June 25, 2024 • 28 mins
In this last episode of the season, we are happy to have author and fashion publicist Scott French. We
are also joined by Fashion Reverie editor-in-chief editor William S. Gooch who will conduct our Fashion Reverie fashion quiz.
are also joined by Fashion Reverie editor-in-chief editor William S. Gooch who will conduct our Fashion Reverie fashion quiz.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:17):
Welcome to Fashion Reverie Talks. Iam Piana Ibrahimovich and I am Sicily Daniels.
Fashion Reverie. It takes you fromthe frontlion to fashion to the front
row. All of Fashion Reverie Talksegments are based on published content found on
Fashion reverie dot com, so remember, if you want more information on the
(00:37):
segments, go to Fashion reverie dotcom. In this last episode of the
season, we are so happy tohave author and fashion publicists Scott French.
We are also joined by Fashion ReverieEditor in Chief William S. Gooch,
who will conduct our Fashion Reverie FashionReverie Fashion Quiz. But let's get started
with the fashion news. All ofour news segments are based on the fashion
(01:00):
news alerts found on Fashion reverie dotcom. So let's jump into the current
events in fashion. I'm going tostart off with Naomi Campbell's new museum exhibit.
So Naomi Campbell is actually the firstmodel ever to have an exhibit dedicated
to her. She started modeling whenshe was like fifteen, and it's a
(01:21):
really, really long career that she'shad. It opened June twenty second,
and Patrick it's all about her career, how she started at fifteen walking in
Patrick Kelly's fashion show to her iconiccareer as one of Carl Lagerfeld's music So
to the present day, she does, you know, makes great changes in
(01:46):
fashion and always leaves a big,you know, stamp of innovation. So
I do just want to apologize.I'm outside at an event in the Hampton,
So it's a little bit loud andit's a little bit aught, but
that's how we do it here.What's bathroom? Every talked they're being fabulous,
like Naomi Campbell or the next personI'm going to talk about. Star
(02:12):
Rihanna, who has a new jobthe global pop icon was recently named brand
ambassador for Parfu's Christian Dior's Jador.Now I also number one. I just
love Jador and I also love Rihanna, And you know, she has to
say that being the face of Jadoris a real honor for her and she
knows how much this fragrance has meantto her and other women. And you
(02:35):
know, she's really looking forward tocapturing the creativity and the feminity, femininity
in the perfume. And they saythat Jador is the perfume of a powerful
liberated independent woman, which obviously issomething that we think about when we think
about Rihanna, and I think thatthis is a good collaboration. I think
that, you know, them workingtogether makes a lot of sense. I
(03:00):
love Shador myself, your door,everything, dear, Well, there you
go, that's my way. Soactually, we all know that the Olympics
are coming closed in July in Paris. They will be hosted by French this
(03:20):
year, and Ralph Lauren is designingthe outfits for the US Olympic team,
so we all love his style obviously, And for the opening ceremony, uniform
for the US team will feature asingle breast, a wool blazer with red
and white tipping, a stripped Oxfordshirt and a tappered gene paired with classic
(03:47):
suede buck shoes. And for theclosing ceremony, athletes have a sporty motor
style jacket with a white denim anda polo shirt from the brand's custom create
your Own program. That sounds fantastic. I mean, you know, the
Olympics are always such a you know, I think it's always an exciting opportunity
(04:09):
for the designer of the outfits.And I think that it's going to be
great, you know, patriotic andfashionable. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
And I think that's the end ofour fashion news alerts. Yes it is.
Yeah, but you guys know,even when we're on our break,
you want to keep in keep current. You know what's happening in fashion.
(04:32):
Go to the Fashion News of Fashionreverie doctor. Yeah, we'll we'll feel
be a writing articles. All right, So it is time for a fashion
quiz, and our very good friendsScott French is joining us. And who
will be quizing us It will beWilliam Gooch, our editor in chief.
(04:54):
So let the best win again.Oh my god. Okay, you know
every fashion quiz you win. SoI decided let's do something a little different
this time. Let me be thehost of the quiz, and we're going
(05:18):
to bring in more competition, whichis Scott French, who is an expert
extraordinari on fashion. I am verynervous about this. I'm always nervous about
it. So well, Scott,you are a college professor, so you
(05:41):
should have the professor doesn't always knowall the answers. So let's get started.
Okay, our first question and allof our questions, the answers are
A, D and C. SoI hope you guys have your little ABC
cards ready? Yes, so let'sstart. Our first question is which fashion
(06:05):
designer was the winner of Project RunwayAll Starts Season twenty. Was it a
Christian Siriano, the Bishmi Crow,Marty or C Milan Gretan? Your answers
please? Are we ready? Oh? Yeah, I'm ready, I'm not
(06:30):
ready. I'm ready. I wasn'tready. Okay, the answer is bish
Me, Chrow, Marty. Allright, Scott got the professor got it
right. The professor got it right, Tiana, I'm disappointed, Tiana.
(06:54):
Okay. Next question, did thedid the department store Nordstroms start out as
A A women's apparel line, bea luxury department store, or C a
footwear store? So what did Norsehamstart out as women's apparel line, A,
(07:16):
B, a luxury department store,or C a footwear store? Answers
please, I definitely don't know theanswer. Scott and Sily got it right.
