Elle UK - 11.2019

210

ELLEFinal Word

ELLE.COM/UK Nove mbe r 2O19

I ALMOST GOT ARRESTED FOR FASHION...When

I was 11, I used to climb over a fence to go swimming at night in

the public pool. One night, my Bermuda shorts got caught on the

top of the fence and ripped. A police officer caught me and I got

a juvenile delinquent card. I was so upset because I always wanted

to be a good kid, but I loved swimming.

MY MOTHER DRESSED LIKE THE WOMEN IN

VINTAGE 193Os MOVIES...She had a navy taffeta dress

with dolman sleeves and wore beautiful pumps with seam

stockings and little pearl earrings. As a girl, I would stand behind

her in the bathroom as she put on her lipstick. I still remember the

sound of the metal case when she put it down on the sink. All I could

think is, I so want to do that.

I WAS OBSESSED WITH VINTAGE BEFORE IT BECAME

FASHIONABLE...I found this store in a basement

that had incredible chiffon bias-cut gowns. I had no money,

so I would save my school lunch money to buy the dresses,

then wear them morning, noon and night.

I FELT VERY DISCONNECTED TO THE

MAD MENFASHION OF THE EARLY 196Os...I didn’t like

the matchy look. My hair was never perfect.

IF MY WARDROBE COULD TALK...It would definitely

say that I work it too hard. Photography: Atelier Doré/Trunk Archive.

I DON’T THINK I WORE UNDERWEAR FOR THE

ENTIRETY OF THE 197Os... That era was about getting rid

of all the garter belts and just feeling love and kindness to each other.

It was such a freeing time because there weren’t any style rules. You

couldn’t really do anything wrong in fashion. Nobody was a critic.

GLORIA VANDERBILT GAVE ME A GREAT STYLE TIP...

She was about 67 and said: ‘Whenever you’re having your picture

taken and you don’t want your veins to show, hold your hands up by

your face – the blood goes down and the veins go away!’

I LEARNED ABOUT STYLE FROM BUNNY MELLON...

She was Jackie Kennedy’s best friend and planted the rose garden

at the White House. Givenchy made her a denim dress for gardening,

and after we’d met she gave that to me. I was like, ‘Oh my God!’.

I HAVE MADE SO MANY FASHION MISTAKES...

Particularly in the 198Os. I made a collection out of sweatshirt fabric,

where the shoulder pads got really big. I feel like an apology letter

needs to be sent for that period of time.

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THE SOUND OF

A WASHING MACHINE... It’s very calming for me. I have this

habit of coming home from work, taking my clothes off in front of

the washing machine, putting them in, turning it on and then feeding

my dog. Only then do I feel calm and good.

NORMAKAMALIFE skin line is available exclusively at Selfridges

My fashionable life

NORMA KAMALI

THE FASHION DESIGNER, 74, on SHOULDER-PAD REGRET, UNDERWEAR EMANCIPATION

AND WHY SHE’S OK with BEING ARRESTED FOR THE SAKE of FA SHION