Isaac Mizrahi on Style, Regrets, and the Perfect Pair of Pumps

Summary

Podcast Title: The Goodbye
Episode: Isaac Mizrahi on Style, Regrets, and the Perfect Pair of Pumps
Release Date: December 13, 2024
Host/Author: Harper's Bazaar (Hosts: Leah Chernikoff and Lynette Nylander)

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Overview

In this engaging episode of The Goodbye, Harper's Bazaar hosts Leah Chernikoff and Lynette Nylander sit down with American fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi. The conversation delves deep into Isaac's illustrious career in fashion, his personal style evolution, memorable moments from his early days, and his perspectives on modern fashion trends. Listeners are treated to a candid discussion filled with insightful anecdotes, thoughtful reflections, and Isaac's unique viewpoints on the ever-changing landscape of fashion.

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Introduction to Isaac Mizrahi

Lynette Nylander (04:15):
Isaac Mizrahi is introduced as an American fashion icon whose influence spans decades. Recognized as a designer, cabaret star, TV personality, and a fashion oracle, Isaac has recently gained attention on TikTok, where he showcases his diverse collections ranging from Belgian loafers to Italian cookware.

Isaac Mizrahi (04:29):
Expresses his enthusiasm about being a guest on The Goodbye.

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Early Life and Entry into Fashion

Isaac Mizrahi (05:09):
Isaac shares his early passion for fashion, originating from making costumes for puppets and clothing during his time at performing arts high school. Initially training as an actor, his fear of the uncertainties in show business led him to pivot towards fashion.

Isaac Mizrahi (05:14):
Highlights his transition from Parsons School of Design directly to Perry Ellis, eventually launching his own company in 1986 and debuting his first show in 1987.

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Memories from His First Fashion Show

Isaac Mizrahi (05:50):
Recalls being intensely focused on the intricate details of his first show, noting the demanding nature of managing multiple outfits per model without the support of producers or stylists.

Isaac Mizrahi (06:20):
Shares anecdotes about working with supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Linda, emphasizing the frantic pace of changing outfits during shows.

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Style Inspirations and Influences

Isaac Mizrahi (07:04):
Delves into his fascination with thrifting during his high school years, describing how vintage finds with character influenced his design aesthetics.

Isaac Mizrahi (07:30):
Discusses the educational experiences at Parsons, including hands-on lessons like the "burn test" to differentiate between fabrics—a practice he humorously suggests Marc Jacobs would relate to.

Isaac Mizrahi (08:31):
Expresses admiration for timeless craftsmanship, lamenting the shift towards fast fashion and the fleeting nature of contemporary luxury apparel. He reminisces about influential figures like Carrie Bradshaw and the unintended consequences of their fashion-forward approaches.

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Views on Modern Fashion and Fast Fashion

Isaac Mizrahi (08:56):
Critiques the current fashion industry's embrace of fast fashion, highlighting the ephemeral commitment to even high-end pieces, which contrasts sharply with the enduring quality he values.

Isaac Mizrahi (09:58):
Acknowledges his role as a fashion influencer on social media, meticulously curating and maintaining his extensive collection of high-quality items, ensuring longevity and meaningful usage.

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Personal Style and Signature Looks

Isaac Mizrahi (12:14):
Reveals his preference for dark colors—black, navy, charcoal gray—stemming from personal body image issues. He candidly discusses his support for body positivity while admitting his struggles with it.

Isaac Mizrahi (13:14):
Shares his enduring habit of wearing bandanas, attributing their origin to various sources like 14th Street and brands like 45 RPM and Liberty of London, enhancing his daily style with practical and stylish accessories.

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Shopping and First Buys

Isaac Mizrahi (14:37):
Recounts his first significant purchase—a Hermes agenda from 1982—emphasizing its lasting impact over 42 years. This purchase symbolizes his early commitment to quality and luxury.

Isaac Mizrahi (15:32):
Narrates the story of acquiring his first Manolo Blahnik pumps during his time at Parsons. The investment, made alongside a friend, underscores the importance he places on footwear in elevating overall style.

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Regrets in the Closet

Isaac Mizrahi (17:56):
Expresses regret over owning tailored suits that no longer fit due to body changes. He reflects on the psychological aspects of maintaining a stylish persona versus practical usage of clothing.

Isaac Mizrahi (18:41):
Discusses his deep appreciation for Savile Row's craftsmanship and the educational value it provided him, despite feeling out of place at times. He reminisces about the meticulous tailoring that once captivated him.

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Repeat Purchases and Indispensable Items

Isaac Mizrahi (21:44):
Highlights his perpetual love for a giant black cashmere shawl from Loro Piana. Describing it as "thick as butter," Isaac explains its versatility and indispensability across various settings, from travel to daily use.

