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Simon Doonan Interview

By Svetlana February 1, 2012 | 9:00 am
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The second Simon Doonan, Barney's creative ambassador/author/style inspiration, starts talking, you GET IT.  You get why, for decades now, the world has been eager to hear whatever he wants to share, on, really any variety of topics. Sure, it is about what he has to say (and he is as thoughtful as he is at times flippant) but it is also about HOW HE SAYS IT. Simon Doonan has a way about him: a perfect sense of timing, a voice that sings and slides and you know, if there is a point to be made, Simon Doonan is not a person to let that point slide. He is both no-nonsense and so-nonsense that all you want is to permanently install him at your dinner table and shine a spotlight on him during any awkward silences that may happen in your (you now realize, maybe a little bit dull) life.

On this occasion, we are chatting because he is coming to DC for the first time since he was in charge of the White House Christmas 2 years a go, and has a book (called "Gay Men Don't Get Fat"- out next Tuesday) out, which he will be signing today at the W Hotel, 7-9pm with Shea Van Horn DJing to boot.

Now, my big plan here was that since NO ONE is quite as good at living as Simon Doonan is, we'd kick this conversation off with, in my mind, the most obvious question:

  • In an ideal world, time/space continuum non-withstanding, what would your perfect day be:

Oh dear-well, in a perfect world, my perfect day would start with getting up and taking our dog Liberace for a walk. And if IT IS a perfect day, then Liberace poops right away so I can run back upstairs for breakfast with Jonathan (Adler, famous ceramics designer and Doonan's husband-ed) and some newspaper reading. Since I am in the fashion business, I have to get my Women's Wear Daily fix in, you know.

(photo: Richard Patterson for NYTimes)

Then-well, I actually like work-so I'd sit around for a few hours at my computer and write, I started a little late with this writing game, so I always says that I have lots to catch up on. But-not answer emails, in a perfect world, I wouldn't deal with those just now. So, yes-I'll work. (Ed. note: as Simon is saying this-I imagine that "in every job that must be done, there is an element of fun, you find the fun and..." scene from Mary Poppins, which is essentially what I imagine Simon working is like, only with less cleaning and more typing, with maybe some animated birds flying around to boot. I dare you to disagree)

Next, since time/space restrictions do not apply, we'd go paraboarding in Shelter Island (I think we helicoptered there to make it in time), with Liberace sits on the back of our boards. Shelter Island, you know, is VERY heavenly and delicious and very lesbian these days.

Then, we'd have lunch-something French that I would pick up from a store or a restaurant, and we'd have our neighbors over for a wild, screechy meal. Lots of really fabulous people have houses on Shelter Island now-Ariel Levy, who is a fabulous writer, and her girlfriend who builds green roofs, Vicki Cordaro....

After lunch-some more work, I guess, but still no email. I try to train people to not expect emails from me as much as possible. Then-a helicopter BACK into the city, and a long walk through West Greenwich Village-which has not lost any fascination to me at all over the years-the shops, the people watching, everything.

We'd have dinner at Saint Ambroeus, which is always fun to be at-because you NEVER KNOW who you'll see there. Fabulous, or felon, OR BOTH.

Next-another walk for Liberace, and a very prompt poop (probably on the corner of 9th and University, Liberace is fond of that corner) and then, since it IS a perfect day-we watch some truly dodgy TV. You know who I just love? I love Chelsea Handler, she is a genius. I was just on her show recently and Chuy was not there so I got to be her replacement Chuy. A little, gay Chuy, riding around in the cart-it was the highlight of my career. I want to show that clip to everyone who told me I would not amount to much:

Now, Simon-I have to notice that there are three, seemingly very elaborate, meals in this day's plan. What would your book say?

Well, darling-the food part of the book is massively exaggerated-I think mainly because New York Times just did that story (on him eating out-which I highly recommend you read as it is HIGHLY hilarious-ed) and everyone seems to be clinging onto that quite a bit.

That is because you are just so quotable, I think. Which brings me to my next point- you've been in this business for almost 30 years now-what's the secret to not only keeping it together, but always being in demand, in the fickle businesses of fashion and books?

Well, with me, I think the key is that I always approached everything with an immense sense of gratitude. When I first got to Barney's, and we were on 17th street, in the mid-80s, we HAD TO find a way to compete with the big department stores uptown. After all, sure it was creative and fun, but we never lost sight of the bottom line, which was to sell, sell, sell. After all-we were, we are in the retail business. And the big part of selling was talking to the press at the time. So, they'd say: Simon, you're funny, you're NEVER CONSTIPATED in front of people, go talk to whoever... and we always said-you measure press in inches, and then TV started caring about fashion-and somehow I became a go-to person for that.

And then-the books came...

My big career idea was always: not have a game plan. That's always worked out quite well.

And now, you're back in DC. How long it's been?

Two years I think-since I did the White House Christmas tree. Before that-it was forever.

And do you think the city has changed, style and spirit wise? I just saw that Slate piece in which you suggest how to make-over the President's wardrobe-keep it younger and fresher and...I am sure this is a popular question?

Every time I'm anywhere near DC people ask me to comment on the DC style situation. I do think it is MUCH groovier than it used to be, but the thing with DC is - it will change when it is ready to change. After all-it is dominated by the political life-and people in politics are not supposed to be seen as vain and self-indulgent. The worst thing you can do to a politician is to take pictures of him seeming frivolous-it is just inappropriate. So in DC, in that sense, it has always been about function-what clothes function well for the occasion at hand. And that's ok-that is still a style identity, but it has a different purpose.

Often-people write these horrible articles about DC being just so blah and boring and un-inspiring. And they simply blame the people in the city being blah and boring and un-inspiring. But that argument you just made-that makes sense.

Darling, those articles are just lazy, you should know that. Taking the easy way out, a low blow to generate comments and outrage.

And Simon Doonan never takes the easy way out. He's way better than that. Obviously. If you'd like to meet the man and his paisley shirt in person-tonight is your chance. RSVP WHappenings@BrandLinkDCRSVP.com

Previously in BYT interviews:

God loves a cheerful giver.

COMMENTS (1)

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4 months ago John said

YES. My mind is about to explode thinking of Svetlana and SImon having this chat. Icon-On-Icon

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God loves a cheerful giver.-- 2 Corinthians 9:7

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