In the mood of Martin Grant: 'I would put Gertrude Stein on the runway'

To celebrate Paris Fashion Week (February 28-March 7), Relaxnews presents a new feature, "In the mood of..." quizzing designers on their style secrets and sources of inspiration. Ahead of his March 3 ready-to-wear Fall/Winter 2012 presentation, we enter into the world of Australian designer Martin Grant, who expresses admiration for the gender-bending style of Gertrude Stein.

Relaxnews: What in your opinion is the most essential accessory and why?
Martin Grant: Shoes. They offer protection from the cold and the rain.

R: Which item of clothing would you never allow into your wardrobe?
MG: Leather pants. No explanation necessary.

R: Which famous person, dead, alive or from fiction, would you most like to feature on your runway?
MG :
I'd like to put Gertrude Stein on the catwalk for her masculine way of dressing.

R: What career path would you have followed if you hadn't become a designer?
MG:
Landscape architect.

R: Which song do you most associate with your Fall/Winter 2012 collection?
MG :
The songs of Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté. Listen to them at http://youtu.be/tjtfcSWmBmA.

R: Cast your mind back... what did you feel the very first time you set foot in Paris?
MG:
Excitement.