Gilles Montezin encapsulates Couture in every essence of fabric that is lucky enough to be a part of his handiwork. Amazing talented with designs that will leave you breathless, Gilles Montezin's fashion has completely captivated me and made my head so dizzy with desire that I am now on a mission to own something from his collection. I was completely humbled today when he granted me an interview that made me smile and hang on every word. He embodies fashion, lives it, breathes it and talks about it with such passion and child-like wonder...
Shannon: What is your earliest memory that you can remember where you knew you wanted to work in the fashion industry?
Gilles Montezin: When I was an early teen I saw a picture of a dress by Anne Marie Beretta in a French "Depeche Mode" magazine and it was printed like wood and it had those huge pockets that are her signature and it was a revelation, I thought, "Fashion can be fun!"
Shannon: How did you eventually get your start designing clothes?
Gilles Montezin: After studying Haute couture and working for Christian Lacroix in Paris, I thought it could be nice to tell my own story of how I would dress women. I thought New York was, and still is, the best place to do so.
Shannon: To me, Couture is like art, how would you characterize it?
Gilles Montezin: Very few Couture house still exist. It is an experimental way of making clothes that is very close to art, indeed. You have to completely forget how to build clothes and start from scratch as if dresses never existed before. Then you create something that is art, in fabric, that women can wear. I cannot see Lacroix without thinking of him as a poet, a painter--the way he mixes the fabrics, the shapes and proportions, the colors, the way he explains his sketches is all a poem, a painting...
Shannon: Having lived both in Paris and New York, do you see a difference in the way Parisians and Americans see fashion?
Gilles: Parisians think of clothes as objects of style that can be worn to enhance their personality and beauty, that will fit with the people they will meet and the places they will go to. Americans think of clothes as something that will accompany them during their activities and will help them when doing their job; it has to be useful and has to conform to certain criteria like "comfort" and "wearability."
When you are in the state of mind of creating "wearable" and "comfortable" pieces of clothing, style does not exist. That way of seeing clothes gave American women the track suit and those horrifying crocs! You might as well design functional clothes and put everybody in active sportswear and end it there! European women still resist this!
Shannon: Where do you take your inspiration from for your designs?
Gilles: I think the starting point for me is the fabric. I select the fabrics I want to work with then I start building a wardrobe with colors and textures keeping in mind the best way to make flattering clothes!
Shannon: You are showing at Milwaukee Fashion Week this fall, can you give our readers some insight into what is involved with designing for this runway show?
Gilles: I cannot answer this question without thanking the wonderful Hillary Fry who is the organizer of the event. She is a multi-talented woman!
I think in this case of showing in such a fantastic place as the Museum of Art, I want to honor as much as possible the space that is available and try to use the runway as best as can be by showing more spectacular pieces. Unfortunately, Mr. Yves Saint Laurent passed away this June and I wanted to give back a humble appreciation for the influence he had on me, so I will then present a tribute to Saint Laurent as part of the show.
Gilles clothing can be found at Saks, Neiman Marcus and other upscale fashion stores. You can always feast your eyes on his amazing designs right on his website: www.gillesmontezin.com
Posted by Shannon Nelson on July 29, 2008 2:20 PM
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