Entrepreneur: Out of Order’s Dorian Grinspan

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3.1.14

Entrepreneur: Out of Order’s Dorian Grinspan

The French Founder and Editor of Out of Order magazine on Paris Fashion Week
and starting his very own business — before he’s yet to graduate from Yale

My Fashion Week survival weapon…
Sleep! I stock up on sleep — at least eight hours a day — before fashion week.

Most memorable fashion-show anecdote…
When I was 15 or 16, my friend who did calligraphy for a lot of fashion invites gave me a standing invite to Dior men’s, with Kris Van Assche. Right before the show starts, the seaters bring me from standing to second row. Then Kanye West arrives and sits down right in front of me. These big bouncer-like guys sat down on each side of me. I felt really important. It was really cool.

The Out of Order name came from…
A Facebook thread where my editors and I threw out words or groups of words every day for a week. My music editor came up with Out of Order. We thought it sounded great and looked visually interesting with the three O’s.

When starting a company…
It’s important to surround yourself with the right people, with smarter people.

And never be afraid to…
Ask for help, ask for advice.

Most exciting part about being an entrepreneur…
You’re your own boss; you can do whatever you want. But for me, building a brand was really the most exciting.

And most challenging…
At the end of the day, if you don’t do it, no one’s going to do it for you — especially when you’re just starting and don’t have a lot of capital. In the beginning, not everyone is going to be supporting you.

And you overcome it by…
You have to be confident in your idea and the fact that it’s going to work out. It’s not easy, but if you work hard enough, there’s always a way out.

Next-generation talent I’m excited about…
Stylist Rich Aybar, our fashion director. Photographer Lea Colombo. Lorraine Nicholson — she’s an actress but has been writing scripts.

Must-read magazines…
I’ve always loved Acne Paper. I think it’s one of the best magazines out there — so smart and comprehensive, and beautifully done.

My secret talent…
Maybe acting? I did a lot of theater when I was younger. I used to be so much calmer when I acted because you get so many emotions out. Now it’s, like, bubbling up all the time.

Photographed by Mimi Ritzen Crawford in New York