(07:39):
I think it's too hot for youto think straight. I love it.
Well, I'm still losing, sodon't worry. Shut up. For
the right amount of money off ormaybe a fabulous skiffrom the heavens. I
will get if you're wrong here,excuse okay. Next question, how many
(08:01):
times has Ralph Lawrence Brand created uniformsfor the US Olympic teams? A ten
times C No, excuse me,A ten times, B, nine times,
C seven times. What's your answer? All right? Answers please,
(08:26):
B please? The answer is B. Since I can't see you ask.
Basically, you only missed one outof three. Good. Okay, Tianna,
you finally arrived. You finally arrived, Tianna. Okay. Next question,
which noted fashion stylist stylist has anew book coming out? Which noted
(08:50):
fashion stylist has a new book comingout? A law Roach, B Phillip
Block or C. June Ambrose.I'll give the answers again, A law
Roach, B, Philip Block,C. June Ambrose. Dune doom doom,
(09:15):
doom, doom doom dude. Okay, answers please, okay, okay,
Tiana, what's your answer, Scott? Oh my god, the professor
got it wrong. Oh my god, the professor got it. Why didn't
(09:41):
he get that terrible? I don'tknow where you got those sounds effects from?
Okay? A is law roach?Law Roach has a new book coming
out? Okay, next question,which famous duo is coming together for a
potential new fashion reality the TV show? Is it a Austin Scarlett and Santino
(10:03):
Rice b, Tim Gunn and HeidiKluon c Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie?
Do you need this? The choicesagain? Okay? Answers please, yay?
(10:28):
Okay. The last questions, thisis gonna break the bank. We
have a tie between Sicily and Scott. No, so with both you and
Scott question it'll be a three waytime. Okay, okay. What is
(10:52):
the name of supermodel Bella Hadid's newfragrance? Is it a Bella the Slay
ce Arabella? Oh no, ABella c Slay? No, excuse me,
A Bella b slay c Arabella.Oh yeah, I don't know what
(11:22):
I was. Okay. Answers,answers, answers, yay. Cicily and
Tianna got it right? Oh no, it's got You're wrong one. So
(11:46):
that that that the winner is Cicily, finally, finally, Cicely, And
there's a tie between Scott and Tianna. I think that was a miracor because
this is the most miraculous because y'allknow I didn't know answer. I know
(12:09):
you. I know you can saythe reason you didn't win is because you're
just so hot. I'm going tohear you of the fabulousness in the Hampton.
I guess that's what it is.Wells, so you know there.
Of course, By the way,all of these questions came from our fashion
(12:33):
news alerts on Fashion revery dot com. So we want to tell all our
subscribers, all our viewers, ifyou want more information and more of the
actual quid, there are actually twelvequestions. We only did a little preview
on this pot podcast, but allof the questions are on fashion. The
twelve questions are on an article onFashion revery dot com. Thank you,
(12:54):
guys, Thank you so much.Scott, Thanks thanks letting me join.
You have a good days well viewers. I am so excited to welcome some
co authors. Now one you knowvery well and one will be new to
(13:15):
you. I am excited to welcomeVivian Kelly and Scott French, the co
authors of Donald J. Pliner,The Selling of One Soul. Welcome Vivian,
Welcome back, Scott, Hey,Hey, welcome. I am so
hoforable to have you both on theshow, and we're going to jump right
(13:37):
in. So I'm going to directthis first to Scott. Why this book
about Donald J. Pliner? That'sa good question. A lot of people
ask you that I had the privilegeback in twenty seventeen of working as Donald
Planner's publicist for about three or fourmonths. Why it was such a short
term. You got to read thebook for that one. But he got
involved in a lawsuit and it closedthe company down. So during COVID I
(14:01):
worked with his wife on a podcast, producing a podcast. I kept noticing
every guest that would come on herpodcast want to know about Donald Pliner,
and I thought, hmm, there'sdefinitely a story here. So I asked
him. I said, if youever think of writing a book, Donald,
And He's like, no, butI've always dreamed of it. I'm
like, well, maybe me.And that's how we got started. So
(14:22):
it was on my sort of itwas a great subject that was hinted to
me on a silver platter. Okay, okay, well now I'm going to
direct this question to Vivian, butdefinitely, Scott, I want you to
jump in. And it seems likea book just starting to write a book.
Even when you're thinking about it isa really daunting task. It's like
not a small project, it's hugething. So how does one go about
(14:46):
bringing a project like this to life? Yes, it is I've written courses
before, but what you have todo is okay. So Scott had tapes.
He had hours and hours and hoursof interviews with Scott and Donald,
which is great. So that wasa starting point. What I did once
(15:09):
I got on there is I helpedcreate a scaffolding. So before it's like
building a house, before you startputting the pretty things on, you have
to have the skeleton of whatever itis that you're going to do. So
we decided on an outline. Therewas an outline before and we kind of
changed it up, and then fromthere we started adding things in. Scott
(15:33):
and I met and he can talkabout this at his place in Connecticut,
and we had boxes and boxes ofarticles. I'm a research rat, so
that was heavenly for me. Butwith all these old newspapers and magazines and
items that we had to blow throughand see are we going to use this?
