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Moshe · 04.11.2009, 11:41 PM

Kim Gordon Is Not a Fan of ‘Fierce’

Photo: Courtesy of Urban Outfitters

Rock goddess Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth has dallied with fashion for years. Her line X-Girl had a street edge without being too tough — i.e., you still looked like a girl wearing it. And she's been a fixture at Marc Jacobs's fashion show for seasons. This past February, she launched a new line, Mirror/Dash, at Urban Outfitters, and just this week she opened a pop-up shop in L.A., which she is also curating. Gordon took time to chat with us about the new line, fashion shows, and her dislike of the word "fierce."
Is Mirror/Dash aimed at a younger audience?
Mirror/Dash is aimed at the same customer that Urban Outfitters reaches, but I also want the clothes to have a more ageless quality.
Will it have the same sort of skate-alt-rock aesthetic as X-Girl?
No, X-Girl came out of the explosion of streetwear. But we were never about the skate thing. We weren’t into the oversized look of the skate scene that prevailed; we wanted more of a fit. We were more late seventies, early eighties. My partner Daisy von Furth was really into the prep thing so that was a good foil for me and the rock thing.
Any accessories?
Not yet, but we’d like to venture into that.

A look from Mirror/Dash.Photo: Courtesy of Urban Outfitters

What made you decide to branch out into fashion in the first place?
You mean in the early nineties? Our friends at X-Large knew that Daisy and I shopped together at vintage stores and they wanted to start a girls' line and just asked us. They made it relatively easy for us. More recently, my friend Melinda Wansbrough and I had been talking about starting a capsule line. And we decided to ask Jeffrey Monteiro, her friend who worked at Mayle with her to collaborate with us as a designer.
You've become a fashion icon in your own right, how does that make you feel?
It’s usually something I think about other people.

Do you like going to fashion shows?
I like going to a couple. I can’t be in New York for the whole week — it’s too much of a commitment to the fashion world for me. We don’t live in the city, so I feel guilty being away from my family and just going to fashion shows.
Who are your favorite designers?
I like Marc Jacobs, he’s made some great dresses that are fun to wear onstage, Rodarte [is] amazing, Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant ... Margiela. There are other designers that I really admire of course, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga ...
What's the first designer item you bought (or wore)?
Probably a Marc Jacobs dress, pink net.
Where do you like to shop?
No. 6 in NYC, Opening Ceremony.
What trends do you like?
Oversize T-shirts.
And what trends do you wish would just die?
Using the word “Fierce” to describe shoes.
Anything you're coveting right now?
Isabel Marant thigh-high boots.
What's something every woman should have in her closet?
A cool T-shirt.

04.11.2009, 11:41 PM	#16
Moshe Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5,934	Kim Gordon Is Not a Fan of ‘Fierce’ Photo: Courtesy of Urban Outfitters Rock goddess Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth has dallied with fashion for years. Her line X-Girl had a street edge without being too tough — i.e., you still looked like a girl wearing it. And she's been a fixture at Marc Jacobs's fashion show for seasons. This past February, she launched a new line, Mirror/Dash, at Urban Outfitters, and just this week she opened a pop-up shop in L.A., which she is also curating. Gordon took time to chat with us about the new line, fashion shows, and her dislike of the word "fierce." Is Mirror/Dash aimed at a younger audience? Mirror/Dash is aimed at the same customer that Urban Outfitters reaches, but I also want the clothes to have a more ageless quality. Will it have the same sort of skate-alt-rock aesthetic as X-Girl? No, X-Girl came out of the explosion of streetwear. But we were never about the skate thing. We weren’t into the oversized look of the skate scene that prevailed; we wanted more of a fit. We were more late seventies, early eighties. My partner Daisy von Furth was really into the prep thing so that was a good foil for me and the rock thing. Any accessories? Not yet, but we’d like to venture into that. A look from Mirror/Dash.Photo: Courtesy of Urban Outfitters What made you decide to branch out into fashion in the first place? You mean in the early nineties? Our friends at X-Large knew that Daisy and I shopped together at vintage stores and they wanted to start a girls' line and just asked us. They made it relatively easy for us. More recently, my friend Melinda Wansbrough and I had been talking about starting a capsule line. And we decided to ask Jeffrey Monteiro, her friend who worked at Mayle with her to collaborate with us as a designer. You've become a fashion icon in your own right, how does that make you feel? It’s usually something I think about other people. Do you like going to fashion shows? I like going to a couple. I can’t be in New York for the whole week — it’s too much of a commitment to the fashion world for me. We don’t live in the city, so I feel guilty being away from my family and just going to fashion shows. Who are your favorite designers? I like Marc Jacobs, he’s made some great dresses that are fun to wear onstage, Rodarte [is] amazing, Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant ... Margiela. There are other designers that I really admire of course, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga ... What's the first designer item you bought (or wore)? Probably a Marc Jacobs dress, pink net. Where do you like to shop? No. 6 in NYC, Opening Ceremony. What trends do you like? Oversize T-shirts. And what trends do you wish would just die? Using the word “Fierce” to describe shoes. Anything you're coveting right now? Isabel Marant thigh-high boots. What's something every woman should have in her closet? A cool T-shirt.
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