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Thoughts on Luxury and Modern Trends

Isaac Mizrahi (22:48):
Shares his limited patience for much of contemporary design but praises specific talents within the industry, citing admiration for designers like the creative mind behind Loewe.

Isaac Mizrahi (23:03):
Critiques the modern industry's focus on transient luxuries, advocating instead for enduring quality and meaningful investments in fashion.

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Reflections on New York’s Style Evolution

Isaac Mizrahi (25:00):
Reflects nostalgically on New York City's transformation, balancing the city's inherent decrepitude with its architectural marvels. He appreciates the juxtaposition of old and new, which imbues the city with a unique character.

Isaac Mizrahi (27:16):
Describes his teenage years commuting through a changing Times Square, using vivid language to portray the area's squalid yet divine ambiance—a stark contrast to planned historical cities like Paris and Rome.

Isaac Mizrahi (28:17):
Emphasizes the beauty found in the aged and decrepit aspects of New York, drawing parallels to personal experiences that highlight the city's enduring humanity and historical layers.

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Dream Purchases and Aspirations

Isaac Mizrahi (29:31):
Reveals his aspiration to own a Maybach, inspired by witnessing Missy Elliott utilizing one during a fashion show strike. This dream embodies his appreciation for luxury and functionality.

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Closing Thoughts

As the conversation winds down, Isaac Mizrahi shares his transition towards creating more practical and value-oriented clothing lines for brands like Macy's and QVC. He underscores a shift from being a demanding designer to prioritizing simplicity and durability in his creations.

Isaac Mizrahi (24:19):
Concludes by reaffirming his dedication to maintaining relevance in the challenging fashion industry, embracing both his past passions and current endeavors.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Isaac Mizrahi (08:31):
  “We worshiped Manolo because he was wearing these gorgeous old suits that he had made when he was years old on Savile Row.”

• Isaac Mizrahi (12:14):
  “The more dark colors I wear, the thinner I feel like I look. And that's terrible.”

• Isaac Mizrahi (14:37):
  “It's broken into two parts of the year. You have the first six months and the second six months, and they make the refills, which themselves are like $300.”

• Isaac Mizrahi (21:44):
  “I have to have that blanket with me at all times. I have one in each car.”

• Isaac Mizrahi (25:00):
  “There was something about the way they used to tailor clothes. The experience was addictive.”

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Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive glimpse into Isaac Mizrahi's rich experience in the fashion industry, his personal style journey, and his enduring love for quality and craftsmanship. Through candid conversations and memorable anecdotes, listeners gain valuable insights into the mind of a true fashion legend, celebrating both his achievements and his candid reflections on the industry's evolution.

Transcript

[Lynette Nylander]

Harper's Bazaar's the Goodbye is sponsored by Google. Hi, I'm Lynette Nylander.

[Leah Chernikov]

And I am Leah Chernikov. And this is Harper's Bazaar's the Goodbye.

[Lynette Nylander]

Where we invite celebrities, designers, models and tastemakers to talk shop what they buy, where they got it, and why it matters.

[Leah Chernikov]

Would you like to tell me about your goodbye this week, Lynette?

[Lynette Nylander]

Oh, God. When is there not a good plural with you?

[Leah Chernikov]

It usually is.

[Lynette Nylander]

It is goodbyes plural. I am on the lookout for a new bed and I always find that.

[Leah Chernikov]

Around mattress, frame, the whole deal.

[Lynette Nylander]

I think it's time to upgrade the whole thing. So I went over to Google and I searched best bed frame and I like the Thuma one because you're able to put it together with no tools. And I'm not very dexterous and I am bad at putting together even the most simple of IKEA furniture. And this one seemed like a sure bet.

[Leah Chernikov]

And I'm sure it's very chic.

[Lynette Nylander]

It is chic. I, I chose a deep walnut color and I made the big girl jump from a queen to a king bed. So I'm very excited.

[Leah Chernikov]

I'm excited for you.

[Lynette Nylander]

I'm going to set it off with some brand new sheets and it's going to be a cozy fall slash winter in my brand new bed.

[Leah Chernikov]

Do you want to know my, my theory of like, one of the things as you get older is like, you know, we all think about putting together our outfits, but like how you put together your bed is like one of the sort of like level up of grown up fashion. Kind of like thinking about the mattress, the size of it, the frame, the pillows, the sheets, the like all the layers. Getting it all together is like, I think about that, it's an achievement.

