Five Questions from Quarantine: Eric Carlson
The Hooligan Editor/Partner tells us of his wish to mix Ramsey and Dali, what it would take to get him to knit and how lockdown life has had serious fashion fallout.
What's your self-isolation set-up at the moment?
My broom cupboard, which is small but perfectly formed.
Now I know how Harry Potter felt.
It's lockdown; aside from your family, which four people, past or present, would you most like to be quarantined with?
- Salvador Dali would be a real laugh to be with under quarantine. He was a skilled artist and draftsman who had no fear of striving for perfection. We're kindred spirits in that way – and he's almost as good looking as me!
- As a former semi-pro football player, rockstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo would also keep me on my toes.
- Gordon Ramsey. As this all turns to shite, I'll never have to go hungry being quarantined with an internationally renowned, multi-Michelin starred chef. Plus, he swears like a banshee, so I'll never get bored.
- Fatima León, Mexico's crown mixologist and former champion at the World Class™ competition (a.k.a the olympics of bartending). Because anyone who knows me, knows my margaritas. She would definitely give me a questioning look as I squeeze a lime into the margarita she just made for me — but that’s how I roll.
We need entertainment, what's your favorite short film?
Brooklyn Breeze is a wonderful homage to the beauty of my hometown Brooklyn.
I Heart NY is also a timely reminder of how great the city is.
You've completed Netflix. And Amazon Prime. And Disney+. It's on the hard stuff; board games. What do you pick and why?
I’ll skip the board game and go straight to knitting.
Because at this point, I've given up on doing the laundry - and my Paul Smith sock drawer is looking bare.
On a serious note, how do you think this situation will impact you individually, and the industry as a whole?
As tough as it has been, I hope this quarantine reminds people that it is relationships that truly make our industry tick.
Whether I’m shaking up a batch of margaritas for happy hour, perfecting a cut, or meeting an insane deadline, my clients and creative peers are the reason I stay late. They deserve the best because they’re friends. I love seeing their faces and already miss the spontaneity of the in-person moments we used to share.
Zoom is often where all of this happens now. It gets the job done fine, but dare I say our sense of style is suffering from remote work?
Needless to say, I miss NYC street fashion already. I imagine the city will be one big runway the first day it opens back up!