eBay Obsessed: Tucker Designer Gaby Basora

By Heather Summerville
May 17, 2010

Like so many other brilliant, modern-day inventions, the New York-based clothing label Tucker grew out of the simple desire to make life easier. The perfect blouse—something easy enough to ride your bike in, but polished enough to wear to work—had always eluded former stylist Gaby Basora. So one day in early 2006, she designed her own: It was loose, buttoned at the neck and had three-quarter sleeves. After countless friends—and total strangers on the street—asked where they could buy one, Tucker was born. Today the 4-year-old brand is just as known for its perfectly cut tops, dresses and skirts, as it is for its vividly romantic prints. We recently sat down with the energetic mother of three and chatted about the evolution of the line, her recently announced Target Go International collection and how she uses eBay for inspiration.

The Inside Source: The spring collection was somewhat of a departure from what we’ve come to expect from Tucker. What were some of your influences?

Gaby Basora: The line has evolved. It’s a bigger commitment to more fabrications. The blouse was born out of my need for something in my own wardrobe. But now that I have the perfect blouse and the perfect dress, I’m finding I need the perfect pant and the perfect this and the perfect that—so it’s a natural evolution. My last two collections were inspired by photography books, and for spring in particular, I was obsessed with the work of Miroslav Tichy. I bought every single one of his books—including different editions that maybe have even one extra photo—that I could find.

TIS: What about his work was so captivating?

GB: It was really abstract inspiration. But I was immersed in these books. He’s a reclusive Czech photographer and caught these really beautiful moments in women’s lives: Some are really somber, some are uplifting, some are young women, some are old women. So I think in a way, it is what Tucker is—something that transcends age or style.

TIS: It was just announced that you’ll be the next designer in the Target Go International series. How exciting! What do we have to look forward to?

GB: It’s not launching until September—the 12^th to be exact—so it’s still a ways away. But it’s all very exciting, to design on such a large scale. I think most people are shopping hi-low these days. So it’s great for people who are already fans of the line to be able to go to Target and buy a brand they already have an affinity for. But it’s equally as great for someone like a college student, who may love Tucker, but can’t spend that much on clothes, to be able to buy something they appreciate.

TIS: We hear you’re a big eBay fan, what are you usually shopping for?

GB: I absolutely shop eBay. I sometimes just go on eBay and type in something and then come out pleasantly surprised, because I end up going on a whole other journey: Not finding what I set out wanting, but finding so many other things.

TIS: Like what?

GB: I’m a little bit of a pack rat when it comes to things like fabric. I feel like it lives with me for a long time before it becomes maybe a pillow or an inspiration for something else. Sometimes you have an instant connection with something and sometimes you have to live with it for a while before you realize what it’s meant to be. I’ll also go on eBay to find obscure things that I have a connection with or a memory of, like my grandma’s Givenchy necklace. One day I found myself on eBay looking for necklaces that remind me of hers. It truly is an amazing resource, like the greatest open-air market ever.

TIS: What’s the most random thing you’ve ever bought?

GB: I have an old Swedish Emmaljunga pram for my kids. I saw this couple visiting from Europe that had a little bucket seat that attached to the handle. I thought it was magnificent, and I had to have one. I looked all around America, and nobody had ever heard of it. I went onto eBay and found them in Australia. Two weeks later I was the proud owner. You really can find anything. Actually, I had one of my friends call and tell me: ‘Tucker’s on eBay, you’ve made it!’ It really was a moment, I was like: ‘Let’s break out the champagne!’

TIS: We’ll certainly cheers to that. What was it going for?

GB: I heard a lot!

Basora’s Top Five e Bay Picks:

Roll over items for details

Leonard Pink Peony One-Shoulder Dress

“I’m a fan of the French heritage label, Leonard. It’s inspirational from a design—and company culture—standpoint.”

(winning bid, $159.99)

Vintage Teacup and Saucer

“Saks stopped carrying my dishes—and with three little boys in the house, dishes are often breaking! I like to drink coffee out of pretty cups and saucers. It sets the day off right.”

(buy it now price, $19.99)

Vintage Mod Fabric

“This fabric just puts me in a good mood…”

(winning bid, $9.49)

Miu Miu Runway Socks

“I had these socks in my hands, but decided to come back the next day to buy them. The next day they were gone! Gone from the store, gone from stores everywhere. Desperate calls to friends around the world, but still no Miu Miu runway socks…till now!”

(buy it now price, $229)

Vintage Earrings

“I’m not a collector, but I do love vintage costume jewelry. I was coveting a pair of Chanel earrings from Domont on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles recently, when I went on eBay and found these. J 'adore.”

(buy it now price, $149)