Q&A with the Legendary Biba Designer Barbara Hulanicki



September 23, 2014

photo 22

1. What is your favourite Shop in London and Miami?

In Miami I love C Madeline’s, it’s an extraordinary Vintage shop on Biscayne Boulevard. In London it would be Selfridges.

2. Tell us about the Biba outfits that stick out in your mind…

The hooded leopard coat we made for Twiggy in the nineteen seventies. She looked amazing and the photograph is in The Biba Years book.

3. Who is your design hero?

Only Givenchy when he was designing for Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina Fair.

4. What is your favourite gallery in the V&A?

The Architect Eva Jiricna’s Jewelry Gallery – it has a magical glass staircase, like a diamond bracelet.

5. Victoria or Albert?

Victoria. Some of the most famous Pre Raphaelite paintings collections, Ruskin, Rossetti, Burne-Jones

6. How do you spend a lazy Sunday?

What is a lazy Sunday? I never experienced one…

7. Tea or Coffee?

Very strong coffee.

8. The song that makes me feel instantly happy is…

Eartha Kitt’s C’est Si Bon.

9. The last exhibition/theatre production I saw was…

The David Bowie is exhibition at the V&A. was incredible. The presentation was breathtaking, not forgetting the little details such as telegrams and his notes, to the amazing costumes

10. My favourite destination in the world is…And when I’m there I like to go to…

I’d love to visit Warsaw and Krakov in Poland to see my family homes, if there are any left after the bombing.

11. The book(s) that has influenced me most is…

I am reading it now, Justine Picardie’s If the Spirit Moves you. She just interviewed me at the V&A for the Biba Years launch.

 

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