Monsieur Robot loves Casey Spooner

Men don’t come anymore stylish than Casey Spooner. The first time I saw him I took all my ideas about fashion and threw them away, I knew I had to start again. Casey embodies both sartorial elegance and avant-garde fashion while maintaining a never-ending succession of unique and inspiring looks. Taking a break from his groundbreaking work with Fischerspooner he’s just released a solo album and true to form it’s brilliant; and completely different to anything he’s done in the past. A classic, modern sound with all the ingenuity and innovation you’ve come to expect, it’s called Adult Contemporary and is available now on www.caseyspooner.com and iTunes. I spoke to Casey about making the new record and of course his own personal style.

How was the experience of recording your new solo record?

The thing that’s kind of unusual is that I didn’t plan on making a solo album. I was writing material for Jeff Saltzman who had produced the last Fischerspooner record with us. So I went in just writing stuff for him because he wanted to make his own album and in the process I got to just writing so much stuff he decided to take the material and make it an album for me. So it was kinda cool for me because I wasn’t planning on it and when I was writing I was, you know, I wasn’t even recording the vocals thinking that they were gonna be the final take so I was doing demos that I imagined other people would re-sing later. I was very relaxed I wasn’t super self-conscious. We were working quickly so I ended up writing stuff that in a way is more natural, more personal.

Did you consciously want to change musical styles? It’s very different to what you do with Fischerspooner, is that something you wanted to do?

No! I wasn’t thinking about it, it wasn’t a choice. I was just writing stuff for him and his album so I wasn’t really thinking about making any of those choices, I was thinking, is this my next persona? Is this good for my career? Is this bad for my career? Is this what I want to say? It was more like I was just very un-selfconsciously writing material for his album.

So it just happened organically?

Yeah, so a couple of weeks into recording he basically started saying that he felt like it was mine, and I was like “woah, wait a minute! I don’t know” and then I thought, you know what? Why not. It's true there’s like a natural thing happening so why don’t we just go with it.

Cinnamon toast is a stand out track on the album…do you have a good cinnamon toast recipe?

God it’s so crazy, everybody loves that song. It was the first song that I recorded and I made it really, really fast. I recorded and wrote the entire song in maybe two hours. It’s the story of my third birthday party.

Does the change in your image correlate with the change in musical styles? Do you think the two things are symbiotic?

I knew that because the sound was a bit more classic, I wanted to create a more classic image. I’m just coming off of wearing a giant neon lampshade on my head. So I thought I wanted to go the opposite direction. It’s more exciting in a way for me to do something classic and handsome.

So are Fischerspooner still together? Can we expect another Fischerspooner album in the future?

Oh yeah, absolutely.

In the video for “Spanish Teenager’, the single from the album, you’re not really wearing any clothes…does that mean you’ve run out of looks?

I know! I’m post-clothing…I’ve worn everything.

So what music do you listen to?

I was just listening to the new Beth Ditto Simian Mobile Disco EP.

What are you wearing right now?

It’s fucking freezing here; I’m wearing a giant coat I look like an Eskimo basically.

How do you dress on your ‘off’ days, if you’re just sitting round the house, or you’ve got to pop to the shop to buy some milk, do you dress up or do you wear normal stuff like everyone else?

When I’m off, I’m OFF. My favourite things are really good underwear and really good socks and so basically I’m probably just in socks and underwear.

Who are your favourite designers at the minute?

Gosh, let me think. I feel like I’m off the circuit at the minute. I always love Rick Owens, I always love Gareth Pugh. I’m doing a lot of work with Timothy Everest, who does bespoke suits for me. I was just looking at some vintage Mugler. Italo Zucchelli does great stuff for Calvin Klein. I always love Margiela…you know all the basics. Oh you know who I’m really into a new designer I just discovered from Korea called Juun J.

You’ve worked with designers like Stefano Pilati and Jeremy Scott in the past, what’s that process like? Did you collaborate in the designs or act more like a muse?

