January 29, 2013 |
10 MEN: OUT NOW.
Look it’s Prada. On the cover! And now for a few carefully crafted words of wisdom from our ginger ruler:
Thank fuck the holidays are over and it’s back to work. First task of the year is to knock this letter out. What to say? Let’s start with the obvious. The theme of this issue is YOUTH. And don’t get any ideas, I’m not into young. I like MEN, not boys. But on this occasion, the YOUTH are our future. And you know that Greek Wintour, she does like a themed issue.
So what did I want to be when I was growing up down south? I wanted to do what I’m doing now. Sad but very true. I’ve always loved fashion. The only regret I have is losing my hair (which happened at 19), and I probably should have replaced the teeth of grief years ago (it’s not my fault: it involves a hammer and chisel). However, I did also want fame and fortune. Let’s be honest, though – who doesn’t?
Fame, fortune: at a very drunken meeting with a certain blonde-bombshell PR I came to the conclusion that, in our industry, we have all the perks of fame without the actual fame itself. We keep our anonymity. Being a member of the slightly corrupt fashion press, we get everything for free (I hope no taxmen are reading this), turn left not right on the plane, cars await our every exit, tables in restaurants become free when our names are mentioned, and we drink champagne like it’s lemonade. The other night at dinner the lady on the table next to me asked what film I was in, I guess because I know every waiter and half the guests in the restaurant. I told her, “I’m a CELEBRITY PLUMBER” (ie plumber to the stars), because if you say you work in fashion you always get asked “What should I be wearing next year?” or “Can I or my child be a model?” Even partying in the olden days I used to give this answer when people asked why I skipped queues and got free vodkas from barmen. It was effing genius.
The bitch part to this is that when the job comes to an end (as it does for everyone, even Anna Wintour – a note to all you MIDDLE-MARKET MOUTHS out there), so does the lifestyle, as we certainly don’t have A-lister-type bank balances. I’ll be working on the checkout at my local B&Q, in the own-brand paint section. In a boilersuit that’s B&Q, not Hermès, orange.
So, back to the issue in hand. We shouted “YOUTH” at all our contributors and this is what they came back with – we love it. It ain’t rocket science. It is fashion, after all.
Antony Miles
Editorial Director
