—and finding them is only a matter of opening your eyes. Since I’m passionate about adventure, I love to hunt for the unusual and the unexpected. I think it’s important to expose yourself to everything, and to follow your curiosity wherever it may lead.

In a world of too much of everything, I try to experience life with a curator’s eye. I believe in collecting. I don’t care about the “it” factor. I care about the “why.” When I’m traveling—and even walking through New York—I challenge myself to look for things that have an intrinsic value of quality, or fun, or that tell a story. And only when I find something I love, or that fascinates or inspires me, do I take it home.

I can often be found in the back of a store, rather than in the front, getting to know the owners and asking them to open up all of the drawers. I’ve learned that that’s where all of the true treasures are kept. Once in Greece, I even tracked down a storekeeper in an alley when I saw a one-of-a-kind piece of pottery in the window of his closed-up shop. I loved it. I had to have it. Because I believe that an object is good only when the experience is good—and I was having an incredible stay in Greece—I knew this piece would be something I would cherish forever.

Living a ‘collector’s’ life means a constant search for objects for your table, your home and for your wardrobe. I love the process of building a collection. The buildup is what makes pieces special. It’s exciting. And while there’s nothing wrong with looking—ever—you should never just buy something for the sake of buying it, or because, for example, that dress or shoe was ‘big’ this year. For me, the most important thing to realize in life is that you have to experience things to know what you like. Once you do that, then will you find yourself with a collection of things that truly makes you happy, and thus uniquely your own. After all, isn’t life all about enjoyment and finding your passions?!

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