Sauvé recently burst onto the cultural landscape with his own line of t-shirts that have become controversial collector’s items after being embraced by The New York Times, New York Magazine, Vogue, Elle and perezhilton.com. Maybe you have noticed them around even if you're only peripherally around the world of fashion. On a muggy day in late spring, I met up with this controversial artist, fashion designer and party host to discuss the infamous “Save Anna” t-shirt campaign, all his back slashing in art/fashion/ music/politics, Madonna vs. Lady Gaga and to test our gaydars.

A block from the Bedford L stop, I wait in front of Peters. I am wearing my new foldover dress Harem Pant in a shade of Petrol with a beige silk dupponi band collar shirt and vintage Gucci dove grey with gold horse bit loafers. Peters, a bit hidden, is a French  bistro located in the heart of hipsterville NYC, an area called Williamsburg or the Willie Be.

I see CLS walking down the Rue towards me. Plaid shirt. Denim cut offs frayed slightly at knee. Red Buffalo Plaid Converse Y shoes. Sporting black thick rectangular sunglasses and a black straw hat to match his designer Tom Fordish stubble. 

Kiss. Kiss.

We move to the lovely outside back patio with big picnic tables and possible bamboo trees, creating an urban "Gilligan’s Island" situation. Our waiter is like the  typical man of Williamsburg: tall, skinny, young, white with semi-beard in plaid flannel-type shirt. We both clock him. He smiles and greets us with a been-in-NYC-less-than-a-year smile. We both return the smile and check him out head to toe. Is he gay or not gay is our question? You can never tell in the depths of Brooklyn and hipster world, the lines of sexuality all blend. 

Okay, are you an artist, designer or something in between?
I am always an artist, the modern Renaissance man. I do many things. I operate my own label Christopher Lee Sauvé; under this label I design t-shirts, t-shirt dresses, art direct exhibitions, events, photo shoots and videos. I also work as a freelance art director for many fashion labels including Alexander Wang, Dior, Theory and Diane Von Furstenberg.

Did you go to school and study?
I grew up in Canada, my father was a photographer, painter and musician and he dabbled in graphic design. He taught me everything I know artistically along with my mother who is also extremely creative. I started becoming interested in commercial art and fashion at a very young age and have been doing it ever since. I did go to school in Vancouver but dropped out after my third year.

Do you consider yourself an American, New Yorker, or international playboy?
Def an international playboy!

Is Lady Gaga the new Madonna?
NO!

Are fashion people bitchier than art people?
I don’t think so. They are all my family. I can be sometimes. I make sure I get what I want. You have to in order to survive in both industries.

Cute Waiter interrupts to take our orders. He is very nice and helps me figure out which of the items on the menu don’t have onions. I despise onions.  It seems most things on the menu come with onions.  I choose a plate I normally would never get.

What is this Mad Maus thing I see all over the net with a black-leather-studded mouse ear hat?
I designed an exclusive leather hat and “Anna Maus” t-shirt for the Mad Maus movement. In collaboration with Lady Gaga mask designer Edward Fong, the hat was filmed in a video featuring music by Fritz Helder and the Phantoms. It is a celebration of art from the depression and Bauhaus era with special tribute to the mouse movies. Gibran Ramos is the main man [behind] that.

Do you read Vogue?
No! Well only if Lynn Yeager writes an article. I love her. I worked with her at The Village Voice. When I was art director there.

She is cool. I for one am sick of celebs on the cover of Vogue. Vogue is to be about top models and upper echelon of fashion and show the dreams and aspirations of our industry. If I want a celebrity on a cover I will go to INstyle or any other mass rag. What are your views on this? Did you really want to “Save Anna?”  Get rid of her.
No, 'Save Anna' was a response to the current economic climate in America. The news in February 2009 was very depressing and then I kept seeing these articles on rumors of Anna Wintour being replaced by Carine Roitfield in Paris, so I instantly thought 'Save Anna," which also represents 'Save Fashion' and 'Save Glamour.' It was part of my fuck the recession thinking back in early 2009.

Cute waiter comes over to ask us again what we ordered while blushing. Both CS & I look immediately at each other and quietly laugh. We ask him his name. Jeremy. Nice to meet you. How long have you been here? A year. I live with the other waiter over there. You guys should come to our house party tonight at blah blah. We both nod and like sure maybe. Thanks.

So who is your favorite Super Model of the 90s? Linda? Naomi? Christy T? Kate? Karen Mulder?
Claudia Schiffer

Well, she is back again and looking great, I saw the story in the latest VS Magazine.  Anyway, I appreciate how you use well profiled fashion industry people.
They are the new rock stars. I guess I’ve always been obsessed with the fashion industry. Fashion people are always looking at actors and celebrities. I decided to turn the camera the other way. So many industry people are really cool and over the top. They inspire me.

Ditto. I love that. Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley, Karl Lagerfeld and Tom Ford. Love him. Anyway, they have become serious celebrities over the last few years.
I know, it’s crazy! With the Anna Wintour, thing, if you worked in the industry, or cared about fashion, you knew who she was. But now, my mom’s friends that live in a tiny town in Canada know who she is.

Can you name some of your favorite artists, fashion designers, graphic or even furniture?
That’s hard, but I do really like Alexander Wang, Karl Lagerfeld, and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. My favorite artist is Banksy. I just saw that movie Exit Through the Gift Shop, you have to see it.

Musically, who are you diggin'?
We Are The World, have you heard of them? They are really good. Lately I have been obsessed with music from like WWII, especially Sam Cooke.

I feel that. It’s refreshingly upbeat and swingin', so new to the ear. Any other trends you see?
I think the beardo look is dying and people are returning to cleaner looks.

Which city do you believe is the most fashion forward? Which city has the best style?
New York is mos def the most fashion forward. Well, the peoples of East Village, Williamsburg and Buschwick. The best style goes to Paris.

Which tee is your best seller? And which is your most famous now?
'Save Anna' used to be the best seller then 'Recession,' then 'God Don’t Like Ugly,' now 'I Was Touched by Terry.' 'Save Anna' is [still] the most famous.

Cute waiter, Jeremy, comes back to give us our food and leaves a little plate with the gravy on the side and three pieces of disgusting raw onions. I thank him profusely and smile wide. He invites us again to the house bbq and tells us the location. 

What do you find sexy?
Passion. Ambition. Drive. A reason to do something.

What is your typical day like?
Wake up, drink gallons of coffee, go through all the fashion blogs, read magazines, answer emails, send design concepts, meet with friends for dinner usually at Spring Street Natural or somewhere around Bedford and then come home and do some more work.

So what is coming up next for ya?
I'm actually starting to maybe film a reality show. It's in beginning stages and as you know I just shot my latest campaign with photographer Gerd Bayer. I m having an art show at the Christopher Henry Gallery in July. You must come. Also I am doing an exhibition in Dubai in October. I’m very excited for that. I have never been over there.

Do you believe Print is dead?
I don’t believe in chopping trees. I owe a lot of my success to Facebook and the internet. I do everything digitally. I don’t really think about paper quality or printing anymore. I think about how it will be online. It’s amazing how people see someone in my shirt and look for me on FB and become a fan or research more and then get their own shirt.

The waiter delivers the check and has written on it his address and a smiley face.