Prabal Gurung reveals the cover of his literary memoir, walking like a girl
When it came time to title her upcoming memoir, the Nepali-American fashion designer Prabal Gurung taken from an unusual source: childhood bullies. “He was inspired,” he said Vanity fairby “the words thrown at me” at his boys’ school in Nepal. “I don’t think I have a problem; I was a sissy,” he said. “It has become my mantra.”
Walk like a girl, which Viking will publish in May, traces the designer’s life from growing up in Kathmandu to moving to New York and on to founding his eponymous label, which is very important Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Kate Middleton, and many others among its fans.
Reveal your cover Walk like a girl, Gurung spoke to VF about moving from the stage to the page and capturing your own American dream.
Vanity Fair: What does the phrase “walk like a girl” mean to you now?
Prabal Gurung: Personally, that’s all I stand for. Even before I understood the word patriarchy or matriarchy, I was surrounded by the strength and energy of women. Growing up in a family with such strong female energy, and then entering a world where it was so shameful – for women to have ambition was almost looked down upon – it was a shock.
Everything we talk about right now is a conversation that comes from the heart. Growing up it was all about ruthless ambition, success at any cost. There is a tribute to the characters as in American psychology. What’s interesting is that it’s ridiculous and ridiculous. I just feel like, wait a minute, look at the state of the world, the dogmatic dictators we have – not just on the political platform but in our real lives. I know a truth – we all know a truth – what happens when you have a patriarchy and a matriarchy. What is happening in American politics today is a perfect example.
How did you decide on this cover?
We position this as a literary memoir rather than a celebrity memoir. It’s very important to me. We talked about not having my picture. But at the end of the day, what’s really important is that this book reaches many people for many different reasons. I recognize someone who looks like me, it doesn’t always have to be on the covers of books or magazines – I think it’s important not to cower in this particular moment.
My nephew Arhant is a photographer who studied at Bard College, and then moved to Nepal. He debuted when he was 13 years old. He took this photo when I returned home to Nepal last year in my mother’s apartment, which was close to the balcony and had lots of natural light. I feel completely myself.
Your mother is the center of the memoir. You also dedicated your 2019 monograph to her, writing that she always made sure you had the right lipstick color. Is there a specific story behind that dedication?
I don’t want to cry, but I recently had a conversation when I was back in Nepal and I told her, “I’m in Nepal. What made you – at the risk of getting in trouble – allow me to wear makeup if I wanted to? Wear high heels or a dress and everything?” And she said to me, “I will rearrange your sister’s outfit and I will see the look on your face. So I would always say, do you like it? And I kind of just nodded. And then she said, “Do you want to try that?” And I will nod vigorously. “As a mother, I think of nothing else except your happiness,” she said.
You have explored very personal experiences through your designs. You said the fall 2024 collection is an ode to your father. How does the experience of writing a memoir compare to that? Is it more obvious?
Absolutely yes. With fashion and what I do, I talk about politics. I talked about my conflicted and tense relationship with my father – I also understood his situation. But at the same time, I was safe, surrounded by strips of fabric and models and runways.