Does it fit into this chapter thatchapter? So we started creating little
(15:54):
piles and from there we just startedthe writing, which in this case was
by zoom at seven thirty in themorning before we all went to work on
our other things, and we wouldsomeone would start talking and Scott would Scott
did the writing like on his computer, and then I would correct things.
(16:15):
So we work really well together becausewe kind of think, well, we
do think alike, but we haveslightly different styles of pros. I came
up in newspapers, so in newspapersthe idea is short and sweet. If
you can use one word for three, do that. So there was kind
of that, some stylistic elements,and I'm a publicist, so I make
(16:38):
everything flowering. Yes. Yeah,but Donald is like one of the most
preeminent shoot designers on the planet,definitely one of the most accomplished ones ever
to come out of the United States, for certain, and he had insane
amounts of archives and everyone had anopinion on him. So we never talking
about it. We got, asyou said, this framework. Thank god
she was there, because I waslike, I think I wrote the first
(17:00):
chapter by myself. I realized,like, this is not going to work.
I need some help please. Butwe, as she said, framed
it all out and then we decided, you know, what Donald's story is
very important to have his version first, So we went the whole way through
the story and got Donald's version offacts, and then we wrote Donald's story,
(17:22):
and then we interviewed all the otherpeople that are in the book to
sort of layer on top of it. But the mean storyline was Donald's and
we just got that storyline down andlet it let it grow from there.
One thing, Oh, can Isay something we didn't We tried, I
should say, not to interject ourpersonal opinion, but rather say she said
blah blah blah, he said blahblah blah, and let the reader decide,
(17:48):
you know, which version is theversion that they think it really happened.
I think that's well, you know, they see what there's like three
versions of the truth. What youthink happened that the other person happened?
Says yeah. And so I feellike this seems like a book that's going
to like allow people maybe to makea choice about what they think the version
(18:11):
of the truth is right and argueabout it. As I said, a
lot of verreas in the book,where there's actually multiple versions of the exact
we're like, oh my god,what do we talk to more people and
talk to more people, and acouple of times we just couldn't find that
one truth. So we just wedid two versions and said it parted ways,
(18:32):
here they go and joined back togetherand just let them finde because we
there was no way of getting tothe bottom of it. I think that's
fascinating. Well, you said yougot many versions of the truth, and
I feel like there were many celebritynames in this story. So Scott tell
us about some of those names andhow they are part of the story,
how they're coming in. Well,Donald was the shoe designer of choice for
(18:56):
Elton John, for Wayne Newton,for Ross had some of his garments.
Share was a big We had allthese amazing celebrities to come in because what
you learn in the book the firsthalf of the book, Donald was a
retailer before he started shoes. Hehad a store on Verdeo Drive, and
everyone shopped at that store, literally, everyone from Tina Turner to Zander Roads
(19:18):
to designer Kevin Hall, who waslucky enough we got to write him to
write the forward for us. Theyall shopped at the store. So as
being a Verdeo Drive and having likea very trendy store, everyone came shopping,
and then when he launched his shoecollection, it made sense they followed.
They followed up by wearing the shoes. So we had a really the
difficulty was how do we pick,how do we pick which ones to put
(19:41):
in? And also how do weget permission and how do we get ahold
of them to put them? Sowe got a couple of people like Czenn
Summers from Three's company who just recentlypassed, and Tina Turner, who we
actually got some statements from their people, if you will, but others we
were able to sort of pull ittogether. But they mentioned him in the
press, they were in an article, and we used those pieces of articles,
as you know, support the storylineof them being in there, and
(20:04):
a few of them I was liketo like Wayne Newton, I was lucky
enough to meet it in Donald's.Yeah, that was great, amazing.
Well, I think that that youknow, of course, everyone's fascinated by
celebrities and how they interact with designers, you know what I mean, And
those relationships are so important for thedesigners as well as the stars themselves.
(20:25):
So I think that's really exciting.I guess i'll direct this question stock with
Vivian, but it's for both ofyou. Is there anything you had to
leave out? Or do you feellike you told the whole story? I
think that based on we just said, we kind of put it all out
there. I mean, you know, there's a particular I don't want to
(20:45):
give the book away, but there'sthis one version of how did Donald get
into Nordstrom. There's definitely two sidesof the story. And again, like
you decide when you read it,you can decide what you think actually happened.
So no, not really, wekind of put it all on the
table. Mark Scott. Yeah,I'll tell you Donald told us far more
(21:06):
than I think he probably needed totell us. Not that we sard this
whole thing at the very beginning,said Donald and his wife Lisa, who
was also a very integral to thestory in many ways. They've been together
twenty plus, twenty five years,twenty six years. Yeah, and I
just said, I'm not gonna writea story that's gonna be sugarcoated. You're
going to tell us this real,real version, and there's nothing off limits.
(21:26):
He's like, I wouldn't want tohold anything off limits. There was
one storyline involving some family members thatit was revealing some very personal details about
their lives that we decided did itchange the story by not including it?
