Come Hell or High Water (Pants)

A recent article in the New York Post tells of CFDA award-winning menswear designer Thom Browne's financial woes:

"He's in a real squeeze," said one source close to the situation. "If he can't wriggle out of it in the next couple of weeks, he's facing a potential bankruptcy."

The designer, who (like me) grew up in Allentown, PA, is famous for tight, cropped suit jackets and ankle-flashing "flood" trousers that carry pretty high price tags (suits are around $5K). With the economy failing, so is the market for products that are viewed as too fashion-forward for the mainstream consumer. It's a shame, for while his company is small, his impact on the entire menswear industry has been substantial. As the suit has become cool again, designers at every price point have adopted a watered-down version of his look, with slim lapels and shorter jackets. Here's hoping that he makes it out of this slump.