This week I selected a handful of fashionable, fabulous, influential and intelligent people to do my fashion-week series with. Damon Peruzzi automatically came to mind. His style and influence is impressive, and he kicks off our very special FASHION WEEK series here on CCW. I had the pleasure of sitting down with the Legendary Damon Peruzzi (fabulous party promoter/socialite) in his lovely east-Harlem home to ask him a few questions about his take on fashion. Being a big part of the NYC/LA party scene, Damon is definitely a HUGE presence and influence on night-culture. It’s not easy to dominate the night scenes of two cities that large. I was excited to sit down and hear his opinion from: best dressed celeb, to his biggest fashion-influences. Damon is fabulous with a unique unparalleled style, and as he says, “I AM NEW YORK!” and indeed he is.  It was like sitting down with an old friend. Damon is such a doll-face! I HEART him! Check it:

Cocoa B: Hello darling, such a pleasure to be here, you have a VERY lovely home and the most FABULOUS wardrobe in NYC! [Damon has at least 5 INDUSTRIAL SIZE clothing racks filled with fabulous vintage: leathers, minks, bedazzled blazers straight from movie sets, etc]

Legendary D: Why thank you!

Cocoa B: Ok, let’s get right into it. For all my readers that might have been living under a rock, let them know who LEGENDARY DAMON is, and why you are so darn FIERCE and FABULOUS?

Legendary D: Well, basically I am the legendary Damon. I’ve been doing cool parties and fabulous events for a very long time, and people always tell me I am so “New York”, so I am NEW YORK. That’s my occupation…

Cocoa B: Hah! You need to copyright that. I love it! So moving on… What’s your oldest fashion-related memory? It could be a favorite shirt you had as a youngster, a favorite baseball cap, etc.

Legendary D: I remember when I was about 5 or 6, and we were taking those school photographs, my mom said I insisted on dressing myself that day, and I wore this velvet vest, I loved that vest…. Another memory is when I was about 6 or 7. See, I’m orginally from Detroit, and there was a black mall and a white mall. Around that age, I would always ask if we could go to the black mall because they always had cooler clothes….

Cocoa B: HAH! I am gagging! That is hilarious. So tell me, who or what inspires your style– which is very unique, futuristic, and funky by the way…

Legendary D: Ummmm. I have to honestly say I inspire myself. That’s what I tell people. My style of dress is most likely my new look mixed with my old look [laughs]. I think it’s important to be inspired, so I’m inspired all the time. And I try to inspire. Anyone walking around NYC can be an inspiration for me. Or, for instance that Valentino movie– was so inspiring for me. I left that film feeling good. Things like that inspire me to be a better man and go out in the world and make changes.

Cocoa B: WOW! Well said, and I totally agree… With that said, do you feel like environment solely inspires style? Would a 15 year old from NYC automatically have a better sense of style then a 15 year old from Kansas? Why or why not?

Legendary D: Great question. Indeed I am from Detroit, and that influenced my style, but honestly I had access to the same media that everyone else did: MTV, VH1, BET, etc. Media I would say, is a bigger style-influence. I was VERY influenced by music videos. Film, and music videos. The movie “Purple Rain” totally changed my life. Totally changed my experiences…

[Damon & Appollonia: one of Prince's infamous muses]

Cocoa B: Truly, I loved that film as well. So. If you were a contestant on “Survivor” and you could only bring 4 items of clothing with you, what would those 4 items be?

Legendary D: Hmmmm, I’ll have to check in my closet later.

Cocoa B: NO WAY! People, this man’s closet looks like Century 21! There’s not WAY I’m gonna let you check that out later. This can take months!

Legendary D: I can’t answer that [laughs]!!! Sorry, can’t do it. That’s impossible!

Cocoa B: LOL, Damon would rather die then have to wear only 4 items for half the year! I feel you, LOL. Although you ARE cheating! I’mma let you pass. Only because I like you. .. If you were planning the ultimate high-fashion party, which designers would be a must-have on your guestlist?

Legendary D: Well I’d have to say Valentino. After watching that film I am very fond of him as a person. And of course– THE BLONDES! They’d HAVE to be there…  They’re my new bff’s! And hmmm… Somebody classic… Oh definitely Donatella Versace! Someone fresh, someone young, and someone classic. It’d be luxurious!

