Daily Front Row

2010 June 9

A Moment With...Chloë Sevigny

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Chloe Sevigny x Opening Ceremony
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(NEW YORK) Chloë Sevigny has brought her relaxed, self-declared “alterna-girl” style to Opening Ceremony for the last three seasons, and for Pre-Spring 2011, she brewed up a series of frocks, knitwear, accessories and shoes. The Daily caught up with the actress and designer in the garden outside Opening Ceremony in Soho for her presentation/tea party, and chatted about her adoration of prints, dressing like a Mormon, and why she’s rooting for LeBron James.
EMILY POPP

Congrats on your third season with OC.
Thank you! It’s pretty small; there are 25 dresses, five different silhouettes and five different patterns. A lot of knitwear, shoes, accessories and bags. I was just thinking about my closet and how I buy the same thing over and over again. I will buy one dress and want to have it made with different fabrics, so I thought why not try different silhouettes with different patterns, so people can choose a silhouette and have it in a variety of prints. I just wanted to have fun with it—keep it young and carefree.

You’ve always been a print enthusiast.
To be honest, I like prints because they detract from the face! [laughs] Really, I’ve just always loved a print. It reminds me of what I used to wear in high school. Very Natalie Merchant, you know? It has this timeless, alterna-girl look. I still dress like how I did has a senior in high school, but with a higher heel.

Is it a relief to dress like a Mormon for half the year?
I love it. I love my character and her wardrobe, but now she’s kind of going through something and her outfits have changed. She’s more modern now. She wears miniskirts. I prefer the older stuff, actually, 'cause it’s just easier.

You’re close with a lot of designers, the Proenza boys especially. Is there any friendly competition between you and Jack and Lazaro, or is it all in good fun?
I feel like it’s such a different thing with a completely different price range that it can’t even be compared. This is streetwear with a much lower price point. I was doing a shoot the other day and they said they wanted to shoot my dress. I was like, yeah, next to a $5,000 Balenciaga? It’s just not gonna work! I mean, I love mixing high and low, but this is streetwear, not high fashion. So I feel like there’s no competition against my high fashion designer friends.

Which do you covet more: a CFDA Award or an Emmy?
An Emmy. Acting is my first love, always. This is my hobby—something I like to do on the side for fun.

New York is your home, but is there anything you miss about L.A.?
No, no! I don’t miss anything about L.A.! Well, actually when I’m working there, I get to sit in my makeup chair, catch up on the news and read the New York Times and the New York Post every day, 'cause I don’t want to look in the mirror. And I also get to listen to the radio in L.A..

Do you drive?
I grew up in the suburbs so I do have a driver’s license. I drive around in my Prius.

And speaking of Opening Ceremony...are you a sports fan?
I’m a big basketball and baseball fan, but I’m not following the World Cup. I hate soccer and tennis, too. No interest in those things. Only basketball, really. I’m rooting for LeBron to come to the Knicks!