It’s a drizzly day as I drive across the Queensboro Bridge to Sutton Place in Manhattan. I’m visiting Robert Rufino, a born-and-raised New Yorker and man about town who has had the kind of career that makes perfect sense in retrospect, but could hardly be planned in advance. As I walk into his foyer, the picture starts to come together. There are objects, paintings, furniture, and all manner of hints of a life well-lived.
New York City's Playground
We took a trip to Coney Island to enjoy the city’s most classic summer destination.
For those living in the Big Apple, is there a more classic way to spend a sun-soaked summer day than at Coney Island? New York’s playground since 1884, Coney Island has entertained and amused for over a century. And it is still going strong, as we can attest. Last week we took a trip down to Coney from our Brooklyn HQ to beat the heat, ride the rides, and enjoy a few of Nathan’s famous hot dogs.
Jutting out from the most southern tip of Brooklyn, Coney Island was a true island until 1824, when the Coney Island Road and Bridge Company built the first bridge connecting the now famous tourist destination to the mainland. Almost immediately the company built the first hotel on the beachfront, and Brighton Beach was founded not long after. Quickly Coney Island became a go-to destination for city-goers who wanted a break from the city, but couldn’t get too far.
But for decades Coney Island catered only to those who could afford a carriage ride from the city. It wasn’t until the advent of rapid transit that the Coney Island we know today really took shape. Suddenly people of all walks of life could escape the heat of the the city and enjoy a day on the beach. People swarmed to Coney Island from all over New York, but especially inhabitants of the city’s tightly packed tenements, ecstatic to finally have a chance for some accessible sea breeze. The first roller coaster got rolling in 1884, and the rest is history.
Coney Island has always been crowded, but that’s part of its charm. There's a certain zen that can only be achieved amidst a swarm of kids on summer vacation, families of tourists, and couples on a cheap date. To us, it's uniquely New York, and that's why we love it.
There's a reason Coney has stood the test of time: from Nathan’s hot dogs to the Cyclone, Coney Island is a New York institution. And it’s stayed that way because so many people have had a chance to enjoy it – we know we certainly did.
So while Coney Island may have lost a little of glamor that it first held – back when the only way to get there was via horse drawn carriages, and before funnel cake was invented and the amusement park got covered in a thin patina of grease – it has found whole new type of charm that is very much a part of what New York is today. To spend a day enjoying the games, rides, and beaches of Coney Island is to enjoy a day with folks from all five boroughs and beyond.
QMS: We’re up here in Sutton Place, and I’m kicking myself for not having hung out around here before. It has a real old New York charm. I know you’re a native New Yorker who has stuck it out here for decades now. Tell me about growing up here.
Robert Rufino: Well I actually grew up downtown, in Chinatown, which was a much different place than it is today, more like a village than anything. My father drove a taxi, and my mother ran a card shop. I went to a missionary school, and really had a great childhood. A little bit after going to FIT where I majored in window display and merchandising, l had the good fortune to start my career at Henri Bendel on 57th Street, which was quite extraordinary.
QMS: Wow, as I understand it, that was THE store of that time in New York. What did you learn while you were there?
Robert Rufino: It was a very special place, almost like a private club. And at that time window dressing was an art form – we called it street theater. Working at Bendel opened my eyes to a whole new world. Not only did I design the windows at Bendel’s, but I was in charge of store design and merchandising. Early on I knew I was dyslexic, and I had a talent for putting things together. My eyes and hands were my tools – whether I was designing a fashion window or a beautiful still life.
QMS: It sounds like you’ve always had a keen eye for style. How did that translate into your career post-Bendel’s?
Robert Rufino: Bendel’s being what it was, I was so entrenched in fashion that it was very normal for me to go on to work in fashion magazines. What started in retail led to me becoming a fashion editor for many years, at various magazines like Elle Fashion to The New York Times, Harper's Bazaar, and others. Eventually, I was Vice President of Worldwide Creative Services at Tiffany & Co. for 13 years.
QMS: Then you made a shift back to magazines. What prompted that?
Robert Rufino: I felt I had accomplished what I wanted at Tiffany’s and it was an honor to design windows for this landmark American brand. I wanted to return to the magazine world, but not fashion. I had the good fortune to work for Stephen Drucker at House Beautiful for about three years. From there, I went to Architectural Digest, Elle Decor back to House Beautiful, and now I work for myself, contributing to Frederic (put out by Schumacher) and do other projects for various magazines like Elle Decor, Town & Country and Veranda. I also consult certain brands.
QMS: You've described yourself as a producer. Can you elaborate on that role in the context of editorial work?
Robert Rufino: Yes, I do prefer the term “producer” over “stylist”. As an editor with my experience, producing a shoot is like being an Art Director. You set the stage for the photoshoot. It's a collaboration between you and the photographer, especially for magazines with a distinct voice. You have to master the process of working, of evolving an idea into reality. Whether you're designing a window or a dress, you have an idea, but you don't know how it's going to look until you start draping fabric or putting it together.
QMS: Let’s shift to your personal style for a moment. What specific moments or experiences influenced your approach to dressing?
Robert Rufino: The late '70s and early '80s in New York were influential. It was a time of individual expression. People dressed so individually; there was an explosion of personal style with figures like Steven Burrows, Stephen Sprouse, Halston, Perry Ellis. People wore what they wanted, unlike today, where it feels like everyone is wearing more of a uniform.
QMS: How did that era shape your personal style?
Robert Rufino: It's all about how you put things together. It’s the way you wear your hat. Real style is something you have within you, not a trend. It's about finding what makes you comfortable and being yourself. For example, I’ve always loved wearing blue, even now. When I was at Tiffany’s I used to wear a lot of beautiful deep blue suits, but now I’ll wear jeans and a blue shirt, and maybe a sport coat instead of the full suit but it's still clean and classic.
QMS: What music were you listening to back then? What was the soundtrack to that era for you?
Robert Rufino: I was a big Supremes fan! Also, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin… so many artists. Roberta Flack, Eddie Kendricks, Diana Ross. I was a total Motown boy! But I always kept a little room for the Stones, the Beatles, and Janice Joplin.
QMS: You have all these great cultural reference points that the new generation hasn’t lived through. I’m curious, what are your thoughts on the younger generation and their approach to creativity and style?
Robert Rufino: In a way, all these young people have access to even more cultural reference points than I did growing up because of the internet. But I think you lose something when everything is so readily available. We had to search for everything ourselves, not just find it on the internet or Instagram. You know, shopping online is different, people aren't really looking at what they're buying – the fabric, the fit, the whole retail experience, which is what I grew up with. Life was simpler for us. But I know creativity finds a way to thrive in every generation, so the kids will be all right.
