“I have the chutzpah and the power to show orange and yellow and violet.” —Bijan
How did you make your first million? I didn’t. My father gave it to me.
How old were you? Twenty-five years old.
How long did it take to make your second? I was not concerned with the second, third, or 10th million. All I wanted was to become one of the five most recognized fashion designers in the world. And this is what I did.
What’s different about your clothes? The attitude, the material, the color. I am one of those men’s designers who have the guts and chutzpah and power to show orange and yellow and violet in all those strong fabrics.
How many clients do you have? Twenty-two thousand—and when I say clients, forgive me for mentioning this, I am talking about $1 million-a-year clients. I am absolutely not shocked if someone comes in, as someone from Northern California did last week, and spends $250,000. A smart man. If he was not so smart, he wouldn’t be so powerful or wealthy.
Million-dollar clients? How do you spend a million bucks on clothes? Some people might not understand. But you know what? I don’t care, because I know so many people who do understand. Do you understand why you have to spend $12 million for a house? Do you understand that it costs $50,000 to take off from New York and London in a G-V? Do you understand that some people spend thousands of dollars to spend a night in a pretty suite somewhere?
Okay. Is it hard to spend $1 million on clothes? Hard? Oh, no. A wardrobe for one season is $1 million. If you are buying my couture line—which has evolved into many ensembles—you have to pay for that. One visit could be a couple of million dollars alone. Also, many, many, many of my clients live in different parts of the world and have different houses everywhere. In Saint-Tropez you wear one thing, and you wear something else in London. And London is different from Beverly Hills.
So it’s $100,000 for an alligator coat? You said it. But I would not offer all men my alligator coat.
Do you help your clients have more fun with clothes? Yes. I dictate my taste to them. I let them know that you do not wear a red jacket if you go on a business visit in one of those buildings in New York.
Do your clients admit they don’t have a great sense of style or taste? Almost every one of them; can you imagine? These guys are so babylike in their own way—it doesn’t matter if they are diplomats or senators or kings. I think that as you get more wealthy and more powerful you get more passive.
Is it arrogant to say “by appointment only”? To me—and to 22,000 clients—absolutely not. It’s beautiful.
Do you think wealth affects men and women differently? Women handle wealth better; they are better spenders.
What was your first job? Designing clothes for the shah of Iran.
What was the best deal you ever completed? One thought, one design, one idea for $10 million, for the royal family of Brunei.
What is your best negotiating tactic? As a designer I dictate my thoughts. I don’t negotiate.
What would be the hardest luxury item to live without? My private staff at my home: my butler, my driver, my housekeeper, my gardener, my pool man.
Do you have advice for someone who suddenly finds himself or herself very wealthy? For me, personally, I enjoy my wealth a lot more when I am in love, so my advice… When you become wealthy, don’t forget to fall in love!
