(Photo: Brad Paris)

You sell high-end lingerie, bondage kits, and vibrators in a store named after Man Ray’s mistress. What were the prerequisites to the job?
A high taste level, and to be very comfortable with the products. We had a lot of training to learn about them.

Did that entail test-drives?
Yeah, well, you have to know your product.

Indeed. Before here, you were at Eres. Your personal lingerie collection must be vast.
My favorite is from here: the Corselette bra. It laces in the back and clips in the front like a corset. I have it on in this picture. I hand-wash my lingerie with a little liquid Tide and line-dry. Woolite will ruin it.

Is that a whip you’re holding?
It’s called the Tickler Two-way. I’m comfortable with every last thing we sell, but it’s not all about toys. We have lavish cashmere-silk tunics and leggings, skintight satin-and-jersey catsuits. We have this handcuff-print scarf. It’s like something Hermès would do. It’s … versatile.

Who are your customers?
No one under 18. Not yet.

Sexagenarians?
Yes. Our crotchless peekaboo panty sells best. And people love our dressing rooms, which comfortably fit two. You know what I mean? They also have dimmer switches, ideal for lone zaftig shoppers.

What’s the most advanced toy here?
The most decadent are the titanium dilettos.

A diletto?
It’s Italian for dildo.

Related:

• Archive: “Ask Shop Clerk”
• Articles by Denise Penny
• Table of Contents: Nov 13, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!