Meet Dianne Vavra of Vavra New York
The longtime beauty publicist found her second act in a vintage boutique in Huntington.
Dianne Vavra is on the Pretty Local Pro Advisory Board. Photo courtesy of Vavra New York.
Dianne Vavra’s name has always been synonymous with luxury to anyone in the beauty editorial and PR world. On her résumé is a decades-long career as senior vice president of press and VIP relations at Christian Dior Beauty. I first met Vavra in my Redbook days and learned she lived in Huntington, too. I remember thumbing through Newsday over a decade ago and seeing a spread on her incredible closet (okay, room) full of vintage Dior—one that rivaled Carrie Bradshaw’s. (She also had something BIG that Carrie didn’t have: space.)
After leaving Dior, Vavra opened Spotlight PR, a boutique agency that works with emerging indie beauty brands. She also created a line of incredibly chic trench coats, Le Trench. In 2021, Vavra embarked on a brand new adventure on the north shore of Long Island: Vavra New York, a boutique that combines all three of her loves: vintage accessories, niche beauty brands, and art—all in one gorgeous space on New York Avenue in Huntington Village. (Right next to Stella Blue. for any locals reading this.)
The VAVRA store front on New York Avenue in Huntington. Photo courtesy of VAVRA New York.
When the store opened, the inventory came from Vavra’s own collection: hand-picked items from New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Venice, Rome, Moscow, and all the other places she traveled during her Dior days. “I had cataloged over 700 pieces,” she says. She now travels far and wide to bring in high-quality, covetable vintage items from designers, including Chanel, Gucci, Fendi, Tom Ford, and more. Vavra also has over 20 hard-to-find brands, ranging from Biography, a line of facial oils I’m newly obsessed with, to Aleph Beauty, a vegan color-cosmetics line from New Zealand. And you don’t have to be local to shop. Vavra also sells items on her Instagram shop and during lives, attracting customers from all over. She recently surpassed 50,000 followers.
Scroll through this gallery to see just some of the gorgeous fashion and rare beauty items that have been in her shop..
Vavra’s Local Beauty Picks:
Because Vavra is a longtime beauty pro on Long Island, I, of course, wanted to know her favorite spots for services and treatments. Here are Vavra’s local beauty secrets:
Hair color: Felicia at Appolonia & Co. in Smithtown. “I tell her I want Carrie Bradshaw color, and she does it.”
Esthetician: Alexandra at Alexandra Accardo Studio in Huntington. “Her European touch and technique keep my skin glowing.”
Dermatology: Kavita Mariwalla, MD, Mariwalla Dermatology in West Islip. “She’s on top on the latest advancements in aesthetics and is well-known for her natural-looking results.”
Nails: Lisa at Fairy Nails in Huntington. “She’s so patient and attentive.”
Vavra New York, located at 188 New York Avenue in Huntington, is open Wednesday through Friday from 12-5, Saturday 12-5, and Sunday 10-2. Drop in and shop Dianne’s curated collection of vintage fashion and new beauty. And follow @vavra.newyork on Instagram for news and events.
