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February 08, 2006

Being Uncle Kimono: Mr. Malkovich dresses

In NY Observer, Sara Vilkomerson deciphers John Malkovich's fashion lineage: "The name Uncle Kimono also came courtesy of a friend of Mr. Malkovich, one who had seen a box of photographs that had been sent to the Malkovich home. They contained negatives of a Japanese gentleman in California. “John thought they were attracting,” said [his business partner Francesco] Rulli. “He showed it to his friend, who was gay... who said, ‘Oh, those people are Uncle Kimono.’ When you have a lover, a gay lover, in the 40’s, you wouldn’t go around and tell everyone that he’s your boyfriend. You might call him your uncle. This guy, this guy was like … his posture was interesting. And he was wearing a kimono. So our line is called "Uncle Kimono.” Mr. Malkovich has other business concerns as well. For instance, he co-owns a disco in Portugal... Mr. Rulli said that they treat the collection like it is a film, or a play, with every design having a name. There is the Fucking Commie sweater, which is red. “You know, like you’re Italian and you have a cashmere sweater, but you tell everyone you’re a socialist..." There’s the Free Martha coat, which is what Mr. Malkovich believes Martha Stewart supporters might wear to protest her imprisonment. There is a Nervous Breakdown jacket, in leather. There is a jacket called Tito’s Parrot, which was inspired by a parrot owned by Marshal Tito, of Yugoslavia. That parrot, Mr. Rulli claimed, spoke in five different languages." [More of Mr. Malkovich's fashion excursions here.]

Posted by pride at February 8, 2006 03:29 PM

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