Fans of the fun and colorful wares of Jonathan Adler had a chance to meet the designer himself and have him sign their purchases while also supporting Westport Country Playhouse at a special event on December 15 at the Westport, CT, store. The store was filled with shoppers getting ready for the holidays while sipping bubbly from Celange and bites from Garelick & Herbs. Twenty percent of the eveningโs sales went to support the playhouse. I had the opportunity to chat with him before the evening kicked off.

Itโs holiday season, are you done with all of your holiday shopping? Yes. Because I am the ultimate Christmas elf. Youโre in my gift closet.
So whatโs on your holiday wish list? My wish list this year. Iโm impossible, but I gotta sayโI know Iโm supposed to say โpeace and loveโ but really Iโm just wanting anything Gucci at the moment. Thatโs my true wish!
Thatโs a good wish list item! Yeah, Iโm having a very Gucci moment. Gucci and Comme Des GarconsโI live in it. If my husband is reading this, you cannot go wrong with a Gucci shoe of any description in a 7 ยฝ!
Whatโs the next trip on your bucket list? Galapagos is something I would love to do. I mean what could be cuter. And the older I get the more Iโm like โI never want to go to another city as long as I liveโ. When you get to be my age, youโll have been to every city and youโll be like โoh, so this is the Prada in Budapestโ. Who cares? Whereas treading around with some wildlife? I am in!
I heard this new term, somebody wrote a book about it that I thought was quite interesting called biophelia and its about the energy you get from non-human life forms. And I thought thatโs an unnamed phenomenon but itโs true. Like, when I was paddle boarding outside my Shelter Island house last summer and I saw a seal, I felt completely energized and alive and excited. Itโs just hard to explain,ย but itโs the energy and happiness you feel from biophelia.
How many dogs do you have?ย I have one, Liberace has moved on. But now Foxy Lady is maybe the most perfect being ever to have walked the face of the earth! Sheโs quite perfect.
Does she inspire you in anything that you create? I would never think that anything I make could every equal her majesty. However, she inspires me everyday in everything I do.
You have an amazing attitude that youโll say yes to just about anything. For example, Fisher Price comes your way with an opportunity, PayPal comes along and you have this โall inโ way of going about it. Where do you get that from? I think it comes from failing at many jobs and feeling panic about my ability to make a living and that kind of engendered humility. And just being flattered if anyone asks me to do anything.
Who would you love to have approach you next? Iโm desperate for a car company to ask me to do something. Desperate! And probably the think Iโve reached my Depends years yet, but you know if theyโre reading this call me in about 20 years!
Whatโs on the horizon for the company next year? More. More stuff. I kind of spend all of my time traveling the world to find ever more gifted artisans to work with. Right now Iโm doing lots of lacquer, goat skin, more and more brass. Just more better.
What is the one piece of design advice you would give to everyone about the one thing they need in their home? Everybody needs a chandelier that is bigger than they think it should be and more expensive than they can afford. No matter the size of your space. Also, a good bold rug sets the tone.
Whatโs the next movie you want to see? Iโm desperate to see Elle the new Paul Verhoeven movie.
What book is on your night table? I read voraciously and I think Iโm probably going to dip into the new Ian McEwan book which is called Nutshell.
Beverage of choice? Cranberry and seltzer. Itโs known as a Liz Lange. Liz Lange is my best friend and sheโs trying to have one named after her and Iโm here to help the cause.
Guilty Pleasureโfave music? I have the most low brow taste in music out there so whatever is number one on the charts is my favorite. So pop music.
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Photographs by Cheryl Moss