Connect
To Top

Life and Work with Michelle Sasonov

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Sasonov.

Michelle, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Phoenix and lived in Scottsdale my whole life. I graduated from W.P. Carey School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management last December. I just opened my clothing store and art gallery Eternal Noir this December. My first love was art – it was until I saw Alexander Mcqueen in a magazine that I realized that fashion was art, too. David Bowie showed me we could become art ourselves and use fashion as a way of self-expression. Before opening Eternal Noir, I spent my weekends doing event photography for publications such as Phoenix New Times and College Times as well as shooting for local event promoters. My favorite events to shoot were local art shows, nightlife events, and drag shows. I took every opportunity to dress up as wild as possible. My go-to outfit is all black but when I am feeling especially adventurous I will something shiny with a lot of texture and accessories. Dressing up this way helped me get off my shell and definitely is a conversation starter. Opening Eternal Noir made sense because it combined my skills of photography, my passion for fashion and styling, and most importantly because there was no boutique in Phoenix that caters to the alternative individual. It is vital to me to provide something of value that people can feel proud of knowing it adds culture to my city. I have been blessed to able to travel and gather inspiration from around the world. I know the quality of life I want to live and it is filled with unique art and avant-garde fashion. Something Phoenix has fallen short compared to other cities, but we have been lucky to have a blank slate in a sense and create our own identity as a major city.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I originally wanted to open on Melrose Curve in March 2018 but the space went to someone else. I was so fond of the location that I was heartbroken. I attempted to find another place but none of them felt right especially because my mind was set on Melrose. Being involved with the LGTBQ scene in Phoenix, a community is very important to me and opening anywhere else did not make sense. I thought my dream was over for good. I got a second chance, however, when I saw the space become available again in October and I was not going to let it go again. It can be stressful occupying an older building but people really appreciate its character – it is not like most of Phoenix where historic properties are bulldozed for cookie-cutter buildings. Every day, I learn something new and become more self-reliant.

My advice to young women is to say yes to an opportunity even if you do not feel ready and figure it out later. Sometimes, our biggest challenge is ourselves- you will never know what you are capable of until you try. The biggest mistake is not doing anything at all. Constructive Criticism is valuable and is not something to be offended by. There is always room for improvement in running a business and maintaining great customer service.

Please tell us about Eternal Noir.
I own the clothing store, art gallery, and photo studio Eternal Noir in Phoenix. I am proud of helping my customers become the best version of their selves. Clothing is important in expressing one’s self and personality. I strive to make people feel confident and style them in clothes for their body type, etc. Eternal Noir is open to all in a judgment-free environment. You can be as wild and free as you like! What sets Eternal Noir apart from other clothing stores is our focus on providing one-of-a-kind outfits to musicians, club kids, and drag performers, to name a few. As an event photographer, I would shoot mostly nightlife events and art shows. I am always out so it would give me the opportunity to dress up in outrageous outfits and people would always tell me there is nowhere to shop in Phoenix especially for men and those looking to dress out of the box. Eternal Noir fulfills a niche market. Phoenicians no longer have to shop online and be disappointed by the wrong size and lack of quality. There is now a place where one can expect a quality shopping experience. There are a lot of photo studios in town but having a wardrobe available to rent onset is a unique and useful concept. As an event photographer for the Phoenix New Times and College Times, I would cover First and Third Friday art shows. Now, as an art gallery owner, I know the style of art I would like to showcase. It is important to me to showcase artists that have not gotten representation in Phoenix. Since Eternal Noir is a clothing store first and not solely an art gallery, money is not what motivates us in the art choice.

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Social media is a great tool for finding events where is possible to find other people other hard-working individuals to learn from. Networking is not hard when you are doing something you are passionate about. Finding a mentor is all about finding someone you look up to and aspire to be. It’s important to put effort and time into the relationship especially in making the first move and asking the potential mentor to take you under their wing. Feedback is crucial even though it may be hard at first. What has worked for me is being nice to everyone not just people you think you can benefit from. You will never know when you need a helping hand.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Joseph Signature Arts, Franz Lazaro

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in