73 Questions With Michael Kors | Vogue
[knocking]
- [Interviewer] Michael Kors.
- Hey, 73 Questions, come on in.
- [Interviewer] I'm gonna get right into this today.
I actually find you here taking a day off of work.
- I mean, you've gotta be kidding, I'm not off today.
- [Interviewer] How do you usually relax?
- Go to the theater.
- [Interviewer] What's the first thing you did this morning?
- I kissed my husband.
- [Interviewer] And what's this weird thing?
- Weird? Don't call this weird.
This is a beautiful sculpture.
I found it in Paris at the flea market.
Come on, head into the kitchen with me.
- [Interviewer] What's your go-to breakfast?
- Iced tea, blackberries and a bialy.
- [Interviewer] What's your favorite guilty pleasure
or midnight snack?
- Definitely a grilled cheese.
- [Interviewer] What is something that I need to know
about this kitchen?
- That no one ever cooks in it.
- [Interviewer] But it's such a nice kitchen.
Okay, Michael, how long have you been in
the fashion business for? - Since 1981.
- [Interviewer] Do you remember the first design
that you sold?
- A hand painted fringed shoulder bag when I was 11.
- [Interviewer] What's your favorite fabric to design with?
- Cashmere. - Favorite fabric to wear?
- Have an iced tea. - Oh, thank you.
- Cotton. - Cool.
What's the best part about your job?
- The people I get to meet.
- [Interviewer] What's the hardest part about your job?
- The calendar. - Oh, please, We all know
it's the calendar, sweetie. - I know, I know.
It's always the calendar.
- Hey, Lance. - Did you feed the cats?
- We did. - And you're still reading
the paper? - I know, I know.
- Well, get going.
Finish it up. - I'll finish it.
- We gotta get going. - I'll let you guys
figure that out.
Alright, Michael, if you had any superpower in the world,
what would it be? - Definitely flight.
- [Interviewer] What's something you still like to learn?
- Patience. - And your living room
is gorgeous. - Well, thank you so much.
- [Interviewer] What three words are best to describe it?
- Airy, spacious, and comfortable.
- [Interviewer] How long have you been living in
New York City for? - 41 years.
- [Interviewer] What's your favorite place
in New York City? - Greenwich Village.
- [Interviewer] What's the best new restaurant
everyone should be going to? - 4 Charles Prime.
- [Interviewer] What is the best thing about living
in this city? - The people.
- [Interviewer] Wow, look at this view.
What's the worst thing about living in the city?
- The noise. - If you weren't living in
noisy New York City, where would you be?
- I'd be in the tropics barefoot.
[cell phone ringing]
Oh my god, the phone is always ringing.
- [Interviewer] What's the most incredible vacation
that you've ever had? - Africa.
- [Interviewer] What country's next on your list?
- New Zealand. - Can you please reveal for me
the identity of the person interrupting this interview?
- Oh, it's Bette Midler.
- Of course, Bette Midler. - Hi Michael!
- Hey Bette, listen. - How are you?
- I'm in the middle of 73 Questions with Vogue.
Do you wanna ask me a question?
- Okay, here's a question.
What are you going to come as for Hulaween this year?
- I was thinking this year I wanna do something crazy.
Maybe kind of an earthy spaceman, what do you think of that?
- It's fabulous, but not as good as mine.
- Alright, I know, you're gonna love it.
Listen, I love you, but I gotta finish these questions.
I'll talk to you later. - How does she do it?
What's your most overused phrase?
- Too cheap. - What's the last gift
that you gave a friend?
- Oh my god, earrings that were Fran Drescher in The Nanny
that we bought in Capri.
- [Interviewer] What is your favorite piece in this room?
- Definitely the Serra that's over there, it's 1981.
It's the year I started my business, and besides loving it,
it's called [beep] the Moral Majority.
- [Interviewer] What excites you most about fashion?
- Change. - How would you
describe fashion? - The right thing at
the right time.
- [Interviewer] How would you describe yourself?
- I think I'm serious and funny.
I think I'm compassionate and competitive.
- [Interviewer] How do you think you're perceived?
- Funny. - What's the biggest
misconception about you?