Would it propel the story forward byincluding it? We chose to keep it.
Really it didn't really, so weleft that out. Other than that
one thing just to sort of revealsome family secrets and everything else was in
(21:51):
it though it really if it involvedthe business, it's it and it's not
all pretty. I mean, DonaldPlanner doesn't come off looking great all the
time. The times he's a creativegenius that he is, but at times
he's not. And there's some baddecisions made along the way. And you
know, Donald was very honest aboutthat piece is very honest about and they're
all in there. I think that'smuch more compelling though for you know,
(22:11):
for a reader like it's not asfun to just hear like a pre's perfect
story. I think it's important forpeople to understand the ups and downs and
you know, kind of the journeythat people really go on, especially when
they're pursuing their art. You know, what would you say, I guess
I'll start with Scott, what doyou think you hope readers get from this
story? That's a really good questionand not one of the premilli. I
(22:37):
like that one. I would hopethat they want that the fashion business and
isn't all that is what is onthe surface. There's a lot of real
hard work behind it. It's avery very high stakes business. A tremendous
amount can be earned as far asprestige and money, and a tremendous amount
can be lost. However, noone gets there without a crazy amount of
(23:02):
work. And I think that you'llsee that what's on the surface, is
it always what she believed? Ihope they take that away. And that's
my desire, Okay, And whatwould you say, Vivian, Yeah,
ad to Scott's point, there's alot of failure that comes to success.
(23:22):
I mean, no one really celebratesthe failures and celebrates of successes. Isn't
any entertainment business particularly, so youknow, we show both sides. So
it's not easy. You know,if you want to be in this business,
as Scott says, be prepared toget really tough and like do the
work. And the tone of thebook is the selling of one's soul.
It's a double play on sole ofa shoe. But when he sold his
(23:45):
company, you sold his sole andhe sold his soul times over and really
you'll see that. And there's agreat deal of lament as an undercurrent to
certain decisions. They're made for theright decision at the time, so it's
not a it's not so clear cutlove. I love all of these answers,
and again I think that it's justmuch more intriguing and interesting when you
(24:08):
get to see a full a fullrepresentation of what's necessary, what you know,
like the work, whether it's theunderbelly or like you know, the
heart, the things that are hard, the hard decisions or the hard you
know, the hard moment, andhow how good or bad, how that
person may have dealt with it,because sometimes it's probably in a positive way.
(24:29):
It maybe sometimes it's you know,they wish they might have done it
differently or whatever. Sometimes you makea decision today that really has vocations in
six years from now, it's like, Wow, I wish I had done
that at the time. Was theright decision? So it's right, great,
exactly well for both of you.Then this is my final question,
but it might be interesting since youare in a co authorship, what's next
(24:51):
for you? And do you haveany other stories you want to write together
or separately. I will start withyou, Vivian. Oh, yes,
actually we have one that I particularlyam really hoping we can get done.
And yeah, so I can't sayanything because the deal is a signed,
(25:12):
but this would be more shall wesay something that would lead possibly to television
Netflix, reality TV. Yes,it's very juicy, Okay, I can
say about it. Yeah, sookay as well, so maybe a future
segment fashion of every Talk so youcan go and talk about that. I
(25:33):
am love it. Yes, well, our feelings will be hurt if you
don't give us the scoop when you'reable to. Of course we will.
Yeah, I would have said Ireally I was very nervous about bringing Vivian
on ports and like, oh mygod, I'm very much the control for
you, like I like to whatever. But I've been going through the process
now Honestly, I don't want towrite another book without you know, living
(25:56):
by my side in this case.I mean, I really I think we
really what's an amazing friendship through thisprocess. And I'm also it's very difficult
to find someone in life that completesone sentences and you know, I can
trust, I fully have trust.So it's a lot easier working with a
partner on a project like this.It really is to have someone that bounce
things back and forth on and Ihope that we do many more books together.
(26:19):
Thank you, Scott. The realedge was that we always disagreed and
then at the end we would weirdlycome to the same conclusion. It was
very strange, like we'd start onthe opposite side of an issue as we
were writing, and then we werelike, we just agreed. It was
just that was what was so strangeand great. Actually, yep, I
(26:44):
think that sounds like an amazing collaboration, and so I really want to thank
both of you. Thank you Scott, Thank you Vivian for joining us on
Fashion Reverie talks, and for sharinginformation about the book. And oh most
important, when is the book available? Like I need like, give me,
give me the you know, theone copy that exists right now,
(27:04):
this is the but we love thatyou can get it on pre sale now.
I think it'll be in the CAIrun where to get it on pre
sale. But it's going to bereally sort of distributed on or about July
tenth, aboutay, okay, sohonor about July tenth, tenth honor about
July tenth, so that we canall get into the drama, the fascination
(27:27):
and the backstory that I'm sure youguys have written about so well and in
an interesting, it sounds like way, with interesting perspectives. So I really
appreciate you joining us, and pleasecome back and see us again. Well,
thank you, thank you, thankyou so much, thank you well
viewers. That's it for this episodeof Fashion Reverie Talks. We would like
(27:51):
to thank our guests, Scott's Frenchand editor in chief William Goop. For
information on these and other stories toFashion reverie dot com. Don't forget to
hit the subscribe button. Thanks forwatching. We'll see you guys next season.
