San Francisco's annual Fall Fashion Show took place on October 15, featuring this year's theme, "Paradise Found." The event was chaired by industry icons Tommy Hilfiger, founder and principal designer of his eponymous brand, and his wife Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger, founder and creative director of Dee Ocleppo and Mrs. Hilfiger, who also serves as creative director of Judith Leiber. In an exclusive interview with Gazette du Bon Ton, the couple discussed their philosophy of living, their latest book, and insights into the current fashion landscape.
On "Hilfiger Homes" & The Philosophy of Living
Giulia: A home is both a private sanctuary and a public stage for one's life. In creating Hilfiger Homes, which of your residences felt most like a personal refuge, and which felt most like a grand stage for your shared story?
Dee: Our house in Connecticut was like a refuge—quiet, layered and designed for us to exhale. Palm Beach is the grand stage: high energy, guests flowing in and out and rooms with water views from nearly every angle.
Giulia: The process of curating a book like this must be an act of intense personal archaeology. What was the most surprising memory or emotion that resurfaced as you revisited the stories and spaces of your past?
Dee: How instinctive so many choices were. A fabric pulled on a whim or a flea-market find became the soul of a room. Revisiting those moments brought back the joy—and sometimes the chaos—behind the finished images.
Giulia: Each home in the book represents a distinct chapter. If you were to give a title to the chapter of your first shared home versus your current one, what would those titles be, and why?
Tommy: First home: “New Beginnings.” Current home: “Full Circle.” The first was all discovery; the current address distills what we’ve learned into something personal, edited and effortless.
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Giulia: Beyond aesthetics, how does one cultivate a home's feeling? What are the essential non-visual elements—a particular scent, a piece of music, a daily ritual—that you believe transform a house into a true "Hilfiger Home"?
Dee: Rituals. Fresh flowers at the entry, a signature scent – usually Mrs. H candles, playlists that shift with the hour, lamps on dimmers, throws within reach. Feeling comes from the cadence of living, not just the look.
The Intersection of Fashion & Interiors
Giulia: Mr. Hilfiger, your brand is the quintessence of American "classic with a twist." How does that specific design ethos translate from a polo shirt or a runway collection into the choice of a sofa, a piece of art, or the very architecture of a room?
Tommy: Start with timeless forms—Chesterfields, club chairs, striped rugs—then twist the dial: unexpected color, playful art, bold scale. Like a collection, the room needs anchors, a clear palette and smart editing.
Giulia: Mrs. Hilfiger, with your renowned expertise in accessories, you understand the power of a finishing touch. How do you "accessorize" a room? What are the elements—the equivalent of the perfect handbag or jewel—that complete an interior space?
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Dee: Lighting, pillows and throws are jewelry. Trays, books, and objects add texture and story. I finish with symmetry somewhere—two lamps, paired chairs—so the eye can rest.
Giulia: We often see trends cycle from couture to ready-to-wear, and eventually into home décor. Can you recall a specific fashion moment, color palette, or texture from one of your collections that you were delighted to see find a new life within your interiors?
Tommy: Navy has always been a defining color in my collections — timeless, versatile and distinctly American. On the runway, it might appear crisp and modern, often paired with whites or bold accents for a sporty edge. When we’ve brought it into our interiors — on walls, upholstery and even lacquered finishes — it took on a new character. Suddenly, navy becomes grounding and elegant, a backdrop that made everything else in the room pop. What feels fresh and energetic in fashion translates into something enduring and sophisticated in the home.
A Partnership in Design & Life
Giulia: Creative partnerships require a beautiful dance of vision and compromise. Could you share an anecdote about a design element—be it a color, a piece of furniture, or an entire room—where one of you had a bold vision, and the other helped refine it into something unexpectedly brilliant?
Tommy: Creative partnerships really are a dance, and one of our favorite examples is the Coral Bar in Coral House. Dee had the bold vision to lacquer the room in a rich coral tone — it felt daring at first, but she knew it would bring warmth and vibrancy to the space. Together we refined the idea with bamboo trim, vintage barware and playful accents that balanced the intensity of the color. The result is now one of the most beloved rooms in the house — a place where friends and family gather, filled with energy, conversation and joy.
Giulia: In the grand production of designing a home together, who is the "dreamer" and who is the "editor"? Who conceives of the initial, sweeping vision, and who excels at curating the fine details that bring it to life?
Dee: Tommy is the big-picture dreamer; I’m the editor and finisher. He sets the vision, I refine the palette, textures and proportions until the room feels complete.
On Runway Style & Legacy
Giulia: The Tommy Hilfiger runway has always captured the zeitgeist, often with spectacular showmanship. As the definition of luxury and style evolves, what do you believe is the purpose of the runway show today? Is it for commerce, for art, or for cultural commentary?
Tommy: Storytelling. A show builds emotion that lives across platforms—part commerce, part culture, part entertainment. It’s where brand DNA is experienced, then shared, clipped and remixed by the audience. That energy drives everything that follows.
Giulia: Mr. Hilfiger, you have dressed generations. As you look at the landscape of emerging designers, what qualities or visions excite you and give you confidence in the future of American fashion?
Tommy: I look for a clear point of view, disciplined editing and respect for craft. The most exciting talents build communities, not just collections; they know their customer, communicate across platforms, and scale responsibly without losing identity. When design, values and business acumen line up, the future looks very bright.
Giulia: A final reflection for you both: You have built a global fashion empire and now, a stunning chronicle of your private world. When you consider the legacy you are creating, does it lie more in the ever-changing world of fashion, or in the permanence and personal history encapsulated within a home?
Tommy: I see my legacy in both fashion and in our homes. Fashion has allowed me to share ideas with the world — designs that are classic, optimistic and constantly evolving. But our homes are where those ideas become personal. They hold the art we’ve collected, the furniture we’ve chosen, and the memories we’ve made as a family. The runway shows the vision, but the houses keep the history alive.
Dee: For me, our homes are the most lasting part of our legacy. Fashion has given us a voice, but the way we live in our spaces gives that voice meaning. It’s in the traditions we keep, the warmth when friends walk through the door, and the stories told around the dinner table. If our interiors feel inviting, personal and a little daring, that’s the kind of permanence I want to leave behind.
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