Interview

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We asked Olivier Zahm, the editor of Purple Fashion magazine, to interview Edwige, who, as gatekeeper of the legendary Le Palace, was the queen of Parisian nightlife in the late '70s. Le Palace was to France what Studio 54 was to America, and Edwige created the nightly mix of people that made for a fabulous party. When she came to New York City in the late ‘70s, she quickly fit into the downtown scene-hosting, performing, and then eventually teaching yoga. Today she has an utterly fierce style all her own.

OLIVIER ZAHM: Do you love your name? It's derived from a German word for war. Does that describe you in a way?

EDWIGE: I love my name, I was named after the beautiful French actress Edwige Feuillère. I don't really see myself as a warrior. I feel I floated through life; sometimes I hate the idea of not having fought more. Still, I won a few battles . . .

OZ: How did you become an icon of the underground in Paris in the '70s?

E: Meeting Serge Krüger and his group of friends was definitely a door opening and a massive life change. Philippe Morillon, the painter and photographer, worked with Andy [Warhol], and we were going to Club Sept, owned by Fabrice Emaer, where I got introduced to the fabu-lous Parisian gay scene. I was 19. Then I met Andy, Helmut Newton, Grace Jones, Paloma Picasso, my sweet Loulou de la Falaise ... I mean, the list is endless, since at the time, fashion, music, dance, and art icons were out and partying in a less paparazzi-infested world. They all could actually have fun. Being at Club Sept was like being at Fabrice's home. Paris was exploding in those years-fashion was changing, new designers, new styles, disco, punk ...

OZ: How would you describe your life in Paris in the years '75, '76, and '77?

E: Those are three totally different years for me, so it's hard to mix them up. Edwige really started existing as we know her in '76-when I shaved my hair, burned my clothes, and only wore riding pants, button-down shirts, skinny ties, high heels, and a leather jacket Serge had given me. That was my only outfit. The people I met created the revolutions in fashion, music, art, and style. I wasn't really sure of what was happening around me at the time. I barely knew what was happening to me.