Meet Philip Manghisi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Philip Manghisi.

Hi Philip, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I began my fashion career as a cashier at a store in New York called Jeffrey when I was a young fashion student attending FIT. Jeffrey was truly the coolest store in Manhattan and has since shuttered operations due to the pandemic. I was a cashier for a few months before Jeffrey (he is a real person) put me on the sales floor where I sold women’s shoes and handbags.

I did that for a year before I began buying for the store along with Jeffrey and his right-hand man, David Rubenstein. I worked closely with that team for 7.5 years before moving to Los Angeles where I worked for another well-known independent specialty retailer, Elyse Walker. Elyse and I knew each other from the fashion world and she offered me a job as a department manager which I did for about 9 months before she brought me in as a buyer on her team.

I worked with Elyse on the assortment for all women’s designer clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories as well as all men’s merchandise for Towne by Elyse Walker stores for 4 years. I had traveled to Scottsdale many times on vacation and always thought that Arizona needed a store that was similar to the ones I had worked for and decided that I would open my own in March of 2021.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Well, the easiest part was deciding to open the store, and the steps that came after that initial decision did pose some challenges.

There were a few construction hiccups and some merchandise delivery issues but I think I’ve learned from those experiences so that I can move forward. Those instances aside, I’d say that the road has been relatively smooth because I’ve had a great support system.

Jeffrey, David, Elyse, and my family have all helped, mentored, and supported me along the way and I could not have undertaken such a project without their guidance.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a curator of luxury goods.

I’ve been selecting merchandise for two of the best stores in the country (if not the world) for my entire adult life and have really learned how to choose for my customers, no matter where they live. I get real joy from and feel most proud of putting someone in the right outfit. I like to inspire confidence in my clients and also like to challenge them with new ideas and things they’ve never seen before.

Most importantly, though, is relationship building. I have a sterling reputation in the retail fashion industry and truly treasure the relationships I’ve made with all of my vendors and clients.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I am a believer in luck but I am also a believer that what’s meant to be is meant to be.

I stumbled into Jeffrey one night after class and felt a strong gravitational pull towards that store– I knew that I had to work there and stopped at nothing until I got hired. From then on, I’ve trusted that same intuition and it has always led me to exactly where I’m supposed to be.

My intuition led me to Jeffrey, then led me to Elyse, and now it has led me to Scottsdale where I hope to make the people of Arizona proud. With this sixth sense plus hard work and positivity, I’ve been able to attract everything I’ve wanted in life and more.

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@wunderkind-az.com
• Website: www.wunderkind-az.com
• Instagram: @wunderkind_az

Image Credits
Blake Deinas