SWEET TALKIN’ KIBARDIN

Imelda’s cup (albeit one filled with hemlock) doeth runneth over. If you’re following the Despotic Queen on Twitter then you’ll have already read yesterday’s tweets about the aborted delivery of a mysterious package from the City of Light.

The back story for those not following the DQOS – My fat kneed nemesis Nancy Reagan couriered the Despotic Queen spiteful recriminations for my birthday, so I instructed security to be on high alert for any unexpected packages. Armed with a new directive my idiotic no neck goons forgot to consider that Nancy wasn’t the only unsavoury type wanting to wish me happy birthday so they stopped delivery on all packages.

Sorting through a stack of ‘sorry we missed’ you slips I was giddy with delight to discover all the usual suspects had come out to pay their respects, Kim, Karl Rove, Putin, Castro, Mugabe etc yet there was one package that I couldn’t place.

A quick consignment note search revealed the package originated in Créteil (Paris). On the phone I pumped the service rep for more info “is it anthrax, what about yellow cake? It’s yellow cake from a former French colony...I know it! Who sent it…was it Danielle Mitterrand or Carla Bruni?” “Sorry Mrs Marcos, I can’t tell you who sent it but I can tell you it’s chocolate” “CHOCOLATE” I squealed, “it’s that bloody Queef Queen, Bernadette Thérèse Marie Chirac, she’s always been riding my grills about my slender third world silhouette” Before I could fire up an anti Chirac rant the service rep said “Ok then, we’ll reschedule the delivery for tomorrow”

Hearing that chocolate from France was en-route to the Palace of Despotism Yum Yum went into diabetic shock. The long suffering Yum Yum has a murderous sweet tooth which is unfortunate since she’s onto her back up pair of false teeth and knowing how cagey she gets when we have sweets in the Palace, I locked her in the meat closet…for her own good!

This morning when TNT finally arrived I ripped into the (larger than expected) box and discovered the chocolates were from FAUCHON. They couldn’t have been from Chirac, she’s a notorious stinge, more inclined to send a stinking block of Cadburys dairy milk, not glamour chocolates. Opening the card I was blown clean out of the gift opening room (you don’t think Imelda’s going to be out done by Candy Spelling do you?) to discover a very kind and generous Max Kibardin had sent them.

Coincidently Max’s unnecessary but very Gentlemanly gesture segue’s beautifully into today’s post. You’ll remember last week I decided to open the floor and asked my Imeldettes to do the asking. You’re thoughtful and thought provoking questions were overwhelming and Max worked over the Easter break to answer each and every one (although I did edit some duplication).

As this post is your EXCLUSIVE preview of Max’s debut collection for Lorenzo Banfi, I’ll be posting a series of images between each question.

Faddict: I would like to know whether Max is attempting to blur the distinction between women's and men's footwear with his designs?

Of course. But as they say in Italy, nothing is written with fire: I think I want to go with the men's collections as with the women's collections: following my instincts, for example in my SS09 collection I liked experimenting with sequins on the men's shoes.

Faddict: I'm also wondering how he feels about approaching designing for an established brand such as LB - how does he negotiate retaining past customers while attracting new ones with his designs?

I try not to think about how I feel, I also follow the instinct. I think I understand it fairly easy, because I try always inspiration in the past, I believe that the past can give lessons in good taste and craftsmanship.

Vintage Verve: I want to know how designing for another brand influences his designs. Does he limit his vision to align with the brands established market or is it a matter of simply selling his ideas to whom ever he is currently working for/with. How does he retain the strong Kibardan flavour and themes within the larger brand?

Working for major labels first I try to understand their needs, and thus create a "room" which I fill with the design that I like and that makes the brand special and competitive in the market. It’s inevitable when you work according to your personal taste that you leave your mark.

Men's Collection

Cassiopeia : What is your fantasy collaboration?

With Monsieur Yves Saint Laurent

Cassiopeia: Favourite style of shoe to design?

My reasoning does not stop at a single style of shoe, but to the entire collection.

Men's Collection

Hammie: If he had to choose between making pants for Phillip Seymour Hoffman, or a hat for Elton John, which would he go for?

:)

SwanDiamondRose: I’d like to know if he likes trains.

A lot.

SwanDiamondRose: Do you sketch your designs and if so can we see some?



SwanDiamongRose: Why shoes? Why not bags or dresses?

Now even the bags, give me time for the clothes.:)

SwanDiamongRose: Does he prefer designing for men or women?

Both

Men's Collection

SwanDiamondRose: I notice that his men's shoes are definitely traditionally masculine and his women's traditionally feminine, how does he feel about more blurring of the lines here [though there are those sparkly pastel brogues].

If it works as an idea then why not?

SwanDiamondRose : What does he wear on his feet? Do you own a decent pair of slippers? Or does he, like me, prefer to stomp around at home in a good pair of boots?

I am wearing my own designs, boots!

Comments

[kirafashion]

Love the chocolate color goods and the actually that ones that could be eaten! ;)

Amazing!

Kisses,

kira

[fashion herald]

Poor Yum Yum, those chocolates look divine. When I'm a crazy rich lady I'm going to exclusively wear Max Kibardin for one season, just b/c he sent you chocolates.

[Prêt-à-Porter P]

that was very kind of him to send chocolates!

[Sal]

What a FUN interview. I'm such a dolt for not getting a question to you on time ...

[SwanDiamondRose]

how exciting :) thanks for including my questions and thanks Max for your answers :) i had a feeling about this train thing!

and look at those fuchsia booties. amazing.

[Rebecca]

Oh wow that is amazing!
Poor Yum Yum lol!

[adreamer]

aww so sweet to send you choccies! some very intelligent questions were asked. but...oh why didn't he answer hammie's question? what is a smiley face supposed to mean?

[Vintage Verve]

I could eat him up, just like his chocolates!

Thanks for including my question!
xx VV

[THE SHOE GIRL]

Amazing post... as usual.

;)