“I Mean…What?!?” – Abe Gurko

Next week, Paris plays host to Couture Week where several extraordinary fashion designers will present their collections to a plethora of extremely wealthy women. The landscape of the Couture shows is ever changing to include a crop of new, younger designers such as Alexis Mabille, Ann Valérie Hash and Alexandre Vauthier. The world’s favorite couture collections by Chanel, Dior (sans actual designer), Givenchy and Valentino will surely be the highlights of the week, while the new guard will be out in force, hoping to snag the spotlight. The good news is that there is a rise of couture customers because… Read More »

There are so many viable inclusions in the Manzie Report: Paris, that I can’t even write individual comments because it is Gay Pride weekend in New York City, we got the Gay Marriage Act approved last night and I’d rather participate in some festivities than sit here and yattle on about Walter Van Beirendonck’s Bird Bird ensembles or his pastel cotton candy numbers that double as topiaries. Just click through these images and you will see a plethora of nelly galore ditties from leather sports bras…yes…for men…and Givenchy’s bouquet of Bird of Paradise skirts. Alexis Mabille seems to have tried… Read More »

Sometimes I wish my body type was different so I could wear styles of clothing that would not me look fat or short. Trust me, if given the choice, I would happily look like a lanky, pale, unfriendly, male model, whose greatest achievement is walking down a straight and narrow path. If you think I like being restricted to jeans, sneakers and V-neck sweaters…think again. The only person who gets my sense of style is Simon Cowell. Need I say more? As an aficionado of fashion, I love wondering what it would be like to wear a Rick Owens skirt,… Read More »

Have you seen the images of the Christian Dior Couture Collection? Are you kidding me? John Galliano is so amazing, that it hurts my eyes to look at some of the other showings that are under way now in Paris for the Spring Couture Shows. I’ll get to those outings shortly, but I am not finished gushing on this “what fashion is all about” collection. John Galliano is so fierce that he probably scares himself. His throw back to Fifties glamour, with Gay Nineties thrown in there was just so inspiring that anyone else that remotely calls themselves designers should… Read More »

Yes, there is a definite shift in the air since Spring, when nelly, prissy, fembots ruled the men’s runways. There is a butcher tone overall, but Lord knows not exclusively, as that would render me out of business. Surprisingly, Junya Wantanabe, Viktor and Rolf, and even Gaspard Yurkievich all had smart showings. It’s not like I am disappointed that I can’t find what to poke fun at, I would frankly rather not have ever started this Manzie business. I am a bit Pollyanna in that I want every designer to do well. Rather than leave a hole for yet another… Read More »

Not too long ago I did a piece on these so called parties, featuring people(?) snapped by photographers that were beyond yikes. When I say beyond yikes, I mean, who are they and why are they being photographed? Well, having had a great response from the I Mean…What?!? audience, here with, another segment of The Party’s Over. When I started my career as a party goer, it was the first few days of Studio 54. Back then, the paparazzi were focused on real celebrities and interesting notables. Boy have things changed. There’s little else to say except please enjoy this… Read More »

I Mean…What?!? presents the Paris Couture Shows. Lord knows I got the Manzie Report down…and two snaps up. However, man does not live by bad men’s fashion alone. Granted, it won’t be as knee-slapping as the Manzie Report due to the nature of this beast. But beasts there are, I can assure you. Now before I show you some highlights or “high”-lights from Alexis Mabille and Stéphane Rolland, I need to say something here. Couture is a unique business that services much of the hype and interest in the fashion industry. The couture customer is not the customer that buys… Read More »