- That I'm floatin' around in a private plane
with supermodels and actresses eating caviar everyday.
- [Interviewer] Then what do you eat when you're hanging out
with supermodels and actresses?
- I don't know, but they seem to always want
french fries, not caviar.
- [Interviewer] Okay, so here we go.
True or false questions.
You designed your mother's wedding dress at the age of five.
- False, I remodeled it.
- [Interviewer] True or false, you were a child model.
- This is true. - True or false,
you're a classically trained pianist.
- That is totally false. - True or false,
your design career started out of your mother's garage.
- False, it was actually her basement.
- [Interviewer] Is it true you only ever wear black?
- No, false, false-- - 99% black.
- Alright, it's mostly black, but, you know what?
Come to the closet, I'm gonna show you and prove
it's not all black. - Okay.
What's the first thing you think of when you come home?
- My cats. - Favorite film?
- Network. - Favorite book?
- The latest biography. - Favorite photographer?
- Irving Penn. - Can you speak to some
of these photographs on the wall?
- Well, these are some of my favorites.
I mean, this photo of my husband I love,
men who I think are chic and inspiring,
David Bowie at The Carlyle, Mick Jagger,
I love all these amazing people in my hallway.
- [Interviewer] Nice. Stars or stripes?
- Definitely stripes.
- Heels or sneakers? - Both.
- Kittens or puppies? - Kittens.
- What's your most overused app?
- CNN. - What's the wildest thing
you've ever done in your entire life?
- Danced until 5:00 in the morning in my underwear
in South Beach. - Wow.
What do you consider to be the epitome of class?
- Rising above. - Who is the epitome of class
according to you? - Barack Obama.
- Favorite cocktail? - Vodka on the Rocks.
- Favorite TV show right now? - Mrs. Maisel.
- [Interviewer] That's the same as Donatella.
- Come on in and see the closet.
- I see black. - I mean, give me a break.
- [Interviewer] Okay, what's one item every woman
of every shape should have in their closet?
- Pair of black pants that make your ass look fabulous.
- [Interviewer] What, if not fashion, would you love
to be doing with your life?
- I'd love to produce Broadway plays.
- [Interviewer] If you could offer one piece of advice
to young designers out there looking to launch a brand,
what would it be?
- Know yourself and know your customer.
- [Interviewer] Speaking of Donatella, she was nice enough
to offer me some fashion advice.
What tip do you have for me?
- Well, you know what?
Everyone needs a little glamour and I think you need
to try on some of my favorite black aviators.
- [Interviewer] I'm getting free swag from Michael Kors.
- Automatic glamour. - I love this job.
What is something that should be outlawed in fashion?
- Disposability. - When does inspiration
usually strike? - At any time.
- [Interviewer] What do you think legacy means in an
ever-changing fashion world? - Style.
- Color or form? - Form.
- Pattern or texture? - Texture.
- McCartney or Lennon? - Lennon.
- [Interviewer] Out of all the books on this bookshelf,
can you tell me which one's your favorite?
- Oh god, there's a lot of books.
I would probably say A Wonderful Time, Slim Aarons.
- [Interviewer] I love his work.
Michael, we gotta wind this interview down.
Out of all the words that have been said in history,
what words are the wisest?
- It's time to make the doughnuts.
- [Interviewer] How many seasons were you a judge
on Project Runway? - 10 seasons.
- [Interviewer] What's your favorite part about that show?
- The people I worked with.
- [Interviewer] Can you tell me something most people
don't know about that experience?
- Seven hours of filming, 20 minutes of air time.
- [Interviewer] Ugh. Hey, cool gym.
How much you workin' out these days?
- Today, not at all.
You're my workout.
- [Interviewer] What are you loving in life right now?
- I'm lovin' young activism.
- [Interviewer] Who is currently blowing your mind?
- Hannah Gadsby. - Where do you hope to see
the world in five years?
- In a more passionate, peaceful way.
- [Interviewer] The last question I have for you.
Michael Kors, what's your biggest pet peeve
in life right now?
- Running late. - And we are very late.
- We're that late? - Very, very, very late.
- Alright, we gotta go.
- [Interviewer] Let's get outta here, 'kay, bye.