Welcome to Fashion Reverie Talks. Iam Piana Ibrahimovich and I am Sicily Daniels.
Fashion Reverie. It takes you fromthe frontlion to fashion to the front
row. All of Fashion Reverie Talksegments are based on published content found on
Fashion reverie dot com, so remember, if you want more information on the
(00:37):
segments, go to Fashion reverie dotcom. In this last episode of the
season, we are so happy tohave author and fashion publicists Scott French.
We are also joined by Fashion ReverieEditor in Chief William S. Gooch,
who will conduct our Fashion Reverie FashionReverie Fashion Quiz. But let's get started
with the fashion news. All ofour news segments are based on the fashion
(01:00):
news alerts found on Fashion reverie dotcom. So let's jump into the current
events in fashion. I'm going tostart off with Naomi Campbell's new museum exhibit.
So Naomi Campbell is actually the firstmodel ever to have an exhibit dedicated
to her. She started modeling whenshe was like fifteen, and it's a
(01:21):
really, really long career that she'shad. It opened June twenty second,
and Patrick it's all about her career, how she started at fifteen walking in
Patrick Kelly's fashion show to her iconiccareer as one of Carl Lagerfeld's music So
to the present day, she does, you know, makes great changes in
(01:46):
fashion and always leaves a big,you know, stamp of innovation. So
I do just want to apologize.I'm outside at an event in the Hampton,
So it's a little bit loud andit's a little bit aught, but
that's how we do it here.What's bathroom? Every talked they're being fabulous,
like Naomi Campbell or the next personI'm going to talk about. Star
(02:12):
Rihanna, who has a new jobthe global pop icon was recently named brand
ambassador for Parfu's Christian Dior's Jador.Now I also number one. I just
love Jador and I also love Rihanna, And you know, she has to
say that being the face of Jadoris a real honor for her and she
knows how much this fragrance has meantto her and other women. And you
(02:35):
know, she's really looking forward tocapturing the creativity and the feminity, femininity
in the perfume. And they saythat Jador is the perfume of a powerful
liberated independent woman, which obviously issomething that we think about when we think
about Rihanna, and I think thatthis is a good collaboration. I think
that, you know, them workingtogether makes a lot of sense. I
(03:00):
love Shador myself, your door,everything, dear, Well, there you
go, that's my way. Soactually, we all know that the Olympics
are coming closed in July in Paris. They will be hosted by French this
(03:20):
year, and Ralph Lauren is designingthe outfits for the US Olympic team,
so we all love his style obviously, And for the opening ceremony, uniform
for the US team will feature asingle breast, a wool blazer with red
and white tipping, a stripped Oxfordshirt and a tappered gene paired with classic
(03:47):
suede buck shoes. And for theclosing ceremony, athletes have a sporty motor
style jacket with a white denim anda polo shirt from the brand's custom create
your Own program. That sounds fantastic. I mean, you know, the
Olympics are always such a you know, I think it's always an exciting opportunity
(04:09):
for the designer of the outfits.And I think that it's going to be
great, you know, patriotic andfashionable. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
And I think that's the end ofour fashion news alerts. Yes it is.
Yeah, but you guys know,even when we're on our break,
you want to keep in keep current. You know what's happening in fashion.
(04:32):
Go to the Fashion News of Fashionreverie doctor. Yeah, we'll we'll feel
be a writing articles. All right, So it is time for a fashion
quiz, and our very good friendsScott French is joining us. And who
will be quizing us It will beWilliam Gooch, our editor in chief.
(04:54):
So let the best win again.Oh my god. Okay, you know
every fashion quiz you win. SoI decided let's do something a little different
this time. Let me be thehost of the quiz, and we're going
(05:18):
to bring in more competition, whichis Scott French, who is an expert
extraordinari on fashion. I am verynervous about this. I'm always nervous about
it. So well, Scott,you are a college professor, so you
(05:41):
should have the professor doesn't always knowall the answers. So let's get started.
Okay, our first question and allof our questions, the answers are
A, D and C. SoI hope you guys have your little ABC
cards ready? Yes, so let'sstart. Our first question is which fashion
(06:05):
designer was the winner of Project RunwayAll Starts Season twenty. Was it a
Christian Siriano, the Bishmi Crow,Marty or C Milan Gretan? Your answers
please? Are we ready? Oh? Yeah, I'm ready, I'm not
(06:30):
ready. I'm ready. I wasn'tready. Okay, the answer is bish
Me, Chrow, Marty. Allright, Scott got the professor got it
right. The professor got it right, Tiana, I'm disappointed, Tiana.
(06:54):
Okay. Next question, did thedid the department store Nordstroms start out as
A A women's apparel line, bea luxury department store, or C a
footwear store? So what did Norsehamstart out as women's apparel line, A,
(07:16):
B, a luxury department store,or C a footwear store? Answers
please, I definitely don't know theanswer. Scott and Sily got it right.
(07:39):
I think it's too hot for youto think straight. I love it.
