Simon Doonan can hardly be expected to limit his style savvy to one field. After more than 30 years in the fashion industry, his multiple hats include: creative director of Barneys New York, where he's known for his provocative window designs; style commentator, with appearances on America's Next Top Model and VH1; columnist, for The New York Observer; and author, of Wacky Chicks and Confessions of a Window Dresser. His current project is pushing his new memoir, Nasty: My Family and Other Glamorous Varmints (Simon & Schuster).
How's the book tour going?
It's a very interesting promotional activity. It's a very specific form of marketing. As much as you can control, there's a million things you can't control. You have to be very philosophical about it all; otherwise you'd have a really horrible time. At Barneys I'm used to controlling everything. But in the real world, you can't control anything. For instance, I retouched my author's photo to within an inch of its life. When I showed up on tour, they asked if I was my publicist.
So you like to have total control over your creative process?
Somebody has to have a vision and tell others what to do. Project Runway was great because they weren't on a team. I don't believe teams can create vision. It's the individual who creates the vision, and then the team signs on.
Yes, but the team adds drama.
Yeah, but it's so pathetic and so tragic. One person will say, "Let's do decadent, Berlin, 1930's," and everybody else has to sign on to it. You can't have someone else saying, "How about a little Studio 54, too?" One person has the vision, and you make it the most decadent party ever.
Was the vision for your new book your idea?
I presented [my publishers] with a few ideas and they picked one. They recognized the good idea and picked it. I deferred to them in that instance—I'm not Joan Crawford. There are moments when the individual has to defer, and other moments when the group works together, but that's for the execution. I'm a huge believer in teamwork. If bit by bit, you work with a team regularly, they come to understand the vision. But they augment the vision.
Some of the folks you've encountered on your tour must be giving you fodder for future projects.
There is a specific type of person who shows up for book signings. If you have a party with free booze, a million people will show up. If it's a book signing, from 7 till 8, unless you're Dan Brown or David Sedaris, you're going to have to [harass] everybody you've ever met to come. You practically have to come out with a push-up bra. I do it with email blasts and coercion, calling a million times, saying I'm going to commit suicide if they don't show.
Some of the bookstores you've read at have asked you to design a window about your book—what have you come up with?
I'm a publicist's dream; I'll do anything to sell a book. I'm the Jackie Susann of my generation. I just say yes, and end up crawling around some dusty window with dead flies and doing a display. Basically I've done the same thing in every location: the dentures, animal masks, and party favors. They're provocative.
Do any writers particularly inspire you?
Loads of people. I'm a humor writer, so I love to read other humor writers: Dorothy Parker, James Thurber, Muriel Spark.
What about other industries that inspire you?
I look at everything. Fashion designers, new architecture. Of course, I'm a huge fan of my boyfriend [artist and designer] Jonathan Adler.
What projects are you currently working on?
I'm working on a new book right now: Splash Your Breasts With Ice-Cold Water: Lousy Advice With Chilling Consequences. It will be out, I think, in a year.
What projects have you not yet tackled but would love to?
None. I'm doing everything I want to do. I'm very, very happy, and lucky, that my work life consists of 99 percent of the things I enjoy. The key is to not be too risk-averse in life. I'm a big believer in saying yes to everything.
—Jenny Sherman
Posted 08.22.05.05
How's the book tour going?
It's a very interesting promotional activity. It's a very specific form of marketing. As much as you can control, there's a million things you can't control. You have to be very philosophical about it all; otherwise you'd have a really horrible time. At Barneys I'm used to controlling everything. But in the real world, you can't control anything. For instance, I retouched my author's photo to within an inch of its life. When I showed up on tour, they asked if I was my publicist.
So you like to have total control over your creative process?
Somebody has to have a vision and tell others what to do. Project Runway was great because they weren't on a team. I don't believe teams can create vision. It's the individual who creates the vision, and then the team signs on.
Yes, but the team adds drama.
Yeah, but it's so pathetic and so tragic. One person will say, "Let's do decadent, Berlin, 1930's," and everybody else has to sign on to it. You can't have someone else saying, "How about a little Studio 54, too?" One person has the vision, and you make it the most decadent party ever.
Was the vision for your new book your idea?
I presented [my publishers] with a few ideas and they picked one. They recognized the good idea and picked it. I deferred to them in that instance—I'm not Joan Crawford. There are moments when the individual has to defer, and other moments when the group works together, but that's for the execution. I'm a huge believer in teamwork. If bit by bit, you work with a team regularly, they come to understand the vision. But they augment the vision.
Some of the folks you've encountered on your tour must be giving you fodder for future projects.
There is a specific type of person who shows up for book signings. If you have a party with free booze, a million people will show up. If it's a book signing, from 7 till 8, unless you're Dan Brown or David Sedaris, you're going to have to [harass] everybody you've ever met to come. You practically have to come out with a push-up bra. I do it with email blasts and coercion, calling a million times, saying I'm going to commit suicide if they don't show.
Some of the bookstores you've read at have asked you to design a window about your book—what have you come up with?
I'm a publicist's dream; I'll do anything to sell a book. I'm the Jackie Susann of my generation. I just say yes, and end up crawling around some dusty window with dead flies and doing a display. Basically I've done the same thing in every location: the dentures, animal masks, and party favors. They're provocative.
Do any writers particularly inspire you?
Loads of people. I'm a humor writer, so I love to read other humor writers: Dorothy Parker, James Thurber, Muriel Spark.
What about other industries that inspire you?
I look at everything. Fashion designers, new architecture. Of course, I'm a huge fan of my boyfriend [artist and designer] Jonathan Adler.
What projects are you currently working on?
I'm working on a new book right now: Splash Your Breasts With Ice-Cold Water: Lousy Advice With Chilling Consequences. It will be out, I think, in a year.
What projects have you not yet tackled but would love to?
None. I'm doing everything I want to do. I'm very, very happy, and lucky, that my work life consists of 99 percent of the things I enjoy. The key is to not be too risk-averse in life. I'm a big believer in saying yes to everything.
—Jenny Sherman
Posted 08.22.05.05
