Walking into L’Impasse feels in some secretively pleasurable way like trespassing in the dressing room of an old Hollywood A-List star like Rita Hayworth or Grace Kelly. It has been an 8th street institution since 1993. The shop brings in a wide variety of customers, including celebrities, high school prom shoppers, impersonators, and transgender women.
“We make fine garments in a timely manner and we do not turn anyone away,” said the manager, Roger McKenzie, at the time of our visit. He began working at L’Impasse after being a long time client. His passion for the upstairs showroom is evident. When we marveled at the beaded and lace wonders before us, he exclaimed, “Clothing has feelings.” While making certain that we handled the items gently, he added, “You have to treat them with ease and softness.”
Each dress at L’Impasse is a work of art. Though outside pieces, mostly from Paris, are featured in the boutique, custom work is the shop's specialty. If you come in with an idea, L'Impasse's team can make it come to life. "The utmost care is devoted to each piece and each customer," owner Abdul Sall told me. "We dress everyone from Beyonce to Rihanna to Lady Gaga - What we do is excellence." He shared that L'Impasse goes way beyond being just a business. "For us it is more about the product and the service." Elaborating, Abdul said, "When people leave L'Impasse they do not only look great, they feel like a different woman."
Abdul's parents were from West Africa, but he was born and raised in Paris. He came to New York in 1995 and spent thirteen years working for the original owner of the shop. He took over in 2009. When I inquired about his training in the fashion world, Abdul quickly responded, "Fashion cannot be taught. As long as you have a good eye, it works. I never went to school for this." He shared that it has been an experience - a long road - since he did not speak English when he first arrived here and had little money in his pocket. Despite his difficulty adapting to this country, he persevered. "You can make your dreams come true if you put in the work - anything is possible."
When I asked what business was like on 8th Street in 2017, Abdul said that the street continues to change - over and over again - but that he keeps pushing. "As long as I have the drive, anything is doable," he insisted. Though it may be said that fashion is also constantly changing and morphing, like 8th street, some things remain the same. Love, passion, and care trumps convenience and instant gratification. There is a definite reason why this charming boutique has stood the test of time on 8th street.
