Celebrating his unique style and take on millinery, Maison Michel teamed up with Sébastien Tellier to release an exclusive -and unexpected- capsule line, which will be available from the 28th of September. We caught up with the talented singer, musician and songwriter through a Skype session in his Paris home to discuss his love of hats, cherished memories of Karl Lagerfeld and why gender is irrelevant when it comes to clothing crushes.
I’m surprised to see you without a hat or cap on.
I usually don’t wear them when I’m staying at home.
What is it that attracts you about millinery?
From a practical point of view, wearing a hat or a cap means you don’t need to worry about styling your hair. I’m 45 now, and it’s a bit of a hassle pretending you’ve got tons of hair when it’s not the case.
What’s your first memory of hats?
As a teenager, I spent most of my summer holidays in Biarritz and I used to wear cowboy hats and matching garments. I guess one was allowed to be extravagant during those months. I never hesitated adding caps or hats to an outfit, because it really finishes off your look. I like expressing myself -and my moods- through my clothes.
It does feel like you have a very playful relationship towards fashion. Is it important for you to experiment?
I do like fashion, because I see a lot of beauty in the ephemeral. It’s like a flower coming to life: a year passes by and it’s no longer there. Music is the same, you can be obsessed with certain sounds for a period of time, before moving on to new forms.
Did you already have this interest as a child?
My mother used to take me to Marché Saint-Pierre in Paris to buy fabrics, and I remember the rustling sounds of materials. I used to hide under the display units. There was this softness and muffled sound, which I really liked. It felt quite reassuring. Obviously, when you perform, your style matters and it requires effort and imagination.
Do you see a correlation between sound and clothes?
Totally. In that way, the clothes and accessories I choose echo my own music at a precise moment. Even though it is part of my work, it also gives me a lot of pleasure to put all these elements together. My albums used to be more conceptual, and I created a specific character with every new story. This was my past though, and what I want now is still to be stylish, but classy and chic.
Can you tell us more about the collection and describe your connection to Maison Michel?
I like what Maison Michel stands for, and after a conversation I had with my friend Yasmine Eslami about hats, she actually called Virgine Viard who then turned to Maison Michel with the idea of a capsule line. I met the whole team, visited their atelier and came with inspiration images from my favorite artists, such as Pink Floyd, Elton John and The Beatles.
Karl Lagerfeld was the one who noticed your music a few years ago and asked you to perform live at a Chanel show.
I first met Karl 15 years ago during a photo shoot he was doing for a magazine. It was his Cola Light period, so there was always a handsome young man ready to provide him with another glass. Of course he fascinated me already, but seeing him work impressed me the most. He was free with his creativity and fulfilled his wildest dreams, but he also thought of others and was incredibly generous. I rarely met someone who took such good care of people around him, he was very sensitive to the way they felt. He had this icy image, but in fact he was a tender man.
You wear Chanel jackets and women’s pieces often. How do you feel about gender and clothes?
I used to have pieces made to measure, because I couldn’t find what I was looking for. I don’t have my Chanel jackets made for me though, I just pick them in the store in my size and pair them with jeans or slim pants. Gender is irrelevant for me when it comes to clothing, just pick what you love and enjoy wearing it.
I saw you at the Festival d’Hyères a few years ago and it seemed you were rather shy and reserved. Do the hats and the beard -and the shades- operate as armor?
Yes. I am shy and fragile sometimes, so clothes and accessories help me protect myself, while expressing my values and aesthetics. You can be visible -and perhaps recognizable- but still conceal who you are.