[Lynette Nylander]

I think about that episode of Sex and the City where Miranda's changing her bed sheets and hoping that it brings a better bed calmer. I feel like that is like something that we don't talk about, but it's true. You got to, you got to level up. You've got to, you've got to dress your bed for the life you want.

[Leah Chernikov]

Yeah, yeah. It's like the same as like, you know, dressing for the job you want, dress for the sleep you want.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah. Leia, what is your goodbye of the week?

[Leah Chernikov]

Okay, well, listen, I haven't purchased yet, which is also very classic me in relation to you. You know, I'm very nervous to like hit by, but you know, I love to like add to cart and search and search and search. So I'm on the hunt for the perfect gray crew neck. You know, our fearless leader, Samira Nasser, Harper's Bazaar's editor in chief. She talked about in her newsletter this gray crewneck from Phoebe Filo that she was wearing all over Paris Fashion Week.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah, it is an incredible sweater. It's just the perfect length, perfect weight gauge. Like, the wool is. Pretty sure it's a wool cashmere blade. It's incredible. It's a good sweater.

[Leah Chernikov]

Listen, I don't have Phoebe Filo money. That's not where I'm going. So I'm going to Google, and I'm to, you know, if you. If you say shop gray crewneck, like, it's gonna give you, like, a much better sort of selection of results. And you can see, like, sales and track prices. So, you know, I'm like, a watcher. So I'm sort of looking at, like, the ones that I like the most, but also seeing, like, is the price gonna move a little bit? You know, because sales are starting to happen, but then sometimes, like, prices, like, inch up before they drop down. So I'm, you know, I'm courting all these things, and what helping me.

[Lynette Nylander]

What one have you found is a contender?

[Leah Chernikov]

Okay, well, I'm watching, like, a men's gray cashmere crewneck from J. Crew, I think is, like, maybe the answer. I did almost buy one at the Row sample sale, and you probably would have told me to do it.

[Lynette Nylander]

I mean, you know, we love a sample sale, but we also love conscious spending, so that's, you know. And also, J. Crew has incredible quality cashmere, so.

[Leah Chernikov]

Yeah, so that. And then Uniqlo pops up. But I am looking men's like, because I think I will like the way that, like, the weight, I think, is really important and the neck, and then also just the boxiness. I want it to feel a bit oversized.

[Lynette Nylander]

Hello. Goodbye, listeners. It's another week on the podcast and another amazing guest.

[Leah Chernikov]

This week we have an American fashion icon, one whose impact can still be felt today, tomorrow, going forward.

[Lynette Nylander]

He is a designer, a cabaret star, a TV personality, an oracle of all things fashion.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I am. And more.

[Leah Chernikov]

And lately, you can see him on TikTok where he is giving a peek into his collections of everything from Belgian loafers to kitchen cookware to handbags. So we can think of no one else we would rather talk fashion and personal style with.

[Lynette Nylander]

Welcome to the Goodbye, Isaac Mizrahi.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I'm so happy to be here.

[Leah Chernikov]

Thank you so much for being here.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Help in any way I can.

[Lynette Nylander]

Okay, so then let's Jump in. Isaac, you have been part of the. I mean, actually, you've been part of the fashion industry almost since the day you were born.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

This is so true.

[Lynette Nylander]

You grew up making costumes for puppets, right?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

This is true. And then making clothes. And then I actually, I went to performing arts high school as an actor when I was 13 or 14, however age you are. And then when I graduated there, I was just afraid. I was very afraid. Show business is such a scary business. Right. And so I kind of diverted and went into fashion because I was already making clothes and sketching and things. And so I went to Parsons instead. And then I just went directly from Parsons to Perry Ellis. And then I had a few jobs and then I opened my own company in 1986. It's a long time ago. 86. I had my first show in 87.

[Lynette Nylander]

And what are some of your memories from that first show?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Some of my memories from that first. You know what's funny? It's like I don't remember anything about the actual show because I was so focused on the details of what was going on. And, you know, the thing is, what people don't understand about the old days is you would have girls into seven or eight different outfits in the course of a fashion show. And with no lags. Like, you had to have someone on the Runway at all times, as opposed to today, where if you have like, you know, 70 looks, you have 70 girls.

[Leah Chernikov]

Right, right.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yeah. But Naomi Campbell and Linda and I used to drive these girls crazy because they would wear like seven or eight things in my shows, and so they would have to change really fast. So that's what I remember about those shows. Also, there were no producers. It was just us, you know, like me with a list and a list of when the music was supposed to change. And me, the head stylist, you know, there were no stylists in those days. Did shows. Yeah, did everything.

[Leah Chernikov]

I wanted to ask, because I know you went to LaGuardia and you were mentioning high school, which I'm always obsessed with, because I'm obsessed with fame. And I know you were.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I am in it. This is so true.

