CHARIVARI a fashion UPROAR

In the late 1960s, a fashion UPROAR began not with a runway show, but in a modest clothing store on New York's Upper West Side. This is the story of Charivari, a revolutionary fashion institution founded by Selma Weiser, a single mother who dared to challenge the male-dominated industry.

For three decades, she transformed a small neighborhood boutique into a "retail mini-empire" that launched the careers of world-renowned designers and forever altered the American fashion landscape. More than just a store, Charivari became a sanctuary where the Weiser family, a close-knit staff, and a devoted clientele built a bustling, eclectic family of their own.

We delve into the political, economic, cultural, and social forces that shaped Charivari's meteoric rise, charting its journey from the idealism of the Summer of Love through the glitz of the 80s, and to its final chapter in the late 90s.

Through intimate interviews with Selma’s children, Barbara and Jon Weiser, we unlock the intricate details of the boutiques’ rise to fame, the creation of their own fashion lines, and the enduring legacy they left behind.

But the story of Charivari is also the story of New York City and an industry grappling with a devastating crisis. The film will also explore how the AIDS epidemic swept through the fashion world, leaving an indelible mark on the brand and the lives of its employees and customers.

The spark for this cinematic journey was the Charivari of NYC Facebook page, a vibrant online community started by former store manager, Ric Spencer. Through the testimonials of its loyal customers and the stories of former employees, a rediscovered camaraderie emerges and a vivid picture of long-gone era appears, complete with the celebrities who flocked to the stores, and the ambitious young talent whose careers it ignited — painting a landscape of the city that never sleeps.

CHARIVARI a fashion UPROAR weaves the art of fashion with the Weiser's personal history, and within this tapestry, we see how Charivari became a fashion destination in New York, and a landmark in time for American fashion. It influenced an industry which dramatically altered the careers and personal lives of many; and still exerts its relevance today…

This is our 2nd sizzle reel for the upcoming documentary film CHARIVARI a fashion UPROAR.

editor: John Breinholt

This video is not a trailer for the upcoming documentary
“CHARIVARI a fashion UPROAR”, but a visual description of the story we hope to tell.
It had been created for use with our previous indiegogo crowdfunding campaign.
Thank you

THE ADs

After accumulating some of the many ads the Weisers’ commissioned for Charivari over the years, we realized there was no way we’d be able to showcase them all in the documentary. So we organized several of them chronologically to show how they established over time, a sophisticated, public profile in New York.

[The music track we used is called, "The Knowledge"—it was released in the 80s, during the heyday of Charivari]