Purple Magazine
— S/S 2008 issue 9

Butterfly

photographed by JACK PIERSON
model CHRISTOPHER NIQUET
hair by ODILE GILBERT

An intimate portrait of the French stylist, Christopher Niquet, who left Paris to start a new life in New York City.

Dusty blue cotton military jacket A.P.C.

CAROLINE GAIMARI — How did you get started in fashion?
CHRISTOPHER NIQUET — I pretty much always worked full time as an assistant, interning at different independent magazines. Little by little people in the office began asking me if they could photograph me. One day I visited a friend on a shoot and met Joe McKenna. He asked me if he could photograph me for a menswear story in New York the following day. He helped me find an agency in Paris and New York. Because of him, I ended up modeling for Dazed, Uomo Vogue, Vogue Hommes International, i-D, Louis Vuitton, Dior Homme, and Martine Sitbon.

CAROLINE GAIMARI — How did you shift from modeling to styling?
CHRISTOPHER NIQUET — I eventually became bored with fashion. I quit the magazine I was working for, and starting working for A.P.C.’s record label. I guess Jean Touitou liked my style because he started inviting me to the studio and asking me for my opinions. I suppose that’s what really made me like fashion and gave me my start. After that I followed the usual path — a couple of pages in English magazines, then bigger stories in English magazines, and eventually more serious work.

T-shirt customized by Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeahs AMERICAN APPAREL and gray jeans A.P.C., gold, diamond and ruby bracelet GENEVIEVE JONES

CAROLINE GAIMARI — How would you describe your personal style?
CHRISTOPHER NIQUET — I don’t know. I have pretty classic taste. It hasn’t really changed since I was a child — I guess it’s a derivative of my mother’s. I mostly wear navy, gray, brown, and red clothing. Dior Homme used to be the best place for me to shop. Now I mostly wear A.P.C. womenswear; it works perfectly on me. Most of my shirts come from Hilditch & Key in Paris.

CAROLINE GAIMARI — You’ve been in New York for a year now. What made you decide to leave Paris?
CHRISTOPHER NIQUET — I lived in Paris forever and I needed a break. Also, I was in a long distance relationship with someone that lived in New York and I decided to really give it a try. I was becoming professionally frustrated in Paris and needed to start from scratch. I’m glad I did. But for some reason I now feel more Parisian than ever.

Black leather boots BALENCIAGA

CAROLINE GAIMARI — What are your favorite spots in New York?
CHRISTOPHER NIQUET — I love the Beatrice Inn. All of my friends DJ there so every night of the week feels like a house party! Omen has to be my favorite restaurant. La Esquina downstairs made me like Mexican food. Florent is the best place to go if you’ve got the munchies late at night. When I’m uptown I like to go to Cafe Carlyle. I love walking my dog in Tompkins Square Park. For music I like the record store Other Music, and Dashwood Books is great for out of print photography books. I also really like the new downtown galleries like Envoy and Canada — places that show art I like and can afford.

CAROLINE GAIMARI — Tell me about your tattoos.
CHRISTOPHER NIQUET — I have a bunch. They’re mostly just black lines. The first one was the skull on my rib cage. My brother drew it. Then I got an anarchy sign on my upper right arm that I transformed into a skull with a butterfly. I have a lightning bolt on my left knee to match Patti Smith’s. I also have a “b” on my elbow that evolved into “bonjour tristesse,” the title of one of my favorite books, and an apt description of my mental disposition: polite depression. My most recent tattoo is the Andy Warhol skull on my wrist.

Red briefs AMERICAN APPAREL

CAROLINE GAIMARI — I heard you were thinking about getting a tattoo inspired by Jack Pierson’s art. Is that still in the cards?
CHRISTOPHER NIQUET — It’s definitely the next one. I’ve been going through books of his trying to find the thing that works best for me. I like the idea of getting one of his word sculptures tattooed on me. Working with Jack was amazing. We spent a week together and only sometimes took photographs. I’ve always loved his work and wanted to make sure these pictures we did together would be more like portraits than a fashion spread. That’s why I did the nudes — otherwise, I never would have.

CAROLINE GAIMARI — Are there other artists that you draw inspiration from or would be interested in collaborating with?
CHRISTOPHER NIQUET — I’m a bloodsucker. I’d love to work with my favorite painter, Rosson Crowe. As cliché as it can be, Elizabeth Peyton would be great, too. I also like Paul P. And that new guy, Jared Buckhiester, who does those amazing drawings!