[Leah Chernikov]

So I have to rewatch to find you, but I wanted to ask what your style was then and sort of what informed it and then the inspirations that led you to your first collection.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

So that's a really good question because you were asking about what was a big inspiration for me at performing arts high school, like, style wise, even as an actor. Because as actors, we were also conscious of fashion and conscious of the zeitgeist and what was going on. And in those days, it was like the birth of this kind of. We didn't call it vintage in those days. We called it, like, you know, what was it used?

[Leah Chernikov]

Thrifting.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Thrifting, darling. Lynette, it was called thrifting, okay? And it was so cool. And you would buy these, like, crazy old things that didn't fit, fit, that had holes in them that were so chic, that were faded and gorgeous, you know, really gorgeous. And we got into it, and that's what really affected me. And then, like, you know, slowly but surely, I got into the fashion business myself. And I understood about couture and I mean, darling, at Parsons, in those days, we had a class. It was called Museum at the Met once a week. And we got to look at those clothes with gloves on. You know, we got to see those clothes. And the point is that, you know, we had such a big understanding of things and fabrics, right? We were taught how to tell the difference, how to tell blends or something. We would do the burn test, and they would light little swatches of fabric, and we would smell the fabric and understand the smell of wool versus what silk smelled like versus what burning cotton smelled like. It was crazy. The burn test. Ask anyone in my grave.

[Leah Chernikov]

Smell test.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Ask Marc Jacobs about the burn test. Okay, he will know about the burn test. But anyway, the point is that we knew all. And yet, like, what we adored was this idea of kind of hunkering in. You know, you would pay $20,000 to have a suit made on Savile Row because you understood that you would have that suit forever. You know, I mean, of course, none of those suits fit me now, but I have to.

[Leah Chernikov]

I was just gonna say, providing you never change your bodysuit.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

No, but, you know, if you're Manolo Blahnik, right, And you have these gorgeous tweed suits. We used to worship Manolo because he was wearing these gorgeous old suits that he had made when he years old on Savile Row. And now he was a man of 50 when I met him, and he was wearing these beautiful old suits. And so, like, to me, what is so scary about the world now? Forget about fast fashion. That is the scariest thing I ever heard in my life. You know what's so scary now is even, you know, like, expensive clothes. You're supposed to be in and out of those, and you're donating them the next day. You wear them once and you give them away. Or you wear them once and you sell them on vestiere or something, you know, I don't know, Darlings. I don't know. And that's. That's. That's like, I have, like, my favorite person in the world, which is Carrie Bradshaw. Like, it's maybe a little her fault, you know, Maybe it's a little Gilmore Girls because they never wore the same thing twice. You know what I mean? It's like the people that we loved so much, it kind of. People took it the wrong way.

[Leah Chernikov]

Well, and Instagram.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

And Instagram.

[Lynette Nylander]

And I'm so glad we're talking about this, because on your social media, you are such an arbiter of all the things you've had for years, and you talk everyone through your collections, whether it. You know, we were just. Before the podcast, we were going through your TikTok and looking at your Italian cookware that you. Or your. Is it Italian? It was Elsa Peretti.

[Leah Chernikov]

Some of it was Elsa Tiffany.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Oh, yeah, yeah. For instance.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah, yeah. Beautiful Tiffany bowl. Or your loafers or your wardrobe. You go into detail, and you've bought well and you've kept it well.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Right. And again, going back to the Savile Row thing. And a tweed suit isn't a tweed suit until it is rained upon several times and, you know, you get a splash from a lorry that you're walking by and whatever. German. No, seriously. You know what I mean?

[Leah Chernikov]

Thanks for, Lynette.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

It's not great until you've had it for a minute, you know? And it's like those collectors that inspired me, those incredibly stylish women who I looked at, like Tina Chow and Lulu de la Falez and all those women, you know, like, they understood that they bought things they loved and then wore them, you know, they did. They just had that ethic about them. It was just a different. And they wore them a few times. I remember this incredible friend of mine, Jackie Spaniel, who later became an editor at Vogue for a minute or from longer than a minute. And she's so talented. Anyway, and she bought this one Chanel jacket in, like, 1987 or something, right? When no one could afford anything. We could not afford this stuff, right? But she went to Chanel and she bought that jacket because she was so obsessed with it, right? And she wore it literally every single day for, like, three years. And we would worship that. That's what I love, you know?

[Leah Chernikov]

Yeah.

[Lynette Nylander]

Let's normalize wearing your clothes, living your life in your clothes. Like, I'm in awe of all of that. Kind of like, you know, when you see people's closets and they look like a store, and it looks like they have stuff consumption.

