Wit and Wisdom with Suzy Menkes

“I want designers to make clothes that work as hard as I do,” pronounced fashion writer extraodinaire Suzy Menkes when she came in to talk to the students at he Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design yesterday. Nugget after nugget of wit and wisdom was imparted to the rapt audience with the conversation spanning subjects as diverse as the merits of the different fashion capitals, her new role as Vogue International Editor, her forthcoming Hard Luxury conference and some philosophical rumination around the wider themes of what “fashion” actually means in the times in which we live. Quizzed about the art of fashion criticism and writing stand-out show reports, Suzy was quick to share her lifelong mantra with the students – “You like it because it’s good, it isn’t good because you like it.” This trademark humility informed every part of Suzy’s observations yesterday – so much so that when she was asked about the off-duty world of Suzy Menkes she revealed that when she’s at home she’s just “worrying about why my bedroom is so messy” much like the rest of us. Nice try Suzy but we’re all still swooning 24 hours later…