Since launching his first collection in 2013, Paulie Gibson has quickly made a name for himself, with his designs appearing on America’s Next Top Model and the Grammys.
Tell me about your most recent collection.
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It’s called Heist. It’s inspired by cat burglars and being incognito. It was actually inspired by a terrible event that happened to me last year, where some things were stolen from me. It was very traumatic. I used it to cathartically remove the negative energy from the experience and turn it into something good.
Who inspired you while growing up?
I had a nanny, Vera Westbrook, who was a seamstress; I would go to the fabric store with her and help cut out patterns. I’d also watch the transformative effects of fashion with my mother, this nurturing woman who prepared herself for work every day or for events at night. At that age, I was learning about fairy tales and fables, and I remember thinking, “Oh, my mom’s like Cinderella because she dresses up,” and there was this transformation. I remember saying, “I wish I could just play dress-up all day.” She responded, “That’s fashion.”
What does fashion mean to you?
For me, growing up in Missouri in the ’80s was very difficult. Fashion provided me with an escape. I could literally be who I wanted through fashion because it can influence people’s perceptions. That’s a powerful thing. To be able to express that openly and translate an image to the public is sharing a bit of who I am. You’ve gotta be grateful for that.
Which designer inspired you when you were growing up?
For good behavior, my mom would take me to Neiman Marcus. I was a 10-year-old looking at these beautiful prints that Versace was doing in the ’80s and ’90s. They meant so much to me—the colors, the prints, the way the fabrics felt. At that time, who else was making luxury silk shirts for men? Versace spoke to me from a very early age. Once I knew who he was, I was obsessed with him.
Which designers are you drawn to nowadays?
I interned for D2 in college, and they were dressing everyone at the time—Madonna, etcetera—so I love them. I love Rick Owens. I love his layering and mystery and draping and levels of interest that have nothing to do with the fabric or the color. And on the same level, Alexander Wang—the minimal, slouchy feel.
If you weren’t designing fashion, what would you be doing?
Dancing. I love dance—and music. I was a classically trained musician growing up, so something that’s as expressive to my soul. Ballet, perhaps.