[Leah Chernikov]

Oh, I don't understand it.

[Lynette Nylander]

And they don't wear it.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

No, I can't. I know, exactly. And it's more like an archive than it is an actual closet, you know? Yes. And by the way, I have archives too. But I don't call it my closet. I call it an archive. Yeah, exactly.

[Leah Chernikov]

Designers often tend to have these uniforms, so I'd love to know how you arrived at yours and basically what it enables you to do. Like, how does it make you feel so that you can do the job you need to do?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I mean, a lot of the reason is because, I mean, even though I'm such a big personality and I'm so much a subject of my own life, for some reason, after all these years of working with all these other people who I'm dressing right, or, you know, even if I'm acting in something, you know, it's best to be very neutral, you know? And also, I was a very fat kid, and I always had a sort of body issue. So the more dark colors I wear, the thinner I feel like I look. And that's terrible. Like, we should not be feeling that way about ourselves anymore. But it's too late for me. It's too late, darlings. You know, it's like I understand this whole body positivity thing. I do. It's incredible. I only hope it has traction. I only hope it does well for some people, because for me, it has not done too well, you know, so that's one of the reasons I wear dark colors all the time. Black, navy, charcoal gray. That's really one of the reasons. But also just cause it's simple and it works well.

[Leah Chernikov]

I just want to ask. Cause we were, you know, doing a little rewatching of some things last night. You used to wear a bandana all the time?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes, I still do. Every single morning. I wear it to sort of like hold my hair down. And then I, you know, it just gets bigger and bigger. I take it off as the day progresses, and it just gets bigger and bigger.

[Leah Chernikov]

So where are they from?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

All over.

[Leah Chernikov]

Tell us story.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

All over, darling. I mean, you know, everywhere. From 14th street, when 14th street was 14th street, you know, which is where I got a lot of my favorite bandanas. But like, I don't know, it's funny. It's like John Derrien or like, I don't know where like 45 RPM people that make bandanas. I am a buyer of bandanas.

[Leah Chernikov]

I know. I was just I know.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I love 45 RPM, don't you?

[Lynette Nylander]

Really, really great style.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

And by the way, their bandanas make your hair look better. When you take the band, I don't know what it is about what they use that fabric. Use the serious. Or it's like a better weave or something. Liberty of London. There is no better. There is no better bandana in this world that makes your hair look better than the Liberty of London bandana.

[Lynette Nylander]

You heard it here first. Okay. Here on the Goodbye, we love to break down people's shopping what they've bought. And so the first question in the Goodbye is, what was your first buy? What was the buy that made you feel like you'd made it, that you were someone? Or was it something that you'd always coveted and you still have it?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I have an answer. I have a really easy, easy, easy answer, which is it's an agenda from Hermes. And at the time, it was a fortune. It was like 1982 or something when I was 21. And I was like, no, I will be needing an agenda. And so they make these agendas the way they make those beautiful leather goods, right? And literally I had it for. So wait, so how many years ago is that? 82.

[Leah Chernikov]

Can you. 42.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

42 years ago. So in the course of 42 years, I have used the same exact agenda format from Hermes, right? Which is, it's. It's broken into two parts of the year. You have the first six months and the second six months, and they make the refills, which themselves are like $300. You know, I'm not kidding. And I swear to you, the first one I bought was a fortune. I don't remember how much it was. I think it was something like $1,200, which in 1982 for me was a lot of money.

[Lynette Nylander]

I'm thinking, that's a lot of money. Now wait a minute.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

But when I got that, you know, it was a life changing because I loved Hermes. I remember the first time I went, when I was about 17 or 18 years old, I went on the Faubourg St Honore, right, by myself. And I bought my mother this incredible handbag. And there's a post on it on Instagram where I actually got the bag back because she's, she's like, you know, kind of infirm and she'll never use it again. And it's one thing, I don't want to disappear that bad. Cause it's like this perfect Bugatti thing and pigskin with a green interior. But that was a fortune. And, you know, these were things we could not afford when I was a student at Parsons, okay, School of Design. And my best. One of my best friends in the world is still this person called Peter Speleopoulos. You may have heard of Peter. He worked a very long time in the fashion business, and now he has a fabulous home collection. And he makes these beautiful pots that, you know, these beautiful vases. Anyway, and so the point is that when we were students, Peter and I, at Parsons, it was a different time. And we had a fashion show at the end of the year, and there were like, you know, the pumps in the model room that were like, oh, you know, we'll show our dress with the pumps. And me and Peter were like, uh, this is not happening.