I love Stefano and Jeremy. It’s been a long time since I worked with Jeremy. Typically early on I have a core concept or an idea I’m trying to execute so I tell people where I’m headed and then I just let them run with that idea. Stefano made a whole bunch of clothes for me that I didn’t anticipate at all. I was into toreadors and he turned round and gave me this kinda crazy chinese sci-fi collection. That was a complete surprise, I was just trying to borrow some clothes off the rack and that’s what he gave me.

Do you have a favorite outfit that you've worn in the past, perhaps on stage? 

Oh man, there are so many! I love to change. I love to change my look and go to extremes. My first Fischerspooner look is still one of the best. I made a suit out of human hair. I was like a big glamorous monster. It was so lush and silky. Not like a dirty ugly monster. More like a shampoo commercial. The hair moved so beautifully. That's a CLASSIC look. I love the neon hat I made for the last show. That thing is so insane. I just want to make another one that is even bigger and better. I love how it looks technical and religious. A showbiz halo.

Are there any fashion faux pas you've made? 

NEVER. I don't believe in mistakes. Well, at least not on stage. I put a great deal of thought and effort into the show looks. Even if they seem "off" it is intentional.

Sometimes I really fuck up in real life. But I don't really care about real life. 

How long does it take before you get bored of a look?

I'll get a concept for a look and keep refining and redesigning it for years. It takes me about a year to figure out a look and I can keep developing it for another year. 2 years is kinda the perfect amount of time. But I am about to redesign the current FS look AGAIN. I have been developing the ENTERTAINMENT image for about (off and on) 4 years.

Now I am busier with the Casey Spooner image which is the anti-thesis. Clean, adult, classic, sophisticated. I like to swing between the extremes of avant-garde fashion and very traditional elegance. Sometimes I am able to pull both off at the same time. And that is what I like most. Something that is now and very fresh but still elegant and refined. Strange Elegance is my thing.

How many wardrobes do you own? 

I have a storage space full! and my closet is a nightmare. If I am not on tour I am just wearing jeans or whatever is on top of the pile. 

Do you keep all of your old clothes or throw them away? 

I keep all the good stuff!!!

What are your wardrobe staples? Is there an item of clothing you can’t live without? 

I know this is gonna sound crazy but I am most obsessive about socks and underwear. I love Hanro and Falke for underwear. I love Wolford, Falke, Fogal, Brioni, Panterella for socks. Panterella socks are the best. If I have great socks and underwear and T shirts. I can make ANYTHING look good. Just add shorts and a great pair of boots and a hat and scarf and sunglasses.

I need that Givenchy leopard suit from last season. I know it is going to be everywhere but I just NEEEED it. Mens? Leopard? Suit? YES!

Is there anyone out there that you think is better dressed than you? 

Daphne Guiness!!! is the best dressed HUMAN BEING.  But other men??? I can't think of many men or at least you don't see them in the press. I am always inspired by very traditional and folkloric costumes. I love the Macedonian costumes in Greece and the kids in Tokyo and gaucho looks in Argentina, etc etc....I am crazy for these kinds of indigenous looks.

Is a sense of style important in a potential partner? For example would you consider dating someone that you considered to be badly dressed?

Yes. I love a hot slob. 

You sing about London on Adult Contemporary... Do you think Londoners or New Yorkers are more stylish?

Very different. I think that England is always dealing with intense class issues. It manifests itself in the way people look and act. There are these extremes of people trying to be proper and very improper. I love both. The super super trashy club looks and the very up tight traditional looks.

New Yorkers are bit more "street". We have to dress for an almost athletic existence so it is about functionality and looking chic.

Who is your style icon?

Cary Grant, Lon Chaney, Buster Keaton, Marlene Dietrich, Louis XIV, King Ludwig of Bavaria, Napoleon, Beth Ditto, Seth Bogart and Cody Critcheloe

Can you sum up your personal style in one word?

CONTRADICTORY 

Do you have any style advice or fashion tips for my readers?

Real style is about ideas. I find a concept or a philosophy and pick things around that. It may be something like ATHLETIC COUTURE or OUTER SPACE JAPANESE VAUDEVILLE. It is fun to choose things that are seemingly unrelated and find a way to pull them together. Visually and find connections conceptually too. This always yields something interesting. 

Otherwise just wear one color and you will look good.