Posted on Mon, Jul. 21, 2008

Let's just say that modesty is not Christian Audigier's strong suit.

As the mastermind behind the Ed Hardy line took his bows Saturday night during his runway show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim, blaring from the speakers was Tina Turner's Simply The Best, something Audigier clearly relates to.

''I did the best collection ever of swimsuits,'' he said a few hours earlier, during one of many back-to-back interviews.

``This is why everyone is wearing them.''

''I need to be the way I am to create these vibrant designs,'' the Frenchman said, lounging on a couch amid an entourage of publicists, press and hangers-on.

``I see people wearing sad clothes.''

Sad clothes?

``Yes, sad clothes. I have to create so they have funky clothes.''

Ed Hardy designs are so distinctive, we wondered how he planned to keep the look fresh.

''I have now 150 employees -- they're all young and fresh. I listen to a lot of people,'' he said.

``And I'm watching what people are wearing.''

Gotta wonder if Ed Hardy may start to look a little sad.