In 1976, a bustling retail store opened on East 59th Street in New York: It was called Fiorucci — a global concept shop by the Italian designer Elio Fiorucci, who had opened other outposts in London and Milan. It housed Fiorucci’s own fashion line, which had become famous for baby-faced angels on T-shirts and some of the first stretch jeans, as well as pieces from other designers, beauty products and accessories.

Until it closed its doors in 1984, Fiorucci was a haven for artists, designers, cool kids and anyone who wanted to be involved in it all. But it also came to stand for something larger: a mecca where people danced during the day, shoppers paraded around like they were in a fashion show and celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Cher and Jacqueline Onassis came for the scene. The spectacle was most often orchestrated by its lead salesman and performance artist, Joey Arias. Fiorucci was what many referred to as “a daytime Studio 54” — a store that came to represent a unique aesthetic at a specific cultural moment.