[Leah Chernikov]

We cannot have these pumps.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

We cannot have these pumps. The sheriffs, we went to Manolo Blahnik, and we split the cost of this one pair of shoes that were like, $800. So we literally had our last $400 each, and we split the cost, and we bought Manolo Blahnik's for the. At Parsons. And you know what? Our clothes just looked a lot better than the other clothes, because you can't overlook a bad pump. You can't.

[Leah Chernikov]

It's so true.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

And I encourage you not to overlook a bad pump. I think you should look straight at it and get rid of it.

[Leah Chernikov]

You know, look at it dead on.

[Lynette Nylander]

I really, really love this. And I love your admiration for Manolo Blunt.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Oh, darling, I love him so much. I mean, he's a friend. And also, like, the funniest person in the world. And also a snack. I mean, when I was looking at him as this older gentleman, it was a total snack. He was so handsome.

[Leah Chernikov]

Yeah.

[Lynette Nylander]

And just, honestly, of all the kind of luxury shoes out there, Manolo Bahniks are the most.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

There's nothing better.

[Lynette Nylander]

They're incredibly made. They're an actual shoe you can last the night in, and so many shoes are not. And they're fantastic.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

When you get the shoe, you will keep the shoe, you know?

[Leah Chernikov]

Do you have any regrets? Are there any regrets in your closet? Any outfits?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

You know, I'll tell you what, it's like, I do have this crazy kind of psychology about tailored suits. I don't know why, because I rarely, rarely wear them, and I have so many of them in a storage space in my closet now. And it's the sickest thing in the world. You know, my weight fluctuates a lot. As I said earlier, I have this crazy, crazy body image. So I really regret. I don't know why I have those suits made. I don't know why I feel it's necessary for people to have suits that they don't wear.

[Lynette Nylander]

And so why did you get them made? Like, was it a psychology thing? Was it, like, I've made it. I have to get this amazing suit from Savile Row. Did you have a lifestyle maybe previously that warranted more of these suits?

[Leah Chernikov]

And how did you feel in them?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes, listen, as a designer, when I was coming up in the world in my 30s, was predominantly in my 30s, when I was a four, you know, or in Savile Row, I don't know what the hell that size is, but a small size, and like, worshiping at Manolo Blahnik's, the ground he works on, and worshiping Hamish Bowles and worshiping these people who really. So you have to get in the game somehow and get involved in that, right? So you do it, and it feels a bit foreign, but it also feels so incredible. And then the thing that really kept me hooked on Savile Row is the way they make clothes. I'm not saying the way they fit clothes, but the way they make them. The experience of going, no, looking at the insides of the suit is so beyond. And the handwork, really, there is something about the tailoring. I don't know if it exists. I have not had a suit made there in years. But there was something about the way they used to tailor clothes. And I was shocked. Like, you know, like someone who understands everything about tailoring and everything about every fucking thing in this world about how to make clothes. They were teaching me something, and that's what was addictive about it. You know, it's like, what's that pocket? Oh, my God. What's that button? What's that? You know, it's like there was always, like, some surprise, you know, about the suit.

[Lynette Nylander]

And it's a dying art, the craft of Savile Road tailoring. And I know that they're really struggling to get a new generation of young people interested in tailoring. And it is really superb. I mean, famously, McQueen was a. Learned his craft on Saville Row.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

So there's no better place. There's no better place. And I remember when I first started getting suits made at Anderson shepherd, right? And I would say, oh, could you just bring. Cause, you know, being a big, loud mouth and fittings, that's all I do. I say, could you bring the shoulders in a little? Cause they're very broad and they. No, sir, there's the door like, if you don't, like, this is the way we tailor things. And I remember I was talking to Mano, he said, darling, shut up. Just let them do what they do.

[Lynette Nylander]

Maybe it's more like, I don't know, it seems like you bought them to kind of tick a box or to.

[Leah Chernikov]

Well, it's like inhabiting a world. We're all sort of like, dreaming of something. And fashion often kind of promises to deliver, or it promises to deliver it. Maybe it doesn't always. Right.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

But I'll tell you one thing, I do remember the this one night, darling, one night of my life when I actually felt extremely elegant and perfect. I really felt. And it was in this black suit from Anderson Shepherd. The socks were some insane thing that I bought in Italy made by nuns in some convent. Seriously. And the shoe was John Loeb, a custom made John Loeb shoe. And I felt thin enough and my hair was pressured. Everything was great. And I was going somewhere with Carrie Modine, who I used to be very good friends with. We used to go to parties and. And for once in my life, I just felt that was the one time in my life that I ever felt like, truly, truly elegant in that black suit from Savile Row.

