Kanye West is certainly polarizing, at least as he navigates his role as a fashion designer. As a rapper, he's top of his game. In fashion, he's a noob and he understands that. Yes, really! In an interview with Style.com, Kanye West's revealed several outrageous viewpoints about fashion, discussing his collab with Adidas and his stumbles in the fashion world so far. But the chat, which was divided into three chapters, was a mix of hubris, which Yeezy is known for, and humility, which he isn't.
West admitted that he won't go as far as to even call himself a fashion designer out of respect for those who've been making beautiful clothes for decades, which was a "Wow" moment considering how, well, cocky he normally is.
The interview certainly presents a new version of Yeezy, but it's also filled with lots of typical Kanye-isms. He gets his point across more effectively this time, and what used to seem defensive now feels more clearly reasoned and impassioned.
He still says stuff that makes you go "WTF?," like calling Kim Kardashian's Grammy outfit the best red carpet look ever (it wasn't, IMO). But you can't help but think, based on the context of the rest of the interview, that West actually "gets" it, has a sense of humor, which long felt MIA or non-existent, and maybe he is trolling us all at times.
S--t got real when Kanye faced off with Style!
I've culled the interview for these six outrageous (and brilliant) quotes about fashion.
1. Sweating In... Alaia?
"What I thought was interesting was taking a red and doing it in a sports bra, and as opposed to the usual super-techy fabrics that people use for gym clothes, to really have more of a dry approach to the gym clothes. Even with the way we took Adidas socks and turned them into sports bras. It's like, 'What is almost like Alaïa that you can sweat in?' A sock! And it had to only be the sports bra because it looked really funny once [it] started going into the biking shorts. I tried that and that didn’t come out so well."
I don't usually equate sweating with Alaïa.
2. The Best Red Carpet Look Of All Time?!
"I'm biased, but I think the best red-carpet look of all time — if not, one of the top five — was my wife's look at the Grammys."
It was gilded and glam, but let's face it — it was a turnt up robe. And her boobs look like a chest plate. But whatevs. He's Kanye, he's her hubby, and he has to say that.
3. A Man Of The People
"This is the beginning of something truly democratic. You know, I am here to take the best talents from fashion and give them to the people. Constantly. It's not some weird promotional lineup BS, like Versace doing something for H&M and for that one moment in someone's life they can have the one shirt."
Sounds like he is not feeling high x low right now...
4. No More Elitism
"I hate the concept of limited edition completely. I hate the concept of separatism. Elitism. Classism. We’re all equal. The only thing that's valuable is time. It's the only thing we can't get back. The only luxury is time. Let's stop playing games with each other and let's start helping each other. If someone really feels that there’s something that I can improve on, do like Pat McGrath and come to the f--king show and help me. Do like Vanessa Beecroft and come and help me. Because I'm not here for this to be about me. I'm here to help people. I'm here to help the 14-year-old version of myself that couldn’t afford s--t."
He wants to erase the lines in the fashion world. I'm down with that.
5. Daddy's Girl
"Also, workwear, utility, the idea of being a dad, no time to look in the mirror because I'm looking at my daughter, I'm looking at my wife. And I've got to take her to dance class."
This is the best quote ever, showing the softer side of Yeezy.
6. Steve Jobs x Gap
"One of my dreams was to be the head creative director of the Gap. I’d like to be the Steve Jobs of the Gap."
'Kaaaay. At least he has goals?
Images: Getty (6)
