He’s the only person I’ve ever met who used the word “genius” to describe himself.
He wore a sharp suit opened to reveal a tanned, waxed chest and what looked like black rosary beads. He got mobbed by fashion groupies who were after hugs and autographs. “Come to daddy,” the celebrated fashion designer said.
He spent a great deal of time lecturing about his career and pumping up his achievements, all the while preening and posing.
“Ahhh,” the crowd said, bursting into applause at all the right moments.
There was something in his speech about the need to be polite and gracious towards the press – he went on a bit about how he, in his Miss Manners way, sent little thank you notes to reporters. These were the people who could make you, he said.
I had an appointment but waited until he finished with his fan club. About 20 minutes after our arranged time, they were done but then he pranced off in the direction of a 10 minute phone call and cigarette.
Upon his return our interview began and contrary to promise he wasn’t polite and gracious but rather condescending and terse. His answers were weak and narcissistic. He asked if I didn’t get enough from his hot-air speech.
I asked him a question someone later described as probably the only real question in the interview – are you here more for the benefit of these students or for the exposure of your brand?
His answer was hostile. Suddenly defensive, he said it would be ridiculous for him to answer that question. But why? He was free to emphasise that he was indeed there to impart knowledge and experience and say he owed his success positive role models.
My remaining questions and his answers turned into an exchange so strained I couldn’t bring myself to listen to that part of the tape and I gave him positive coverage because I was afraid of him.
Not all designers are like that. Josh Goot of the sporty, stretchy silhouette was adorably self-conscious (he told me he cried on all his birthdays, apparently out of dislike of the spotlight). Gail Sorronda of the flirty, feminine monochromes was openly charming, though she did sound wounded when asked if her collaboration with retail giant Target would cheapen her label.
Famous and popular designers are highly visible. They pose in their posh homes in magazine spreads, they are photographed for the society pages and some are bona fide celebrities. To buy a piece by a certain designer is to buy into an image and part of that image is the designer himself, things he does and how he behaves. We can buy into certain personas – sex-soaked Tom Ford and his model parties, Donatella Versace and her super bling lifestyle, Karl Lagerfeld and his eccentric perfectionism.
I haven’t bought anything by that designer since my interview. There’s nothing about him that I wish I could be.