Christian Joy is the fashion designer responsible for making Karen O of (the YYY’s) the fashion icon she is.
She also makes some rad RTW collections. I recently spoke with her about her work and the New York fashion scene. Here is what she had to say.
Me: Can I ask you about your name, Christian Joy?
CJ: The name Christian Joy is actually my real name. My parents were born again Christians. My last name is Hultquist, but my friends all call me Christian Joy, and my mom too – like ‘oh, Christian Joy!’
Me: How did you first get started in fashion?
CJ: I was working in this boutique that had a lot of small designers, and really cool stuff. A friend and I would stand there and be like, ‘I could make this’, being very pompous. Then I thought, oh well, maybe I should give it a shot. I started making random T-shirts, then from there I started making ripped up prom dresses and stuff. Really it was just kind of by accident – I was working in a store and I figured, well I should be able to do that. Why not?
Me: How did you meet Karen O?
CJ: I was working for this designer, Daryl K. I was just working out of her store and Karen O used to come in all the time, and we would hang out and talk, whatever. She came in one day and was like, ‘hey, you should hear my band!’ She gave me a copy of their very first CD, the one with †art star’ on it. I had some torn up prom dresses and stuff and asked me to make her one for a show, and I was like, ‘yeah, alright.’ It kind of went from there. The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs started getting massive amounts of press and I just kind of got shoved into that role, which was great.
Me: When you design stage costumes for Karen O, what does the process entail? Do you guys sit down and talk about a specific theme, or what she wants?
CJ: Well before I would just show up with stuff. She kind of just let me go for it, you know? Recently we’re kind of trying to do another level of stuff though. I ask her what she wants. A lot of it is just like ‘I’m sick of wearing shorts, now I want to wear dresses’ type of thing. But sometimes she can’t wear dresses because if she’s being photographed, they might be shooting up her skirt, or there are some things she can’t wear because it will be too hot. A lot of it has to do with practicalities like that, but for the most part she gives me pretty much total freedom with what I want to do.
Me: So you have started doing RTW collections. What inspired you to switch over to that realm of the fashion world?
CJ: I just decided that maybe I needed to do something a little bit more for myself, and not just be so concentrated on doing the costumes. I had to figure out another way to make money. That was kind of it, but it’s turned out to be pretty fun. I feel a bit overwhelmed by it sometimes – I still work out of my house, so I’m a one woman business!
Me: So now that you’re doing RTW, has it been strange for you to have gone from seeing your stuff on-stage to seeing just a regular girl walking down the street in one of your more wearable designs?
CJ: Yeah, I mean it’s interesting to see how a normal girl will choose to wear it, because the RTW collections are much simpler. It is pretty crazy to see someone wearing something from the RTW collections, because it’s still so small – there are only a limited number of pieces out there.
Me: What’s your opinion of the New York fashion scene at the moment?
CJ: I think American Apparel has maybe taken over a bit too much. As far as that’s concerned, it’s kind of a drag. Like, come on. I’m 34, and it seems like that’s all that kids in their 20’s are wearing. You’re in your 20’s, you should rock it out! I feel like since that’s so popular, people aren’t taking as many chances as they could be. On the other hand though, there are definitely a lot of girls just really going for it. Also in NY now, it seems like a lot of African American girls are taking over some really intense looks. They look really awesome. They’re kind of rocking the hipster look, but really stepping it up. That’s my favourite thing that’s happening right now, just watching those girls strut their shit down the street.
Me: Do you consider yourself to be a part of the NY fashion scene?
CJ: No, not really. I feel kind of detached from it now. I’m not really that old, but I feel kind of old. What happened before, when all the bands were coming up to New York and stuff, I was so into that scene – always going out and stuff. Now I just feel like an observer, checking out what everyone else is doing.
Me: When you’re designing RTW, how much would you say you’re influenced by current trends in mainstream fashion?
CJ: I don’t feel like a pay too much attention to it. I think street fashion is kind of where everything really falls from in the first place, so I don’t really look too much into what else is going on. Like, I’m not going to make a pair of skinny jeans or anything like that. I don’t feel too influenced by it I guess. I do think there is a natural progression towards trends, for instance, everyone starts feeling a certain way and starts doing grey minimal dresses.
Me: Do you have a personal style icon?
CJ: Haha, a crazy old lady, like Maude from Harold & Maude. I love that really eccentric look. I feel like everyone is just so ‘cool’ these days. I’ve been trying to tap into that weird old lady style. It’s really funny and unique.
Me: What are your plans for the future?
CJ: I’m kind of hoping to mix it up a little bit. I’ll always do stuff for Karen O, because I really like doing that. I want to do an exhibition at a gallery. Maybe do some stuff that’s not RTW, and not costumes. I really like classy stuff, so I’d like to do some stuff that’s a little more like that as well.
