Industry Insider Dennis Nothdruft Talks Music, Margiela, and the Future of Fashion

Featured Video
On one sunny yet cold winter morning I rushed to the Fashion & Textile Museum in London to catch up with Dennis Nothdruft – the museum's curator. Nothdruft has curated numerous fashion exhibitions and is the co-writer of two fashion books How to Draw Like a Fashion Designer and How To Draw Vintage Fashion. I couldn’t wait to interview someone who has so much historical knowledge of fashion.

A few moments after meeting him I found myself immersed in a bubble of warmth and inspiration. Sit back and chill as we bring you positive vibes, great designers, and even some music recommendation!

Industry Insider Dennis Nothdruft Talks Music, Margiela, and the Future of Fashion

The Fashion and Textile Museum.


Lina DAUGIRDAITE: What is your resolution for 2015?
Dennis NOTHDRUFT: Oh, I am really bad at resolutions. So my resolution is not to have any resolution!

What is the future of fashion?
I think that fashion is more and more democratic. In our interconnected world, people today have access to images and things in a way that they never had before. And I think that the idea that fashion would be dictated by somebody in Paris or New York is long gone, or at least this is less and less the case. And I think that internet has a lot to do with that.

What is your favorite fashion style?
I have great fondness for deconstruction of the late 80s. So I am a big fan of Margiela, the original one. And then I like The Antwerp Six from Belgium: Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, Dries Van Noten... I like this era also probably because that is when I started in fashion and it inspired me at the time. I have a great fondness for that era. I don’t wear it, I am not a very 'deconstructive' person, but I did use to dress all black.

Industry Insider Dennis Nothdruft Talks Music, Margiela, and the Future of Fashion Industry Insider Dennis Nothdruft Talks Music, Margiela, and the Future of Fashion

From “Maison Martin Margiela”, 2009


What is the most exciting part of writing a book?
I am always quite amazed when the book comes out and you think: “wow! It really happened! ” You have been looking at it for so long on the computer, I really find it nice to look at the final product!

Are you planning to write a new book?
I would like to write a new book on proto-postmodernism in London in the 70s.

A recent discovery that made you happy? (artist, designer, band, hobby etc.?)
Oh… that’s a good question! Hmm… well part of my research for the exhibition involved looking at this designer, Miss Mouse, who I believe designed for about 6-7 years, so she had a very short career, but I thought it was a really interesting story also in the context of the history of fashion. Now I am trying to think what it could be band-wise…. I like Austra a lot, I listen to them quite a bit!

What do you do when you feel lost?
I am quite lucky that I don’t tend to feel lost! That is not my mindset. I may think sometimes that I need a change, but not to the point that I would not know what to do with myself; because something will come along eventually... So I am never particularly worried, I am quite a positive person.

Favorite quote?
There is a really nice quote by Edith Sitwell. She says 'I am not eccentric. It's just that I am more alive than most people. I am an unpopular electric eel set in a pond of goldfish.' I quite like that! Edith looks quite amazing too!

How do you define beauty?
Beauty for me is being comfortable with who you are, where you are and what you have... I think that beauty is not so much a physical thing. It comes from within. Fashion can be a part of that, but it is not required. http://credit-n.ru/zaymyi-next.html
Lina  Daugirdaite
Number of Posts: 2

Find out more »
Do you have a Fashion story idea or tip? Email us at submissions@fashionone.com.