Muse Atelier Vintage is a Guilty Pleasure

When you walk into the barn at 5150 Michigan Avenue, it’s clear that this is no ordinary second-hand store.  Muse Atelier Vintage is an extremely funky spot, chockful of antique (as well as newer) vintage clothing and hard-to-find accessories of all types.  While the items for sale are predominantly women’s, there is a smattering of other items that would interest any shopper of discriminating tastes.

When Kathy and I visited the first time, we were overwhelmed by the welcoming spirit of the place and the sex-positive, inclusive vibe.  As we were leaving, the proprietress, Tanya Luz, invited us back for an event later in the week, an erotic art show.  It was there that we met Luna Legare, the blonde spitfire that manages Muse.  We sat down recently to discuss where she came from and where she’s headed…as well as what she does on the weekends... 

“I was helping out Tanya with her cake business, but it wound up being much more than that.  I was basically her personal assistant.  I did whatever she asked me to do.  Our friendship managed to survive wedding cakes.

“Now it’s New Year’s Day, 2015.  Tanya had opened the shop the month before.  I came in to see the shop.  I walked in the front door and fell in love immediately and quickly realized she was trying to do all of this herself.  I walked in as a customer and walked out as an employee.  I just said, ‘I’ll be back tomorrow.’

“We never know who is going to walk through the door, so we have a little bit of everything.  We want everyone to feel this is the place for them.  All ages, all body types, all genders…we want this to be a safe and welcoming place for everybody.  It’s a shop, but it’s also a culture that we’re building.”

When I asked her about items from the inventory that never made it to the sales floor, Ms. Legare didn’t hesitate. 

“It was this 1990’s satin track jacket.  On the outside, it was all jewels and gold braid.  The inside was patterned with hot air balloons.  It was reversible!  I thought, no…no, this is mine.”

Ms. Legare is also a seasoned Burlesque performer.  Turning pro in 2010, she’s been teaching classes in the art since 2013.

“So I’m actually using that theatre degree.  We did our first show in January of 2015.  I call (my co-stars) ‘burlesties’, because they’re burlesque performers and they’re my best friends.  It was supposed to be a one-off thing, but it went so well and we had so much fun, we just kept doing it.  I call myself ‘the boss lady’ of Guilty Pleasures.  I produce it, I stage manage it, I direct, I do behind the scenes stuff.  Then, of course, I get up on stage and do MY thing as well.”

Muse Atelier Vintage is utilized for private parties and art shows, as well as a photographic studio.  The photo sessions offer (for an additional fee) professional hair and make-up along with the photography.  The sessions are typically themed, having offered Superheroes and Pin-Ups in the past.  A Pulp Novel Noir session is upcoming.

Guilty Pleasures will offer up another helping of naughty entertainment at 9 pm on September 9, 2017 at Bona Sera in Ypsilanti, headlined by Shimmy Laroux.  You may follow Guilty Pleasures and Muse Atelier Vintage on Facebook.

Muse Atelier Vintage is open from 11-5 Thursday through Sunday or by appointment.  Contact them directly about upcoming events at (734) 972-6682, or at www.museatelier.com