Well, I'm still losing, sodon't worry. Shut up. For
the right amount of money off ormaybe a fabulous skiffrom the heavens. I
will get if you're wrong here,excuse okay. Next question, how many
(08:01):
times has Ralph Lawrence Brand created uniformsfor the US Olympic teams? A ten
times C No, excuse me,A ten times, B, nine times,
C seven times. What's your answer? All right? Answers please,
(08:26):
B please? The answer is B. Since I can't see you ask.
Basically, you only missed one outof three. Good. Okay, Tianna,
you finally arrived. You finally arrived, Tianna. Okay. Next question,
which noted fashion stylist stylist has anew book coming out? Which noted
(08:50):
fashion stylist has a new book comingout? A law Roach, B Phillip
Block or C. June Ambrose.I'll give the answers again, A law
Roach, B, Philip Block,C. June Ambrose. Dune doom doom,
(09:15):
doom, doom doom dude. Okay, answers please, okay, okay,
Tiana, what's your answer, Scott? Oh my god, the professor
got it wrong. Oh my god, the professor got it. Why didn't
(09:41):
he get that terrible? I don'tknow where you got those sounds effects from?
Okay? A is law roach?Law Roach has a new book coming
out? Okay, next question,which famous duo is coming together for a
potential new fashion reality the TV show? Is it a Austin Scarlett and Santino
(10:03):
Rice b, Tim Gunn and HeidiKluon c Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie?
Do you need this? The choicesagain? Okay? Answers please, yay?
(10:28):
Okay. The last questions, thisis gonna break the bank. We
have a tie between Sicily and Scott. No, so with both you and
Scott question it'll be a three waytime. Okay, okay. What is
(10:52):
the name of supermodel Bella Hadid's newfragrance? Is it a Bella the Slay
ce Arabella? Oh no, ABella c Slay? No, excuse me,
A Bella b slay c Arabella.Oh yeah, I don't know what
(11:22):
I was. Okay. Answers,answers, answers, yay. Cicily and
Tianna got it right? Oh no, it's got You're wrong one. So
(11:46):
that that that the winner is Cicily, finally, finally, Cicely, And
there's a tie between Scott and Tianna. I think that was a miracor because
this is the most miraculous because y'allknow I didn't know answer. I know
(12:09):
you. I know you can saythe reason you didn't win is because you're
just so hot. I'm going tohear you of the fabulousness in the Hampton.
I guess that's what it is.Wells, so you know there.
Of course, By the way,all of these questions came from our fashion
(12:33):
news alerts on Fashion revery dot com. So we want to tell all our
subscribers, all our viewers, ifyou want more information and more of the
actual quid, there are actually twelvequestions. We only did a little preview
on this pot podcast, but allof the questions are on fashion. The
twelve questions are on an article onFashion revery dot com. Thank you,
(12:54):
guys, Thank you so much.Scott, Thanks thanks letting me join.
You have a good days well viewers. I am so excited to welcome some
co authors. Now one you knowvery well and one will be new to
(13:15):
you. I am excited to welcomeVivian Kelly and Scott French, the co
authors of Donald J. Pliner,The Selling of One Soul. Welcome Vivian,
Welcome back, Scott, Hey,Hey, welcome. I am so
hoforable to have you both on theshow, and we're going to jump right
(13:37):
in. So I'm going to directthis first to Scott. Why this book
about Donald J. Pliner? That'sa good question. A lot of people
ask you that I had the privilegeback in twenty seventeen of working as Donald
Planner's publicist for about three or fourmonths. Why it was such a short
term. You got to read thebook for that one. But he got
involved in a lawsuit and it closedthe company down. So during COVID I
(14:01):
worked with his wife on a podcast, producing a podcast. I kept noticing
every guest that would come on herpodcast want to know about Donald Pliner,
and I thought, hmm, there'sdefinitely a story here. So I asked
him. I said, if youever think of writing a book, Donald,
And He's like, no, butI've always dreamed of it. I'm
like, well, maybe me.And that's how we got started. So
(14:22):
it was on my sort of itwas a great subject that was hinted to
me on a silver platter. Okay, okay, well now I'm going to
direct this question to Vivian, butdefinitely, Scott, I want you to
jump in. And it seems likea book just starting to write a book.
Even when you're thinking about it isa really daunting task. It's like
not a small project, it's hugething. So how does one go about
(14:46):
bringing a project like this to life? Yes, it is I've written courses
before, but what you have todo is okay. So Scott had tapes.
He had hours and hours and hoursof interviews with Scott and Donald,
which is great. So that wasa starting point. What I did once
(15:09):
I got on there is I helpedcreate a scaffolding. So before it's like
building a house, before you startputting the pretty things on, you have
to have the skeleton of whatever itis that you're going to do. So
we decided on an outline. Therewas an outline before and we kind of
changed it up, and then fromthere we started adding things in. Scott
(15:33):
and I met and he can talkabout this at his place in Connecticut,
and we had boxes and boxes ofarticles. I'm a research rat, so
that was heavenly for me. Butwith all these old newspapers and magazines and
items that we had to blow throughand see are we going to use this?
