18 October, 2025

Quote of the day: Raf Simons

Raf Simons Self Service

“The way I dressed at that time was extreme for the environment I came from. My friend Elke would walk through the village and there was not one person who was not going into shock. A very beautiful, very tall woman, she would save up for all the really extreme Margiela stuff, like a knit in five parts bound around the body with ribbons, or a floor-length skirt and Tabi boots. We’re talking 91, 92, and people were shocked.”
Raf Simons, Self Service (via BOF)

Love this nostalgic nugget from Raf Simons in a conversation with Pieter Mulier and Tim Blanks, talking about fashion beginnings, influences and the quiet ‘perverse’ power of Belgian creatives.

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGE: Pieter Mulier and Raf Simons/Self Service
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here.

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Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Designers, Quote of the day Pieter Mulier, quote of the day, Raf Simons, Self Service, Tim Blanks

9 January, 2025

The culture of fashion: Alaïa for foodies and bibliophiles

Alaia Violet Cakes Bond Street London

Just after New Year I treated myself to a banana bread and coffee date at the new Violet Cakes cafe in the New Bond Street Alaïa store. Food and fashion have been forging an alliance for some time and I was reminded that Azzedine Alaïa was a natural instigator of this idea as far back as the 1980s.

Unlike other luxury fashion houses with their ultra brand-coded cakes and confectioneries (hello Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami cakes) this is a somewhat more wholesome approach. The food is consumed round an aluminium communal table nodding to the original spirit of Azzedine Alaïa himself, famous for inviting models, seamstresses, editors and even passing VIP clients to join the home-made feast at the studio table. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Books, Brands, Business of fashion, Designers, Films, News, Retail concepts, Trends Alaïa, Azzedine Alaia, books, Business of Fashion, Claire de Rouen, culture of fashion, designers, Pieter Mulier, retail concepts, retail stores

2 July, 2021

Quote of the day: Pieter Mulier on Alaïa’s value-for-time approach

“He was taking his own time, but I also discovered that his clothes withstand time. They are eternal. While I was discussing with Richemont, I bought a lot of vintage pieces and each time I realized they were immune to aging. At Alaïa, creation has its own pace. Such a rare thing in the landscape of fashion. Time as luxury.”

A great reflection from Pieter Mulier on Azzedine Alaïa’s appreciation of time, Vogue. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Brands, Design, Designers, Fashion shows, News, Photography, Quote of the day Alaïa, Azzedine Alaia, couture week, Paolo Roversi, photography, Pieter Mulier

6 February, 2021

Pieter Mulier to Maison Alaïa

Pieter Mulier creative director Alaïa ss22

Some exciting news on the designer front. Pieter Mulier, the one-time secret weapon of Raf Simons (who can forget his stand out supporting role in Dior & I?) has been appointed creative director at Alaïa.

This sounds like an excellent appointment, with Mulier promising to retain Azzedine Alaïa’s “legacy of celebrating femininity and placing women at the heart of creation”, hopefully with a modern hand. I imagine Richemont will expect a big ROI with fulsome collections of clothes, accessories (and maybe even beauty?) but hopefully they can also find a way to imbue some of the slower pace Alaïa was known for with his ‘it comes when it comes’ schedules. (more…)