A Conversation With Douglas Friedman At The Ruffian Show

After seeing the breezy and beautiful Spring/Summer 2010 Ruffian runway show at Exit Art by designers Brian Wolk and Claude Morais, I caught up with front row spectator Douglas Friedman about fashion and also his thoughts on potentially being one of the last people to see Michael Jackson after he died. Douglas Marshall: You just told me you liked this Ruffian S/S10 Runway show. What did you like about it?

Douglas Friedman: I thought the fabrics were actually really beautiful and the cut – I think it was their tightest collection.

DM: Now do you think those Ruffian guys are more artists or designers because there is a lot of art going on there?

DF: I think they are definitely artists first.

DM: This is a non-fashion related question. I heard a rumor that when Michael Jackson died you shot a picture of a helicopter air-lifting Michael Jackson’s body across the city from your fabulous apartment. Is this true?

DF: Did you see the picture?

DM: No, but didn’t you upload to Facebook?

DF: I did. I was watching on television the helicopter flying from the hospital to the morgue and I looked out my window and I saw the helicopter leave the hospital and fly to the morgue.

DM: So would you say you were the last person to see Michael Jackson?

DF: Dead? Or was he even dead?

DM: Dead or alive?

DF: I don’t know, I hear he might be alive.

DM: Maybe they should test some DNA. Speaking of dead or alive, what is one fashion trend you would never like to see brought back to life? Some designers seem to be reviving things. What’s one thing you never want to see again?

DF: Oh I don’t know. Help me out here. Maybe the 80’s, but then again there was a lot of good stuff in the 80’s. I guess I’m not a big fan of the boyfriend jean or the mom jean.

DM: Ohhhhhhh Mom jeans, aka the Obama jeans. You know a fashion trend I would do away with (okay I’ll interview me) is you know when you walk down Christopher Street all the clothes have become PRIDE-a-fide like Pride Suspenders, Pride Ties, Pride Hats. Everything is in rainbow.

DF: No rainbows. Period. My friend’s brother tried to buy a vintage Dolce & Gabbana rainbow leather jacket and…

DM: Well if it’s Dolce & Gabbana it’s Okay.

DF: No, no. It really wasn’t.