http://www.interviewmagazine.com/blogs/culture/2011-...ALEXANDRIA SYMONDS: Amazing job!
JOHNNY WEIR: Thank you!
SYMONDS: How did you and Elise originally meet?
WEIR: I've been a fan of Elise's work for a really long time. We're both Norwegian, and that's something that inspires me, of course, because you don't meet many of us. And her fashion is just so ethereal and easy and free-spirited, and I love that. When her people contacted my people, as tends to happen in this city, I of course said yes. I was in London at the time and my manager said, "Do you want to do a collaboration and work with Elise Øverland?" I said, "Of course." I didn't even think about it for two seconds. I love her. I can't say enough good things about her, and it's truly, truly an honor to work with somebody who's so talented and yet so down-to-earth.
SYMONDS: Definitely.
WEIR: Especially when you are talented, when you have a gift, you tend to get a very big head about it. And I support and love the people who don't even care how talented they are, they just show the world their beauty and their heart. And they live happily ever after!
SYMONDS: Tell me about your look.
WEIR: It's really incredible, and it came together in a day, if you can believe that.
SYMONDS: You're kidding.
WEIR: I design all my own costumes, and then my costumer came on to help sew it, because, you know, it's different, making street clothes and making an athletic costume. And they all got together yesterday and made this up. Elise made the coat, I think, this morning. It's truly, truly incredible. It's me: it's tight, it's black, there's some sheer bits, it's metallic, it's fur—I mean, everything that is Johnny Weir is in this costume, and it still reflects the sort of ideas of her collection. I'm, in general, all about the rhinestones and the sparkle, and somehow I feel so glamorous and so beautiful. And I think that's Elise's strength. I'm a huge fan of her, which is no secret.
SYMONDS: You know the pair of cowboy boots that a five-year-old just will not take off? You need to do that, with this costume.
WEIR: I don't want to take this costume off for as long as I can keep it on, yeah.
SYMONDS: It's such a complete look, too—down to your nails.
WEIR: Something I've learned from figure skating is that you have to look the part from head to toe. And that's something I think is very true in fashion, as well. You can't have this gorgeous Chanel suit on with the hair that's a mess, or no makeup. You have to costume yourself, you have to style yourself, even down to the fingernails, even down to my socks. That's how I live. I love an entire moment. Even if you're not famous, if you're walking down the street and you've got a paparazzi standing there, that's how everyone should think: what picture are they going to get? And I want my picture to be flawless, all the time.
SYMONDS: What did you have in mind while you were choreographing your routine for this evening?
WEIR: The actual song is my song, it's called "Dirty Love."
SYMONDS: It's wonderful! I was wondering whether you'd do it to "Born This Way."