On Monday, Sept. 29, a few hours after the stock market’s initial sickening plunge, Stefan Miljanic, founder of the New York men’s wear label Gilded Age, was hard at work in his showroom on East Fourth Street.

“I think fashion is a reflection of the times, and in times like these, people seek comfort,” said Mr. Miljanic, a native of Montenegro, who was surrounded by his turn-of-the-century-America-inspired designs. “They seek things that are known and recognizable, that are a part of their past. There’s something in the air that kind of tells us to look at our values and consider what’s truly American.  read more »

On a recent sunny Thursday, Simon Spurr, men’s wear designer, was at the Denise Williamson Showroom in Soho, perusing the garments that will be included in his debut New York Fashion Week presentation on Sunday Sept 7. Among these were a slim, dark gray three-piece suit with a four-pocket, eight-button vest; several pairs of jeans (one with erratic bleach splotches staining the blue denim; another made in black leather); some elegant striped dress shirts accented by handsome neckties; and a tan, vintage-style trench coat complete with a discreet pocket for cell-phone storage.

Asked his favorite piece, Mr. Spurr, 34, pointed to a black leather motorcycle jacket.  read more »

Last night, on the fourth floor of Bergdorf Goodman, the fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi was holding court in the middle of a small, packed room of guests, who seemed to rotate around him with the slow, awe-struck deference of pilgrims circling the Kaaba during Hajj.  read more »