“I Mean…What?!?” – Abe Gurko

The article of the week is by Eric Wilson of The New York Times Style section about the Berlin based fashion label, VONROSEN. Thank you Eric for introducing me to probably the most annoying new “luxury brand” on the planet. Get this…you have to apply to get access to their website, which is the only place to peruse their schmattas…I mean collection. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love good snob appeal, a.k.a. the entire luxury goods business. But when some uppity fashionista thinks that the Studio 54 philosophy of marketing applies to buying a nothing special cardigan sweater for… Read More »

I don’t have much to say about last night’s State Dinner besides that it is part of the White House protocol and that it must be maintained. Is it annoying? Perhaps to those who are not invited. Does it do anything for us politically? Maybe but probably not.  Are rituals and institutions a good thing? One could argue this in either direction. The fact remains, we have them, and with this new White House, the affair needed to be amazing. Why? Because. And if you don’t like that answer? Too bad. Michelle Obama looked fantastic, the space was elegant, and… Read More »

In 1982, the Olivia Newton-John song, “Let’s Get Physical” became the alma mater of the exercise craze that swept the nation and the business of fitness was off and running. Gyms began sprouting up like dandelions and the healthy California lifestyle, along with the accompanying fashions became a huge trend. It was the first time that I can recall that New Yorkers were taking a cue from Californians, against their better judgment. There was a small group of us that were already body conscious that worked out at one of the few gyms in New York City, namely Better Bodies.… Read More »

You gotta love Clint Eastwood for calling it as he sees it in the December issue of  GQ, “We’re becoming more juvenile as a nation…now, we have a bunch of teenage twits.” Oh no you didn’t, Dirty Harry. To Clint’s point: You don’t have to be 79 years old to see that our childish fascination with pedestrian nobodies is why perhaps his new movie Invictus, Nelson Mandela‘s true story with the South African rugby team that helped usher the country out of apartheid, might have a challenge finding an audience. So, what better tactic than to call us all a… Read More »

I loved reading today’s article by Cathy Horyn about Miss J Alexander and his new book Follow The Model. Now this is a story for the The New York Times Style Section that makes perfect sense. It has been a while since I questioned The New York Times Style Section for their questionable entries. However, today I am left scratching my head about the article, Breast-Feeding the Baby, Love the Calorie Burn. Now, let me say up front, that I consider myself to be the “uncle of the world”. Having six glorious nieces and nephews that I maintain a close… Read More »

Short List of Things That I Am Just Not Feeling: Bullshit Gucci Fragrance Outtakes, (click on this link or on the image, you tell me.)… Read More »

As fall quickly turns into winter and the Democrats start losing key states, this is when a mild case of the doldrums kicks in. While we’re at it, can you check off any of the following items? ___The shaky economy is making me feel funky. ___The change of seasons makes me feel wonky. ___Daylight Savings Time making nightfall so early throws off my mojo. ___My romance is on the rocks. (OR) ___I’ve been single way too  long. ___All my co-workers (clients) are acting insane. If any of the aforementioned applies to you, then I prescribe a dose of retail therapy.… Read More »

Finally, ‘black is the new black’, after Women’s Wear Daily and every other fashion rag or “news source” has claimed everything from Pink is the New Black, to Color Is the New Black, to Green is the New Black, to Obama is the New Black. We even had “Bitch is the New Black” to quote Tina Fey, from Saturday Night Live referring to Hillary Clinton. Why can’t black just be and stay black? Why must colors or things try to usurp it’s power every season? Can’t we all just get along? I have been a fan of black for more… Read More »

Halloween is fun, if you are a glutton for punishment. Dressing up like some schnook, or a scary person, or a sexy beast, or a president, ex-president, or Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson. I get it. Boozed up, wired up, dressed up and most times no where to go. Fierce, you make your entrance as a great party or two. Then you try hailing yet another cab, your big hair gets crunched, make up needs major retouching. It goes on for hours. And as the evening progresses, you get drunker, and less put together, till you look like a wreck.… Read More »

There are hundreds of events going on in New York City on any particular day. Now, I am not a mathematician, alas, you should see my checkbook, but that means that thousands of events happen every year. Granted, most of these events aren’t events with notables and even less with celebrities, but we can all safely say that there is way to much crap going on that humans are obligated to attend. Agreed? I used to be a social butterfly in the late 70’s and 80’s, and thankfully I got that all out of my system. There is nothing sadder… Read More »