Interview

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Teri Toye was often called Stephen Sprouse's muse: She embodied the look, attitude and androgynous spirit of his collections. As a fashion student in 1984, Teri opened Sprouse's show; soon after, she'd be represented by Click Models in New York and City in Paris. Mauricio Padilha and Roger Padilha, the brothers behind MAO, recently co-authored The Stephen Sprouse Book, and in the process they became as enamored of Teri as they were of Sprouse. The friendship between Teri and the Padilha brothers got off to a rocky start when they asked to profile her a few years ago for their fashion fanzine MAO MAG, and Teri declined. They wrote the piece anyway and sent it to her. After meeting in person, Teri agreed to be interviewed for The Stephen Sprouse Book.

The three chatted exclusively for Interview just days before the book's launch party on January 13, which marks Teri's first appearance since leaving New York andthe fashion world in 1987. The brothers Padilha possess the largest collection of Sprouse's work, much of which appears through photographs in The Stephen Sprouse Book—they've also share previously unpublished pictures here.

Roger Padilha: Hey Teri, How are you?

Teri Toye: I'm great! I just keep having one positive experience after another. I've been younger and cuter, but never better. And how are you guys doing?
 
RP: Great!  There has been such incredible buzz about the book which means that you'll be dragged into the limelight once again.
 
Mauricio Padilha: We couldn't have done The Stephen Sprouse Book without you. Was it weird talking about the old days with us?
 
TT: Well, you probably would have. That's why I did it! Revealing memories and personal relationships is so invasive, and it's mine. I usually don't like to give it up.

RP: How did you meet Stephen?
 
TT: Richard Sohl from the Patti Smith Band took me to Stephen's apartment. It was love at first sight of him and his place.
 
MP: Most people think of you as Stephen's muse.  What would you describe your role in Stephen's career?

TT:  Stephen was so shy. I encouraged him and I think I gave him confidence.
 
RP: Stephen and you along with Steven Meisel were considered nightlife superstars by some people and terrors by others. Tell us some of the things the 3 of you would do to gain that sort of reputation.
 
TT: We couldn't help it. We just did what made us happy and have fun. That alone bothers people. I don't think Stephen Sprouse was considered one of the terrorists, though, was he?
 
MP: How did Stephen come up with the idea of doing graffiti on clothing?
 
TT: The streets of New York were alive and inspiring in the 80's. Graffiti was on everything on the streets. He turned that Urban Expressionism into pattern. It was his natural thing to do.
 
RP: You were the star of Stephen's infamous 1984 show at the Ritz. How did it come about that you were to model in it?
 
TT: While we were styling and staging the show, Kesia Keeble insisted I be in it. She was very persuasive.

MP: Were you nervous?
 
TT: Hell yes! The place was packed. I had never been on a runway and I hate shit like that. I wasn't as nervous as Stephen. He was not going to go out at the end. I dragged him.

RP: Would you consider Stephen more of a designer or an artist? Tell us a bit about his artwork and what are your favorites.
 
TT: Stephen was an artist. It wasn't as much about the clothes as it was just getting people to look like he wanted. So of course he had to dress everyone. My favorite works were the Xerox pieces. The green and yellow Edie Sedgwick, the fuchsia Francesco Clemente eye, and the Jim Morrison. They were more punk and personal than the later pieces. But that's just me.

MP: You modeled for Chanel and Thierry Mugler as well in the 80s. How was that different than modeling for Stephen?
 
TT: The biggest difference was that I just showed up and modeled in the shows. I had no influence or involvement in the creative part. I was just in their look. Not a bad way to look I must say.

RP: In the mid 80's, you disappeared from NYC and almost became an urban legend. Everyone talked about you but no one knew if you were dead or alive or where you went. Why did you leave New York?
 
TT: I was sick of it. Times had changed. Everyone had died or become more concerned about their careers. I'm still sick of it.

MP: What would you say is Stephen's legacy?

TT: His integrity. He was uncompromising with his work. His goals weren't commercial and financial success. He produced because of his desire to create.

RP: Mauricio and I got to hang out with you last year after a rocky start and now we're BFF's. Why were you so scared to meet us at first?
 
TT: I wasn't afraid. My operating procedure is to avoid and minimize. Anyway, we're friends now.

RP: How does it feel to be considered a living legend?
 
TT: I don't know how to be anything else. I have put very little effort into either part.

Read the best of Stephen Sprouse in Interview here.