Does it fit into this chapter thatchapter? So we started creating little
(15:54):
piles and from there we just startedthe writing, which in this case was
by zoom at seven thirty in themorning before we all went to work on
our other things, and we wouldsomeone would start talking and Scott would Scott
did the writing like on his computer, and then I would correct things.
(16:15):
So we work really well together becausewe kind of think, well, we
do think alike, but we haveslightly different styles of pros. I came
up in newspapers, so in newspapersthe idea is short and sweet. If
you can use one word for three, do that. So there was kind
of that, some stylistic elements,and I'm a publicist, so I make
(16:38):
everything flowering. Yes. Yeah,but Donald is like one of the most
preeminent shoot designers on the planet,definitely one of the most accomplished ones ever
to come out of the United States, for certain, and he had insane
amounts of archives and everyone had anopinion on him. So we never talking
about it. We got, asyou said, this framework. Thank god
she was there, because I waslike, I think I wrote the first
(17:00):
chapter by myself. I realized,like, this is not going to work.
I need some help please. Butwe, as she said, framed
it all out and then we decided, you know, what Donald's story is
very important to have his version first, So we went the whole way through
the story and got Donald's version offacts, and then we wrote Donald's story,
(17:22):
and then we interviewed all the otherpeople that are in the book to
sort of layer on top of it. But the mean storyline was Donald's and
we just got that storyline down andlet it let it grow from there.
One thing, Oh, can Isay something we didn't We tried, I
should say, not to interject ourpersonal opinion, but rather say she said
blah blah blah, he said blahblah blah, and let the reader decide,
(17:48):
you know, which version is theversion that they think it really happened.
I think that's well, you know, they see what there's like three
versions of the truth. What youthink happened that the other person happened?
Says yeah. And so I feellike this seems like a book that's going
to like allow people maybe to makea choice about what they think the version
(18:11):
of the truth is right and argueabout it. As I said, a
lot of verreas in the book,where there's actually multiple versions of the exact
we're like, oh my god,what do we talk to more people and
talk to more people, and acouple of times we just couldn't find that
one truth. So we just wedid two versions and said it parted ways,
(18:32):
here they go and joined back togetherand just let them finde because we
there was no way of getting tothe bottom of it. I think that's
fascinating. Well, you said yougot many versions of the truth, and
I feel like there were many celebritynames in this story. So Scott tell
us about some of those names andhow they are part of the story,
how they're coming in. Well,Donald was the shoe designer of choice for
(18:56):
Elton John, for Wayne Newton,for Ross had some of his garments.
Share was a big We had allthese amazing celebrities to come in because what
you learn in the book the firsthalf of the book, Donald was a
retailer before he started shoes. Hehad a store on Verdeo Drive, and
everyone shopped at that store, literally, everyone from Tina Turner to Zander Roads
(19:18):
to designer Kevin Hall, who waslucky enough we got to write him to
write the forward for us. Theyall shopped at the store. So as
being a Verdeo Drive and having likea very trendy store, everyone came shopping,
and then when he launched his shoecollection, it made sense they followed.
They followed up by wearing the shoes. So we had a really the
difficulty was how do we pick,how do we pick which ones to put
(19:41):
in? And also how do weget permission and how do we get ahold
of them to put them? Sowe got a couple of people like Czenn
Summers from Three's company who just recentlypassed, and Tina Turner, who we
actually got some statements from their people, if you will, but others we
were able to sort of pull ittogether. But they mentioned him in the
press, they were in an article, and we used those pieces of articles,
as you know, support the storylineof them being in there, and
(20:04):
a few of them I was liketo like Wayne Newton, I was lucky
enough to meet it in Donald's.Yeah, that was great, amazing.
Well, I think that that youknow, of course, everyone's fascinated by
celebrities and how they interact with designers, you know what I mean, And
those relationships are so important for thedesigners as well as the stars themselves.
(20:25):
So I think that's really exciting.I guess i'll direct this question stock with
Vivian, but it's for both ofyou. Is there anything you had to
leave out? Or do you feellike you told the whole story? I
think that based on we just said, we kind of put it all out
there. I mean, you know, there's a particular I don't want to
(20:45):
give the book away, but there'sthis one version of how did Donald get
into Nordstrom. There's definitely two sidesof the story. And again, like
you decide when you read it,you can decide what you think actually happened.
So no, not really, wekind of put it all on the
table. Mark Scott. Yeah,I'll tell you Donald told us far more
(21:06):
than I think he probably needed totell us. Not that we sard this
whole thing at the very beginning,said Donald and his wife Lisa, who
was also a very integral to thestory in many ways. They've been together
twenty plus, twenty five years,twenty six years. Yeah, and I
just said, I'm not gonna writea story that's gonna be sugarcoated. You're
going to tell us this real,real version, and there's nothing off limits.
(21:26):
He's like, I wouldn't want tohold anything off limits. There was
one storyline involving some family members thatit was revealing some very personal details about
their lives that we decided did itchange the story by not including it?
Would it propel the story forward byincluding it? We chose to keep it.
