All About Elsa

Behind the scenes with CNN's arbiter of style

Elsa Klensch is the fashion doyenne of the airwaves. GEORGE WAYNE is her biggest fan.

George Wayne: So, I understand that Elsa is from Australia. What brought her to New York?

Elsa Klensch: I married an American—

G.W.So you followed your husband to America— E.K. I didn't follow him, darling, I came with him. I started off at Women's Wear Daily and then I gradually worked around until I got to CNN on the 28th of April 1980.

G.W.Where do you think fashion is going in the 90s? You recently asked Christian Lacroix that question, and now I'm asking you, Elsa.

E.K. I think fashion is giving women a chance to be individualistic. I don't think there is any one strong direction in fashion, except that it comes from new fabric. There are so many extraordinary things being done with fabric—

G.W.So it's about freedom.

E.K. It has to be. Women just won't be dictated to anymore. G.W.What about fashion in America?

E.K. I think there is an enormous growth in young design in New York, and I didn't expect it to happen. I used to think, Well, there's Bill, there's Calvin, there's Ralph, Oscar. Who comes next? Then Isaac Mizrahi arrived, and Todd Oldham, Anna Sui, and Christian Francis Roth. And suddenly there is a whole crop.

G.W.You have the most-watched weekend feature program on CNN. What makes your show, Style with Elsa Klensch, so special?

E.K. We have a strong direction, and we maintain that direction. We only show stories about design and designers—that is the key to the show.

G.W.Now, what does Elsa say to her critics who say her show is moribund, old hat?

E.K. If it is, then design is, because we're up-to-date in the news of the design world.

G.W.But do you think VH-l's FashionTelevision is giving you a run for your money?

E.K. I don't worry about the competition. We get the best interviews, the best positions, the best video. We cover the world.

G.W.What designer do you favor for your personal wardrobe?

E.K. I buy here and there. On TV you're limited by shape, so you can't have shoulder pads that are too wide, because otherwise your head looks like a pin. You have to have colors that work well on television, the browns, the murky grays—out. The burgundies—out. You can't wear stripes, because they jump. I look for jackets in red, blue, but I don't favor one designer. But I love Sonia Rykiel, Cathy Hardwick, Donna Karan.

G.W.Does Elsa ever keep any of those fabulous gifts from Karl, Ferre, Saint Laurent, et al. ?

E.K. They send me the most beautiful flowers, enormous baskets, and I sure keep the flowers, which we are allowed to do. G.W.What about those baubles hidden amongst the bouquets?

E.K. Never.

G.W.Oh, Elsa, you know they love to dole out the gifts.

E.K. Do they?

G.W. Let's talk models—Glamazon versus Waif. Where does Elsa stand on this?

E.K. Change is what fashion is about, so I welcome new looks. I think Kate Moss has the most beautiful face. On the other hand, I cannot think of Naomi or Linda as being out, and they have changed. Naomi's cut her hair, Linda no longer does those power marches down the runway.... I love the softness of this whole new mood in fashion.

G.W.You must own a ton of Louis Vuitton luggage.

E.K. I have the same two black Issey Miyake suitcases which I've had for nine years. They've been repaired once. God knows what I squeeze into them. I sit on them and zip them up.

G.W.In Elsa's opinion, four things that are d6mod6.

E.K. Really heavy jewelry is out; the exquisitely small shoe is out. Chain handbags and the tight long skirt never worked for anyone.