Following news of her sad passing, we revisit the moment L'Wren Scott answered our Proust Questionnaire
Earlier today, the sad news broke that L'Wren Scott had been found dead in her Manhattan apartment. Here, we revisit the moment when she answered Jefferson Hack's reinterepration of the Proust questionnaire, late last year.
Scott, a former model, was spotted by Bruce Weber at a Calvin Klein photo shoot aged 17 and went on to work for Thierry Mugler, Chanel and photographers including Guy Bourdin, David Bailey and Jean-Paul Goude. Later, she moved into styling, working with Madonna and designing costumes for films including Eyes Wide Shut. Her first collection as designer was called a Little Black Dress in 2006. Scott, who was in a relationship with Mick Jagger, made digital history last year when she became the first designer to launch an entire collection on Instagram, presenting her S/S13 collection of feathers and lace to her target audience on social media, and was followed by the launch of L’App, a wonderful insight into her design world.
[This interview was first published on December 10 2013]
What are you thinking of right now?
Where I can get a good meal and a drink in Natchez.
What makes you laugh?
Mick. His unknown talent is in comedy.
What makes you cry?
A good movie, a tragedy and any kind of cruelty to the human race. I also cry when something that we are designing in the studio comes out incredibly beautiful, as my team all work so hard to achieve perfection and beauty.
What do you consider to be the greatest invention?
I might have to say Apple – all things Apple. I know that the apple does not fall far from the tree and I am a modern girl in a material world.
Do you have a mentor or inspirational figure that has guided or influenced you?
My mother was probably the biggest influencer on my life. She once said to me, "If you want something in life, you better go out and work for it and work hard because it's not going to come and knock on our front door in Roy Utah."
Where do you feel most at home?
Wherever I unpack my suitcase and light my signature candle. I am a gypsy – I live in so many different places and have lived in hotels for years so you learn to be at home wherever you land.
Where are you right now?
Natchez, Mississippi, visiting the James Brown movie set as Mick is the producer. I am currently obsessed with how fun Tate Taylor is and how exciting this movie is going to be.
What is your proudest achievement in work?
I don't quantify my life in achievements. I always think forward – I don't take time to look back.
What is your proudest achievement in life?
I feel so blessed to have my health in body, mind and spirit. But, achievement again, I am rather hard on myself and think I need to constantly keep enriching my mind and eye to keep achieving things in my fashion world. Every day I strive to achieve something new as owning one's own business is a constant learning curve.
What do you most dislike about contemporary culture?
Too many red carpets. When red carpet dressing first started, my friends would ring me up and say: "I am going to the Oscars and I'm nominated, and I'm so nervous. Can you find me a lovely dress to wear or make one for me?" Now it's like a pandemic. There is a red carpet around every restaurant or pharmacy opening. It is very amusing but I loved when it was all about looking beautiful to be honored by your peers, not just to stand in front of a step and repeat board with logos.
What do you most like about the age we live in?
The modern comforts of fresh food, my iPad, and Apple TV when I want to have a binge TV weekend. Shopping online is a great time saving device, and my Kindle saves me so much money in excess luggage. I read on my paperwhite kindle and any books with maps or art work or photos I read on my iPad.
At what points do life and work intersect?
All roads lead to music and style. I am a big fan of style and love music and fashion. However, I've always said fashion is more like a spectator sport, but style and music seem to always be a big part of my everyday life. It is what I do working in fashion and my husband does a few things in the music world so there is always a new drum beat in my vibe.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
The advice I was given by my mother when I bought a pair of heels age 14, at 6ft tall. "If you're going to be tall why not be taller… Why stop now?"
