Christian Audigier, Designer, Ed Hardy

WCW:  What are you wearing right now?

CA:  I am wearing a Christian Audigier shirt with an Ed Hardy sweatshirt.

WCW:  Where do you find inspiration for new designs?

CA:  All around, I draw from my background, from my roots in France, from my love of Rock and Roll, from California culture. 

WCW:  Who is your style icon?

CA:  Paul Smith, he takes risks and loves color.  His designs are distinctive and strong.  I feel that my style is the same.

WCW:  Is there any designer that you have always admired or try to emulate? 

CA:  Every designer has a specific style.  What makes a designer stand out is being unique, so to emulate another designer would only make me a copy of someone else.  What makes a designer is the ability to put them selves out there and remain true to their vision.

WCW:  If you could dress any historical figure or celebrity who would it be and why? 

CA:  I would dress Elvis, Jack Kerouac and Steve McQueen.  Each of these people is an icon.  They were rebels, they did what others were afraid to do and they made history.  I admire people who are willing to take chances, that’s what makes the world that much better.

WCW:  Who is the best dressed male?

CA:  The Duke of Windsor.  His style was sophisticated and classic.  He always looked complete, no detail was ignored. 

WCW:  Who is the best dressed female?

CA:  Katherine Hepburn.  Her style stands the test of time.  People are still compared to her.  She is the benchmark of Hollywood glamour. 

WCW:  When or how did you decide that you wanted to design clothing for the rest of your life?

CA:  When I was young, I wanted to be a signer like Mick Jagger.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have the voice.  I have always loved fashion and so I started working in retail, this lead to designing and I’ve been doing it ever since.  It comes naturally for me. I love to create and make beautiful things.

WCW:  What is the difference between fashion and style?

CA:  Style is combining pieces to create a look, something that is unique to that person. Anyone can put on a blazer, that is fashionable, what you wear under it, the  pants, the shoes, the glasses, those things take the fashion and make the style for that person.

WCW:  What is your definition of style?

CA:  It depends on how I’m feeling.  Style can be a lot of things for me.  One day it could be a suit, dress shoes and a tie.  Another day it could be a beat up pair of jeans, a t-shirt and a sweater.  Style should not be set in stone, but adjust with you.

WCW:  What is your description of a perfect outfit? 

CA:  Like I wrote before, it depends on the setting.  I might love a black Gucci suit, but it’s not the perfect outfit for the beach.

WCW:  What is the most essential article of clothing in any outfit? 

CA:  Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier, both lines are essentials.

WCW:  What is the hottest trend that people should know about?

CA:  Christian Audigier the line.

WCW:  What trend do you wish would disappear? 

CA:  Baseball hats, it’s been done and there needs to be something new.

WCW:  Is there anything you would like to add: 

CA:  Both lines that I’ve created are what I feel, they are different and both very unique.  I hope that you will come to visit our stores on Melrose and see for yourself what Hollywood is talking about.