Ann Demeulemeester Quotes

I've always been intrigued by cutout silhouettes. They are so intriguing, so poetic-the shadow of a soul. They tell everything about a character and they are open to be filled with one's own imagination.

Black is not sad. Bright colours are what depress me. They're so... empty. Black is poetic. How do you imagine a poet? In a bright yellow jacket? Probably not.

Those that think my clothes are androgynous also still believe that women should look like Barbie dolls. That's precisely the problem, the deep-rooted assumptions about what is feminine.

Fashion has a right to exist, because it permits the people to define themselves over and over again.

I just wait because I think people will find me. And I’m not the kind of person who will knock on somebody’s door. I wait. If they’re good for me, they will come towards me.

I want to put a soul in a garment. I don't want my clothes to be perfect, because human beings are not perfect.

I want to put a soul in a garment. I don't want my clothes to be perfect, because human beings are not perfect. You can meet somebody in one of my jackets and it can all look a bit wrong, but also human and beautiful. Cutting nonchalance into a garment is difficult, because you can't just make an oversized or an asymmetric garment - it will look ugly. Making it look natural is delicate work. If it's too obvious, then it looks fake. Balancing the garment is a painstaking task, because you have to keep in mind how the clothes move.

Jewelry is something that has to do with emotion. That aspect of jewelry really interests me.

For me black is not dark, it's poetic. I don't think of gothic I think of classic - it's a big difference.

A new time is coming both for my personal life, and the brand Ann Demeulemeester. I feel it's time to separate our paths.

Black is not sad... Black is poetic.

Who could imagine a poet wearing anything other than black?

Music is very inspiring to me because "true" music releases a true energy that is just inspiring. It's like when you see a beautiful painting or a wonderful film. You just receive this creative energy, and all of a sudden you want to create too.

Good fashion for me is like rock ‘n’ roll – there’s always a little rebellion in it.

Fashion has a reason to be, because in fashion you can find new kinds of expression about human beings. It's my way to communicate.

I'd like to cut an attitude into clothes.

My work is nice, natural, it's never "been there done that," my work remains very interesting without losing my soul - because it's really me, and I am always honest with myself. I don't care what's in or out, I just listen to myself. And it's very nice to able to work like that. At the beginning people might have wondered what I was doing, but now they know my line, my evolution, I'm respected for that and that's a wonderful feeling.

I work for men that I would love to meet, somebody who I could fall in love with, someone who intrigues me.

I don't like to generalize; I don't talk about the woman, because the woman doesn't exist. We're just lucky that we are able to choose. Those who feel like I do, who feel close to me find my product and find my soul. Each designer has a role to fulfill and you can never disappoint your audience, because it's for them that you're working. Naturally you always evolve, but my collection is about soul, about power.

Creating is a lonely thing in a lot of ways.

I'm very aware of the influence I've had, and I'm very pleased with that, because it proves that my work was necessary, that people liked it, and that it was right for its time which is a big compliment. But of course, this means I now have to move on. If more people are doing what I'm doing, I have to evolve. I'm pushed toward a new direction, and I have to let myself be tempted, find out where I can go.

I never leave anything behind. It's like a history, a chain, a line of life, you just have to move and make new steps, and keep it evolving - but my soul is my soul.