Interview

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The line was out the door at Clic Bookstore and Gallery last week as animal lovers and anxious young girls straightened out their looks waiting for their moment with Vogue Creative Director Grace Coddington.

In celebration of the reprint of her book, The Catwalk Cats (2007, Steidl), Coddington sat before a backdrop of Christophe Von Hohenberg's black-and-white photgraphs of Pee-wee Herman and Britney Spears, scribbling well wishes and cartoons of hissing cats. The book is a compilation of Grace's charming sketches, anecdotes, and feline photographs by hairstylist Didier Malige, Codington's boyfriend of over 20 years and perhaps the only bi-pedalcapable of capturing her full affections.

The Catwalk Cats is a tongue-and-cheek peek into the couple's lives shown through the eyes of their cats. Coco, Baby and Henri, three French charteuses, and Bart, a young blue Persian embark on various fashionable adventures, all of which are introduced by long-haired Puff, who incidentally has no taste for fashion at all. At the signing, Coddington admits that there is yet another narrator, "Puff is not a terribly good writer so actually he was ghosted by Sally Singer who works for Vogue." Indeed, the introduction reads, "signed Puff as told to Sally Singer."  

"For me, this book is Grace's determination," said Malige, whose favorite snapshot in the books captures Puff, peeing in public. According to Grace, cats aren't the easiest models to work with: "Its tough to style a cat, because they have an opinion. They're a bit like celebrities."

Unfortunately, all the Catwalk Cats but Bart have passed, but Coddington has since subdued her sorrows with a new addition to the family: Pumpkin, a Calico Persian with an affinity for Margiela. You might catch Pumpkin in a sequel, although the project is currently on pause, as Coddington finds it difficult to draw her deceased cats. "It breaks my heart. When I draw them... it's very real. And if they're not there, it's kind of hard to do."

Nonetheless, their memory will be preserved, not only in the book, but in an upcoming film. Coddington is in talks with The September Issue's R.J. Cutler about an animated rendition of The Catwalk Cats: "It's basically my drawings coming to life. That's what I want to do," she explained, her eyes lighting up.

When the clock struck nine, the soiree came to a close. Grace undoubtedly had to rush home to tend to Pumpkin and Bart. Asked why her cats weren't the evening's guests of honor, Grace replied, "They simply didn't have anything to wear."


The event was sponsored by Steidl's 7L, Distributed Art Publishers, and Clic. A portion of the proceeds of the book-signing go to the Animal Rescue Fund.