This document provides guidance on conducting written interviews for fashion writing. It discusses common aspects of written interviews such as being interesting, entertaining, quotable, and to the point. Examples are provided of successful interviews with John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. Advice is given for both interviewers and interviewees, including preparing questions and answers, making the subject feel comfortable, and considering the goals and biases of those involved. Students are then assigned to interview classmates and review sample interviews from various publications in order to analyze different styles.

1. Fashion Writing
Day 2

2. What book are you reading?
Tell me one piece of news from the
past week

3. WHAT IS
THE
AGENDA?
WHAT IS
THE BIAS?
WHAT IS
THE
TRUTH?
WHAT IS
THE
AGENDA?
WHAT IS
THE BIAS?
WHAT IS
THE
TRUTH?

5. Interviews
Written
Audio (radio/podcast)
Television (TV/internet/documentary)

6. Written Interview
GIVING AND RECEIVING
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO BOTH
COMMON ASPECTS
•
•
•
•
•
INTERESTING
ENTERTAINING
QUOTABLE
APPARENTLY KNOWLEDGEABLE
TO THE POINT
ENGAGING

7. JOHN GALIANO
– Listen to the intro which provides context & small
provocation
– First question produces entertaining response
– Listen to response – he includes the question in the answer
– Audio/visual works well with longer Qs & As
– Galliano is prepared – has thought about his answers

8. Interview a class mate about their
inspiration
Record it on your phone
5 questions
5 answers
Keep all answers to one sentence
1 – who are you interviewing?
2 – write your questions
3 – think of your answers

10. Read the interview with Alexander McQueen
Are you entertained?
Do you want to read it all?
Is it pertinent to his work?
Examine the dynamic between his interviewer and him
What answers are prepared?
Does the interviewer have a goal?
Does McQueen have a goal?

11. PRACTICAL ELEMENTS- INTERVIEWER
COMFORT?
NOTE PAD AND RECORDER
MORE QUESTIONS THAN YOU NEED
SOUND – QUIET
SETTING – ALONE? FAMILIAR?
HOW LONG?
PROVOCATIVE STANCE?

12. PRACTICAL ELEMENTS- INTERVIEWEE
PREPARED ANSWERS:
INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE & THINGS
BACKGROUND – KEEP IT INTERESTING
YOUR GOAL
AWARENESS OF PUBLICATION
AUTHENTICITY?
LIES?

13. Jagger Interview 1 http://youtu.be/oEmIiqhtGqQ
Jagger Interview 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB_XLVAleP4
Beatles press
conferencehttp://youtu.be/aw_kftFdF18?t=1m19s
Charlie Veitchhttp://youtu.be/4sbTm-XShZ8?t=56
Tories (set up) http://youtu.be/LAIX1ANHyY4s
Q&Ashttp://youtu.be/7gv0iKaQUN8

14. Class activity: PRESS CONFERENCE
4 students will be a new radical design team brought in
to the House Of Herioti to refresh the brand.
The rest of the class will interview them.
1 question each. In no particular order.
ALL YOU KNOW IS THAT THEY ARE NEW FACES
WITH VERY LITTLE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
find out what you can…if your question is asked have
another 2 or 3 ready

16. ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK.
READ AND CONTRAST INTERVIEWS IN VICE, iD,
JOCKS & NERDS & OK
40 WORDS ON EACH
HEADLINE EACH DECONSTRUCTION WITH MAG TITLE
AND INTERVIEWEE’S NAME
JOCKS & NERDS: http://issuu.com/jocksandnerds