Really it didn't really, so weleft that out. Other than that
one thing just to sort of revealsome family secrets and everything else was in
(21:51):
it though it really if it involvedthe business, it's it and it's not
all pretty. I mean, DonaldPlanner doesn't come off looking great all the
time. The times he's a creativegenius that he is, but at times
he's not. And there's some baddecisions made along the way. And you
know, Donald was very honest aboutthat piece is very honest about and they're
all in there. I think that'smuch more compelling though for you know,
(22:11):
for a reader like it's not asfun to just hear like a pre's perfect
story. I think it's important forpeople to understand the ups and downs and
you know, kind of the journeythat people really go on, especially when
they're pursuing their art. You know, what would you say, I guess
I'll start with Scott, what doyou think you hope readers get from this
story? That's a really good questionand not one of the premilli. I
(22:37):
like that one. I would hopethat they want that the fashion business and
isn't all that is what is onthe surface. There's a lot of real
hard work behind it. It's avery very high stakes business. A tremendous
amount can be earned as far asprestige and money, and a tremendous amount
can be lost. However, noone gets there without a crazy amount of
(23:02):
work. And I think that you'llsee that what's on the surface, is
it always what she believed? Ihope they take that away. And that's
my desire, Okay, And whatwould you say, Vivian, Yeah,
ad to Scott's point, there's alot of failure that comes to success.
(23:22):
I mean, no one really celebratesthe failures and celebrates of successes. Isn't
any entertainment business particularly, so youknow, we show both sides. So
it's not easy. You know,if you want to be in this business,
as Scott says, be prepared toget really tough and like do the
work. And the tone of thebook is the selling of one's soul.
It's a double play on sole ofa shoe. But when he sold his
(23:45):
company, you sold his sole andhe sold his soul times over and really
you'll see that. And there's agreat deal of lament as an undercurrent to
certain decisions. They're made for theright decision at the time, so it's
not a it's not so clear cutlove. I love all of these answers,
and again I think that it's justmuch more intriguing and interesting when you
(24:08):
get to see a full a fullrepresentation of what's necessary, what you know,
like the work, whether it's theunderbelly or like you know, the
heart, the things that are hard, the hard decisions or the hard you
know, the hard moment, andhow how good or bad, how that
person may have dealt with it,because sometimes it's probably in a positive way.
(24:29):
It maybe sometimes it's you know,they wish they might have done it
differently or whatever. Sometimes you makea decision today that really has vocations in
six years from now, it's like, Wow, I wish I had done
that at the time. Was theright decision? So it's right, great,
exactly well for both of you.Then this is my final question,
but it might be interesting since youare in a co authorship, what's next
(24:51):
for you? And do you haveany other stories you want to write together
or separately. I will start withyou, Vivian. Oh, yes,
actually we have one that I particularlyam really hoping we can get done.
And yeah, so I can't sayanything because the deal is a signed,
(25:12):
but this would be more shall wesay something that would lead possibly to television
Netflix, reality TV. Yes,it's very juicy, Okay, I can
say about it. Yeah, sookay as well, so maybe a future
segment fashion of every Talk so youcan go and talk about that. I
(25:33):
am love it. Yes, well, our feelings will be hurt if you
don't give us the scoop when you'reable to. Of course we will.
Yeah, I would have said Ireally I was very nervous about bringing Vivian
on ports and like, oh mygod, I'm very much the control for
you, like I like to whatever. But I've been going through the process
now Honestly, I don't want towrite another book without you know, living
(25:56):
by my side in this case.I mean, I really I think we
really what's an amazing friendship through thisprocess. And I'm also it's very difficult
to find someone in life that completesone sentences and you know, I can
trust, I fully have trust.So it's a lot easier working with a
partner on a project like this.It really is to have someone that bounce
things back and forth on and Ihope that we do many more books together.
(26:19):
Thank you, Scott. The realedge was that we always disagreed and
then at the end we would weirdlycome to the same conclusion. It was
very strange, like we'd start onthe opposite side of an issue as we
were writing, and then we werelike, we just agreed. It was
just that was what was so strangeand great. Actually, yep, I
(26:44):
think that sounds like an amazing collaboration, and so I really want to thank
both of you. Thank you Scott, Thank you Vivian for joining us on
Fashion Reverie talks, and for sharinginformation about the book. And oh most
important, when is the book available? Like I need like, give me,
give me the you know, theone copy that exists right now,
(27:04):
this is the but we love thatyou can get it on pre sale now.
I think it'll be in the CAIrun where to get it on pre
sale. But it's going to bereally sort of distributed on or about July
tenth, aboutay, okay, sohonor about July tenth, tenth honor about
July tenth, so that we canall get into the drama, the fascination
(27:27):
and the backstory that I'm sure youguys have written about so well and in
an interesting, it sounds like way, with interesting perspectives. So I really
appreciate you joining us, and pleasecome back and see us again. Well,
thank you, thank you, thankyou so much, thank you well
viewers. That's it for this episodeof Fashion Reverie Talks. We would like
(27:51):
to thank our guests, Scott's Frenchand editor in chief William Goop. For
information on these and other stories toFashion reverie dot com. Don't forget to
hit the subscribe button. Thanks forwatching. We'll see you guys next season.
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