With the traditional vernacular of men’s clothes—understatement, attention to detail—Kris Van Assche is trying to make the fashion world forget about Hedi what’s-his-name.

Cindy Crawford, retired? Tell that to the sweater on this page.

"I don’t like new clothes—I think they have no soul."

"Being bald is a big part of my life, and if I cover it up, it starts to feel like everything is fake."

"I stood next to Oprah at the Tony Awards. It was the highlight of my life."

Phillip Lim just won a CFDA award for making pretty clothes at reasonable prices. By fashion standards, that’s a revolution.

Here, a lexicon of the Strand look, from the owner to the guy on the loading dock, on a typical Thursday morning.

Isabella Blow, discoverer of Alexander McQueen and Philip Treacy, wearer of the extravagant, darling of the beau monde, loved fashion more than life. But by the end, even fashion couldn’t save her.

"A lot of people think I have some seventies porn thing going on."

"There’s church and then there’s H&M. You just stop in on the way home from work."