[Lynette Nylander]

Our next buy is something that you always repeat. What is something that you always buy and that you go back to and is indispensable to you.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Here's it is you ready? I'm ready to answer that question. It is this giant shawl from Loro Piana in black cashmere, which is like, you know, thick as butter. If this thing is just the thickest with the blanket fringe, and it's massive. And I can't go on a trip in August without this. I mean, I don't care how hot it is outside. I have to have that blanket with me at all times. And through the winter, I have one in my car. I have one in my other car. I always keep them in the car because it's freezing or too cold or something, right? So I have one in each car. I have one in, you know, Bridgehampton, and I have several in boxes just waiting to be used because I know they're gonna stop making this sh. Because everybody stops making everything great. That's why. You know? But anyway, so that's the thing that I keep. And I just buy them because I'm.

[Lynette Nylander]

Crazy, you know, and they're to wrap, you know, they're.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

No, they're like. Oh, they're short, darling. They're like, you know, six feet long and, like two feet wide. And they're so gorgeous and they look so beautiful and I love them so much. From Loro Piana. That's what I do.

[Lynette Nylander]

And what do you think about this whole, we've gotten into such a trend in kind of modern day culture of these super expensive, super luxe, you know, looks and items and things like that. Is it really about each item for you? Is it about like what it.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I don't know, I have little patience for most things. Like when I see a lot of design, it just turns me so off, you know. And by the way, like I really love a lot of stuff that's going on in fashion right now. That person who does Loewe, I forgot his name. He is such a gentleman. And darling, that person is a genius. That last collection was one of the greatest things, thank you very much. Ever seen.

[Lynette Nylander]

Let's take a quick break to talk about our sponsor, Google.

[Leah Chernikov]

Hey listeners of the Goodbye, it's Leah, one of your hosts. So we've all been there. The holidays are approaching. I'm terrible at this. I'm a real procrastinator. You're scrambling to shop for those last minute gifts. You know exactly what to get your mom, but what about your dad? Will it get there in time? It's really stressful. Stressful, right. So this is where Google comes in. When I'm looking for a gift ASAP, like on the 24th, I can easily see what's available nearby or which stores offer speedy delivery with just a search on Google. I love how Google takes the guesswork out of holiday shopping. No more worrying about shipping deadlines. Just peace of mind, knowing my gifts will arrive on time.

[Lynette Nylander]

Have you divested a bit from fashion?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

You know? Yes, I think so. I think so. I have. It's a hard business to stay in forever. I feel like, you know, you have to kind of sell yourself a bill of goods to stay in it. Like this is better than that. She's better than she is, you know, this one is out, this one's in, this one's out. Very, very hard, you know, Very, very hard to do. You know, the clothes I make now for Macy's or QVC or whatever, they're just smart little T shirts and cashmere sweaters and pull on jeans, you know, that's it, that's what I make. And that's what we work on. We work on that idea of value, you know, And I think that's, that's who I am, you know, that's who I am. Look at, look at me, right?

[Leah Chernikov]

It's Great.

[Lynette Nylander]

It's great and it's beautiful. It's signature also. I mean, talking about that divestment and you saying, you know, the industry's changed and it's just such a difficult, you know, industry to be in. You had two great loves, you know, when you were younger. You loved performing and you loved fashion, and now you kind of married the two and you get to dip into one and dip into the other.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I'm trying, darling. I'm trying. I am trying. I am trying. Yeah. I mean, doing. You're so right, actually checking it off.

[Lynette Nylander]

I want to talk to you about New York because so much about. When I think about you, I think about New York and I think about. You've just seen the evolution of style in New York in a way that very few people have. And it's so intimately. And I want you to talk about New York then and now, and the style changes and what you used to see. And if you think any of that essence and energy's remained.

[Leah Chernikov]

Yeah. And how take us from midwood to.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yeah, all the way. It's a very hard thing to talk about because again, it requires different levels of understanding. You know what I mean? Because when I was a kid growing up in New York, I took the train every day. At the age of 14, 13 and 14, I started taking the train every day to 46th street to performing Arts High School, which is like in the heart of the theater district, right in the middle of Times Square. And when I was writing my memoir, I used the word squalid to describe this period in time in Times Square on the subway. And the editor, who's a little younger than me, she circled the word. She was like, you sure you want to use this word? And I was like, is there a more horrible word to use than squalor? Cause if there is, that's the word I'm looking for, you know, and. Because it was horrible. But there was something so divine about it. I don't know what about the kind of squalor and the contrast of burnt out, crazy sort of locations that were just these bare lots and then this gorgeous skyscraper and then some like 19th century church. And then, you know, it was just the greatest. You know, when you go to Paris, it's mostly 19th century. It was planned in the 19th century. You have a few 18th and 17th century residences that are amazing, but mostly it was planned in the 19th century. We're still living there, you know, in the Eiffel Tower and blah, blah, Right?

