Is there a direct relationship between how flamboyantly fashion designers dress and how beautiful the clothes they make are? Judge for yourself straight ahead, where we present the full range of uniforms these créateurs de luxe wear.
Tom Ford
The look: A trim suit, white shirt, and not a laser-precision-trimmed hair out of place. Not even at the airport.
Tom Ford in front of a wall
Tom Ford in front of another wall
Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel
The look: Rococo Gothic undertaker but chic and accessorized.
Karl Lagerfeld staring into your soul
Karl Lagerfeld inside a children's pop-up book
Alexander Wang
The look: Outwardly the standard-issue T-shirt and dark denim, but, like, how does he get it to drape like that? Because that's his job?
Alexander Wang on a sidewalk
Alexander Wang at a movie premiere
Phoebe Philo of Céline
The look: Infuriatingly, effortlessly chic in A SWEATER AND TROUSERS.
Phoebe Philo sitting
Phoebe Philo from far away
Marc Jacobs
The look: It used to be a white shirt and a skirt-y bottom of some sort. Now that he's mellowed out a bit, it's a white shirt and a regular dark suit.
Marc Jacobs on a step-and-repeat
Marc Jacobs about to lose a sword fight
Thom Browne
The look: Like the 37th von Trapp kid if he had access to a tailor who wasn't prone to getting scissor-happy with the curtains. (In case you're worried he'll catch a cold, he switches out the shorts for capris in colder weather.)
Thom Browne with some molding
Thom Browne on the runway
Michael Kors
The look: Black suit, black T-shirt, sneakers, bright-white smile.
Michael Kors taking a bow
Michael Kors walking with joy
Prabal Gurung
The look: American teenager with Equinox membership, circa 1950.
Prabal Gurung with his trademark smirk
Prabal Gurung, relieved
Alber Elbaz, formerly of Lanvin
The look: One of the few huggable adult characters in an Eloise book.
Alber Elbaz contemplating
Alber Elbaz with velvet bow tie
Jason Wu
The look: Pretty much the same T-shirt and jeans as his counterparts but navy. So much less severe.
Jason Wu in front of some greenery
Jason Wu with a coordinating wall color
Vera Wang
The look: Drapey, layered, and always, always black.
Vera Wang with sunglasses
Vera Wang on a red carpet
Riccardo Tisci
The look: All-black athleisure.
Riccardo Tisci surprised to have his picture taken
Riccardo Tisci inside a Richard Serra sculpture
Carolina Herrera
The look: White shirt, dark skirt, sometimes a popped collar—the society lady's version, of course.
Carolina Herrera surrendering