Cocoa B: Oh WOW. I’d defintiely go to that party. I’d have to CRASH if I wasn’t invited too! What is your fashion philosophy? Like you know some people say “less is more”?

Legendary D: No. Less is NOT more. MORE is MORE! I say that all the time. I think it was a famous Coco Chanel quote that goes something like, “When you look in the mirror, take off one item before you leave”. I’m the opposite. When I look in the mirror, I add an item!

Cocoa B: Ha! Very funny… So in your opinion, do you feel that New Yorkers have a style-advantage over anyone else in the US?

Legendary D: Well, I think NY’ers have a distinct street style that nobody else has anywhere in the world. London, Paris and Tokyo all have distinct styles, but it’s nothing like NY street style. We OWN it!

Cocoa B.: We are in the midst of fashion week! Which designers are must-sees?

Legendary D: Again, I’d have to go with The Blondes, Gene Gerlin, and they never show here, but I always said Jeremy Scott and Sean John were the only shows I had to see.

Cocoa B: Nice… So who in your opionin is the best/worst dressed celeb. BE HONEST!

Legendary D: Ummmm, you go first!

Cocoa B. OMG, you know for sure I’m gonna say KELIS every time! Like seriously, not for nothing but she KILLS. And I’m not just saying that because you’re here, Damon. It’s true my staff will tell you! (points at staff– they nod in agreement)

Legendary D: Well, I’d have to agree with you there. As far as worst? Hah! I will not answer that unless you do!

Cocoa B. Wow. This guy is GOOOOOOOOOD. I am SO not answering that! Hahahahaha. Ok, here’s the extra-fun part! I’m going to call out 2 names, and you tell me which you prefer of the two. Keep in mind, that everyone will get the same set of questions, so they ARE slightly generic. Ok, here we go! Claudia Schiffer or Cindy Crawford?

Legendary D: LINDA EVANGELISTA.

Cocoa B: LMAO!!!! I love this Damon guy over here. He’s hilarious! And he’s tough on me too– y’all see him? I’ll take it though, I love L-E! Tyra Banks or Naomi?

Legendary D: Naomi.

Cocoa B: Agyness Deyn or Chanel Iman?

Legendary D: [pauses} Ummmmm, Chanel.

Cocoa B: V-Magazine? Haper's Bazaar?

Legendary D: They're BOTH good!

Cocoa B: See how Damon just makes up his own rules? [laugha] Ok, ok. Mary-Kate or Ashley Olsen?

Legendary D: Who? I pass.

Cocoa B: LMAO!!!! Plaid or stripes?

Legendary D: Stripes. Defintiely stripes.

Cocoa B: Jeans or slacks?

Legendary D: Slacks.

Cocoa B: Marc Jacobs or Jeremy Scott?

Legendary D: Jeremy Scott

Cocoa B: H&M or Top Shop?

Legendary D: SALVATION ARMY!

Cocoa B: I am DYING over here! LOL. Lady Gaga or Madonna?

Legendary D: I love them BOTH.

Cocoa B: Platinum or Gold?

Legendary D: Hmmmmm. Gold!

Cocoa B: Black or red polish?

Legendary D: Red.

Cocoa B: Karl Lagerfeld or Tom Ford?

Legendary D: Tom Ford.

Cocoa B: High Fashion or street wear?

Legendary D: It’s like you don’t know me at all! [laughs] BOTH! Next…

Cocoa B: it’s not that, I swear! it’s just that everyone gets the same questions in this series! LOL. Rihanna of Kelis (I kid, I kid! That’s trick question!) <—- for all those who don’t know, Damon is Kelis’ BFF. They have thrown birthday parties for one another for years…

Legendary D: Ok, then. I thought so!

Cocoa B: True words. Louis Vuitton or Gucci?

Legendary D: Louis.

Cocoa B: Britney Spears or Christina?

Legendary D: Britney

Cocoa B: Biggie of Jay-Z?

Legendary D: UGH! Biggie!!!!!

Great choices Damon! I had so much fun with you, you are so awesome, cool and super-sweet! Even though you gave me a hard time, I love you for it! That was one of the most fun interviews we’ve had! Stay fabulous, keep working hard. The SCENE would be empty without you, after all you ARE NEW YORK! I hope you have an awesome fashion week, you know I’ll catch you out and about! PEACE!