[Lynette Nylander]

Yes.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Or you go to Rome and you can't go. You can't walk three steps without seeing, you know, something that's prehistoric, you know. But something about New York was always great in that it was a contrast of things, old things and new things and things going down and things you loved going away. Like, that's a big part of being a new. Is living with the hell of losing something you love, you know, like, I don't know, like Balducci or something, or Jefferson Market or any of those things that you just loved. And then the whole story about Jackie Kennedy saving Grand Central Station, like, what a thing. Thank God. Cause that's really something good. And then I think she also saved Radio City Musical. Jackie Kennedy. What a woman. I just love something. Being decrepit. I need a little decrepitude. I do. You know, I do personally, as a New Yorker growing up, like you're saying, from to 46th street in New York City to wherever it was, there was always this little bit of decrepitude that reminds you of humanity, that reminds you of the past.

[Leah Chernikov]

Right. You're alive.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I had this one fisherman, little, you know, striped top with a boat neck from Paris that I got when I was in Paris the first time. And I wore that thing, and it had ink stains on it and holes. And the more ridiculously, you know, sort of depraved it was, the more I loved it and the more I wore it as a badge, you know.

[Lynette Nylander]

And it's also. I think it's a metaphor for living in New York is that things kind of get decrepit and. And they get one and they age.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

They age. Darling, I was in Paris. I was in Paris with a friend of mine recently, yesterday. And we had lunch, and she said, darling. And she looked amazing. She's a woman who's nearly 80, right. And she's French. And she looked so great. And. And. And maybe she's had a little work. And I said, I feel so I'm fat. And then she's like, don't. Don't do it. Do not do it. They look like rats. These people look like rats. She started screaming in the middle of this restaurant. It was really funny. But, you know, you can't do that. You have to accept age and accept experience and accept a little decrepitude.

[Leah Chernikov]

You know, it's character.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Yes, well.

[Leah Chernikov]

And I think you look fab. What is your dream by. Is there anything else you're longing to have as part of your. In your apartment closets?

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Like, it sounds so silly, but you know what I really want? Tell us A Maybach Oh, I did.

[Leah Chernikov]

Not see that coming.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I'm sorry.

[Lynette Nylander]

I did not see that one.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

No, darling. Can I just tell you something?

[Leah Chernikov]

Car. Okay.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

One day I did this. Used to do this reality show with Iman called the Fashion Show. This was years ago. And Missy Elliott was the guest judge. And she had a Maybach, darling. And I remember we had a big pause because there was a strike. They went on strike, and everybody else went to their dressing room. She went to her Maybach because it was so div. Like, that is where Missy Elliott is going for another two or three hours to pass the time. And. And then I went in a Maybach. And it's just the best. I really want a Maybach.

[Leah Chernikov]

Okay.

[Lynette Nylander]

I love. I don't know what I was expecting. I guess I should have assumed that it wouldn't be anything fashion because you have. I feel like you have and have had anything you want. But a Maybach's a good one. Yeah, that's the. Probably the best.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Everybody kind of want a great car.

[Lynette Nylander]

I mean.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

I mean, don't even ask for a private plane. Don't do it. Don't do it.

[Lynette Nylander]

We're not.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Don't do it. A Maybach. We'll start with the Maybach.

[Leah Chernikov]

Okay.

[Lynette Nylander]

All right. Isaac Mizrahi, I think I. I can truly say you are an original. You are one of a kind. No one else does it like you. And thank you so much for being.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

A guest on the Goodbye.

[Leah Chernikov]

This was such a treat.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah, this was such a treat.

[Isaac Mizrahi]

Thank you.

[Lynette Nylander]

I'm Lynette Nylander, the executive digital director of Harper's Bazaar.

[Leah Chernikov]

And I'm Leia Chernikov, the executive editor of Harper's Bazaar.

[Lynette Nylander]

And this was the Goodbye. And don't forget to rate like like and subscribe. And for more, go to harpersbazaar.com Bye bye.

[Leah Chernikov]

Harper's Bazaar's the Goodbye is sponsored by Google. The Goodbye is a podcast from Harper's Bazaar. This episode was directed and produced by Alexandra Gurevich in collaboration with Edit Audio. The Goodbye is executive produced by Samira Nasser, editor in chief of Harper's Bazaar and Jason Eichler by president of Video at Hearst Magazines. It was recorded by Gabby Bulgarelli and edited, mixed and mastered by Maria Passing.