Vidal, we at University Arts London, and particularly London College of Fashion are absolutely delighted
that you have so generously accepted the award for an honorary doctorate from the University of
the Arts London. Obviously you are renowned for having revolutionized the way that women’s
hair and hairstyling has been viewed across the world. And I think why did that
happen? What was it about you that enabled that revolution to take place?
My mother. [laughing] She took me into Adolf Cohen’s in Whitechapel Road for an apprenticeship.
Of course at first it was the pretty girls that were fascinating me, not the hair, and
it was very much later that I got into the whole essence of design.
What do you think it was that you could see that others couldn’t?
I was very lucky to be working with Mary Quant, actually in 1957, she came in for a haircut
and I did something I had never done before, I nipped her ear and the blood was pouring…”
[laughing] “but we worked together ever since. I’d see all her shows and do the
hair. Really you have to go back not just to hair and fashion but in ’57, there was a development
in all forms of expression and there was a reason for this, Britain had gone through
a terrible war as had many countries, and there was all that pent up energy, an energy which
I guessed used to go to the empire which we don’t have anymore, suddenly came out. People came
to London in their droves; anyone with talent would be here. And you would find yourself
working at an Eschalan, it was fascinating. I wanted to do shapes, I wanted to cut angles, because cutting is shaping,
it is making shapes, and if you can’t use your scissors then you can’t make shapes.
What do you think your one piece of advice would be for todays graduates. What would you
you say that would be important?
Well if you are adventurous, you have to be, I remember a client coming in wanting a big
quaff, and a D.A. [a slicked back styled haircut] – you remember those? – and I said I don’t
do that kind of work. She said ‘your do it’, that’s what I want. I said ‘madam,
we will get you a taxi downstairs to a place that will do it.’ You couldn’t compromise.
Don't compromise, learn, I mean don’t be big headed. Montaigne said it beautifully,
the French philosopher, ‘no matter how high the throne you are sitting on, you are still
sitting on your own behind.’ And that’s it. Once you become big headed you will lose it.
You always have to be slightly unsure. Confident, but slightly unsure. Because in six months
time you’ve got to do another collection. And it’s not the easiest way in the word
to make a living. Some people go through life doing exactly the same thing. But in fashion
that’s the excitement, that’s the excitement in fashion, the constant change. And I think it's a wonderful art form.
And you are the person who really made that happen. Thank you.
You’re very kind. Thank you.
Vidal I would now like to formally present you with the honorary doctorate, the certificate
from the university.
Well I feel very honored.
Well we are very honored, so thank you.
I would like very much to congratulate those who have got a degree from the London College
of Fashion, and I realize the hard work that you put into it. And the vitality, inspiration,
and sweat. It takes all those things. And the hours. You can either play and go to parties,
or you can work, and become one of the best. So I wish you all the joy of being in fashion
and doing what you do very well indeed.