This interview with Taki Theodoracopulos was conducted in Zurich, Switzerland by Nicola Linza and Cristoffer Neljesjo during July 2012.
Interview with Taki Theodoracopulos
What to you actually defines luxury?
I define luxury as not having to run away from myself, wherever I
may be. As I loathe the modern world and the rich vulgarians who now inhabit my
old haunts in France, Long Island and the Swiss Alps, I try not to escape from
the life I have always lived. Seeing interesting friends, competing in sport,
and being in warm and pleasant surroundings such as a sailing boat, a chalet or
an apartment near Central Park in New York.
How do you spend your leisure time?
I spend my leisure time reading the newspapers, my history books,
and training for judo and karate. I also go out with friends, drink good wine
and get very drunk three times a week.
What is your view of once truly exclusive high-end brands who have
now decided to flood their sites and push their goods via mass-social media?
I'm appalled to read that high end brands now sell themselves on
social media, but as I do not possess any social media gizmos, I was unaware of
it. I am not on Facebook, do not Twitter, can only
receive and send e-mails due to my writing jobs, and do not possess a mobile
phone except when at sea.
If you could have your portrait done by any artist, living or deceased, whom would it be?
As a portraitist I would choose Kees van Dongen, or even Edward Hopper, who did not specialize in that particular art.
It is 1970, and we're meeting up at a party Luchino Visconti is
having in Rome. What are you wearing? In addition, whom do we want to meet?
Chez Luchino Visconti in Rome circa 1970 I'd wear an Anderson &
Sheppard off white linen suit with a light blue poplin shirt by Battistoni and
a striped yellow and blue tie. Reddish brown brogues by Lobb.
The guests I'd look for would be the academician Michel Deon, the
actresses Dominique Sanda and Stephania Sandrelli, Gore Vidal, Prince Dado
Ruspoli, the actor Louis Jourdan and the tennis player Gottfried von
Cramm.
The above interview with Taki Theodoracopulos 2012 © Manner of Man
Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction is strictly
prohibited without written permission from the publisher.
