In 2013, Janet Malcolm profiled the iconic women’s clothing designer Eileen Fisher. “I planted the first seed, and now I look around and there’s this amazing garden,” Fisher said. “But I’m just an ordinary person.”
At the end of the Irvington lunch, which had been scheduled to dovetail with another appointment, Eileen looked at her watch and proposed that I stay a few minutes longer so I wouldn’t have to wait for my train on the chilly outdoor platform—the train was due in fifteen minutes and the station was only five minutes away. “Do you want to see the living room?” she asked.
The school experience itself had been less edifying. “I was fairly traumatized by the Catholic schools I went to,” she said. “I think it is part of my silence thing, of just always feeling it is safer to say nothing than to figure out what you think and what you want to say. It was always risky to speak at school.”“There was criticism. There was yelling. They would humiliate you and embarrass you.
I asked my second question: Why were Old and Rowe present during my interviews with Eileen? Eileen promptly answered, “I assume that the reason you are interested in interviewing me goes beyond me. I sort of stand for a whole company, and I want to make sure that people are honored and that I don’t say anything that offends anyone or that hurts anyone.”“I know the idea for the company came through me in some way, but it’s beyond me.
Old, with her characteristic accommodating intelligence, said, “Would it be helpful to you, to both of you maybe, to have some time without other people in the room?” I was not surprised when Eileen told me a few weeks later that Old had been promoted and was now one of the four highest-ranking executives of this company of a thousand employees that soft-pedals its hierarchy and doesn’t use the word “executive.
Eileen has always been good with money—she says it comes out of her early affinity for math—but she doesn’t care about it for its own sake, and she isn’t a big spender. “My accountant always says ‘Spend more money.’ I love my home. I’m comfortable there. But I don’t have a lot of needs. Maybe because I grew up the way I did. I like what I like. I travel a little bit. But I had to be talked into travelling first class. I just see myself as ordinary, one of the group.
A few weeks later, I returned to 111 Fifth Avenue to take a closer look at the tenth floor. My guide this time was Monica Rowe, who took me down a long central corridor lined with racks of sample garments and flanked on both sides by large partitioned spaces with windows, where designers sat at computers or drafting tables or in discussion groups around conference tables.
Argentina Últimas Noticias, Argentina Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
'Eileen': Anne Hathaway, Thomasin McKenzie & More on Adapting a Story That's 'Not Everyone's Cup of Tea'Anne Hathaway, Thomasin McKenzie, and the Eileen filmmakers discuss the risks of adapting a story that's 'not everyone's cup of tea.'
Leer más »
A League of Their Own and The Good Place Star D'Arcy Carden Wants To Join MarvelD'Arcy Carden is best known for playing Janet, the fan-favorite not-a-robot on The Good Place, [...]
Leer más »
Sisters travel to Antarctica with Sunday MugsWillie Geist wraps up Sunday TODAY by sharing mug shots sent in by viewers. This week, Willie gives a shout out to Eileen, Clare and Ann on their trip to Antarctica, plus more wonderful fans! To share your photos, use SundayTODAY on social media.
Leer más »
Women-Led Films Recognized, But Women Directors Ignored, at Latest Oscar NomsThe Oscars Ceremony is just around the corner and in preparation The Academy has announced their nominees! There were some surprising and deserved recognitions, some snubs that will absolutely shock you, and an entire category with exactly zero women nominated, just for old times' sake. Check out the BUST rundown of this year's nominations!
Leer más »
Women Are Calling Out The Things They're Tired Of Hearing From Other WomenIt's 2023, stop telling people they need a man's permission to do things!
Leer más »
‘Plan C’ Review: Sensitive Doc Depicts Warriors for a Women’s Right to ChooseTracy Droz Tragos, who directed 2016's ‘Abortion: Stories Women Tell,’ takes a look at the women running an advisory service for those seeking abortion drugs.
Leer más »