Left: Alina Cho. Photo by Paul Bobadilla Sangster. Right: Alber Elbaz. Photo by David Sims
«To conclude the inaugural season of The Atelier with Alina Cho, Alber Elbaz, artistic director of Lanvin Paris, will join style journalist Alina Cho for a conversation on the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium stage on Tuesday, June 9, at 6:00 p.m. Over this past season, Cho—who currently serves as editor-at-large at Ballantine Bantam Dell and provides fashion coverage for CNN—has interviewed both Anna Wintour (on November 17, 2014) and Donatella Versace (on April 30, 2015), and each conversation had some surprisingly candid moments that provided genuine insight and advice from these fashion luminaries.»
Ahead of this exciting event next Tuesday, take a look back at some of the best comments from the Atelier talks with Anna Wintour and Donatella Versace.
Advice for Young, Emerging, and Aspiring Designers
"In terms of what I tell young designers, and I'm not sure any of them listen, you need to remain focused and find yourself a really good business partner. The other thing I urge them to do, and they certainly never listen to this, is it's really worthwhile going to work for somebody else."—Anna Wintour
"You have to be ready to suffer. This is not an easy industry. It wasn't easy for my brother when he started, and it wasn't easy for me. But you have to push yourself."—Donatella Versace
Regarding Business Decisions
On last year's investment by Blackstone in the Versace brand and plans for an IPO: "I've been waiting for this moment. I always say I will never give away so [many] shares that I will not be in control of the company. So twenty percent, I keep total control . . . In 2015, we concentrate on five strategic points . . . and then to go public."—Donatella Versace
On the Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Vogue cover: "I think if we just remain deeply tasteful and just put deeply tasteful people on the cover, it would be a rather boring magazine! Nobody would talk about us . . . I hope another Kim Kardashian comes this year!"—Anna Wintour
On bringing Jennifer Lopez as her date to the 2015 Met Gala: "Well, I don't date women yet, but [Jennifer Lopez] is a very good friend of mine for many years. When she heard [the exhibition] was about China, she got so excited. We worked together on this dress . . . I like to push with my fashion . . . She'll be good from the front, but even better from the back."—Donatella Versace
And a Little Extra from Donatella Versace
On ultimate comfort: "A Versace jogging suit with a Medusa and a little bit of embroidery embellishment."
On wearing heels all the time: "I never wear flat shoes . . . I'm afraid I'm going to fall."
When asked if she would ever cut her hair: "No!" Versace said quickly.
To purchase tickets to The Atelier with Alina Cho, or any other Met Museum Presents event, visit www.metmuseum.org/tickets; call 212-570-3949; or stop by the Great Hall Box Office, open Monday–Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
The Atelier with Alina Cho series explores the fashion industry as it relates to art and visionary thinkers, and will continue next season; 2015–16 programs will be announced at a later date.