An Interview With Johnny Blue Eyes

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Sometimes I wonder where this blog will take me. Last year, being filmed for the BBC as I shared a spa with Michael Portillo, this year being asked to attend London Fashion Week as the guest of both Illamasqua and Jessica Nails.

Johnny Blue Eyes is known mainly for being an eminent stylist, having worked with people like Beth Ditto, Lady Gaga, The Scissor Sisters and The Noisettes, among others. Johnny is also famous for persuading Kate Moss to take her a stroll down the catwalk for the first time in four years, at one of his shows.

Alex Box (Creative Director of Illamasqua) will be creating the make-up looks for the highly anticipated House of Blue Eyes show which takes place tomorrow. And so, thanks to Illamasqua, I was given the chance to interview the man himself, Johnny Blue Eyes. Now, bearing in mind I had no recording equipment, and the interview was meant to be ten minutes yet lasted 40, this is what happened…

Johnny, the last time I saw you was at the Alex Box / Rankin book launch where you were dressed as Jesus. What was that all about?

That look was in respect for Alex. I am giving Jesus a lot of time at the moment. In fact, last night I was at Jodie Harsh’s 25 Birthday party channelling “Jesus from the Dark Side”. I wore a vintage 30s priest coat with a fedora, black pointed vintage Terry de Havilland shoes, a big leather clutch bag (which we call a “murse…a man purse). Make-up was black and red on the inner eye, with gold glitter falling down the cheek, and orange lips.

Your relationship with Illamasqua keeps going from strength to strength. What is it about them that makes you keep collaborating?
Alex Box is ferocious. She uses beautiful colour and images from the past, present and future. We met at a party held by Sam Roddick (Coco De Mer founder) and Alex created the most amazing Jesus-inspired make-up look for me. We are cut from the same cloth, both believing in beauty, colour and self-expression.

Your recent shows have set a high benchmark. How do you follow on from that and do such expectations make you nervous?
No. I see myself as a Pied Piper of high-heeled wearing ferocious freedom. Everything is done with the deepest honesty. I love walking round my flat in high heels, listening to disco music, and I just want to share that with people. The best thing you can do is be an artist; just turn it out! The cloak that Gaga wore? That was my own personal PVC dominatrix mistress performance cloak! My models are all friends. Some are real “models” but most are real people. One of my models is a painter and decorator. It’s all about make-up plus garments plus individuals plus colour walking into the sun.

What powers of persuasion do you use? Do you approach people or do they come to you?
People come to me. I wouldn’t be afraid to approach someone but they do come to me. As long as people are kind and want to experiment, there is no “no” in my world.

So what can we expect from Saturday’s House of Blue Eyes event?
I believe in Father Christmas, being surprised and whetting the appetite. Our world is in a dark place and the 2011 House of Blue Eyes show is a reaction to a world feeling hopeless and despondent. It is glum, cold and full of natural disasters such as the tragedy in Haiti. We will be bringing full-on colour.  There will be a sense of quiet mourning, having lost Lee McQueen, the dear departed sweet angel of light, one of our most important artists but there’s no black at all. I feel passionate about trying to help people be themselves and arming people with colour. We are pushing into the future with love and beauty.

Where is your favourite place in London to go shopping?
Portobello and Spitalfields markets. I used to have a stall in Portobello market. I’d sell my work to people and then see it wind up on the catwalks a couple of years later. Fashion is very cyclical. We are just at the end of the 80s revival, and the early 90s is coming back in again. Bond Street fucking bores me. I’m burnt out by the high end shops. I do like some designer pieces but they have to be really special. Go to the markets. Let’s really help people with their livelihood. Let’s take what we have, rework it and be respectful to our world.

You are notoriously expressive of your love of the high heel. Do you own any trainers?
I could quite happily worship the heel. I’m way into a 6″ ferocious heel. But also a clog right now. And I love trainers. Especially vintage ’70s Adidas. And Jeremy Scott’s Adidas. But I love to wear high heels!

How would you sum up the House of Blue Eyes ethos?
I am 42 years of age and I wanted to find a place where people can be free and beautiful. We’re on this planet to have fun. The fashion world is a big business. Do what you do well

and money will follow, but I like people to be free. To experiment. To throw glitter on your face. To paint the back of your neck if you feel like it. We are channelling Andy Warhol. A huge inspiration of mine is the film “Paris is Burning” by Jenny Livingstone – you should see it.

Tell me about your background.
I’ve worked as an estate agent, a recruitment consultant, I had a market stall….but for me it all stems from from clubs and warehouse parties. Being in New York with the drag queens is just a wonderful world to inhabit. People come from all other places to be there and I love London but New York has a special energy, a special spiritual vortex where people are very appreciative of art.

What one item would you save if your house caught fire?
Definitely photographs of my family. Especially of my nan.

What’s the best thing on the Nandos menu?
I fucking love the chicken. I do like the Mediterranean salad. Half a chicken, hot or extra hot depending on how I’m feeling, plus a side order of halloumi, coleslaw and a portabello mushroom. A diet Coke. Oh, and a big fat plump olive. Maybe a pudding – they have a lovely selection of desserts.

What’s on your nails?
Oh I love Illamasqua. I am an Illamasqua addict. The names! And the colour! I do also love really cheap stuff from markets but I do love Illamasqua. On one hand from the little finger, I have daisy yellow, turquoise, green and primrose yellow (all on one finger), hot pink on the middle finger, jade green, and hot pink on the thumb. On the other hand, I have hot pink on the thumb again, sludgey blue, red, turquoise and purple on one nail and finally gold, purple and silver on the little one.

What message would you like to give to readers of Nice Things?
Ladies and gentlemen. Boys and girls. Paint your face in every colour under the sun. You’re alive. Radiate love. The sun wants you to paint your face! Art plus love plus freedom equals heaven on earth. If you want it. Do you…?

So there we have it. A glimpse into the colourful, energetic and lovely world of Johnny Blue Eyes. During the duration of our interview, I probably used more of my laughter muscles than I have for a long time. Johnny is frank, warm and hilarious. Eccentric and unique, absolutely, but I tell you what – he is the best cure for recession blues I have come across yet and I can’t wait to meet him in person at tomorrow’s show. I am really very excited about seeing what he has in store for us and hope that he continues to inspire happiness, freedom, love and laughter for a long time to come.

Thank you to Illamasqua for facilitating this interview, and to Johnny for being such a great participant. More information about the House of Blue Eyes and Johnny’s work can be found here.

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