'Sample: 100 Fashion Designers, 10 Curators' — Edited by Bronwyn Cosgrave

That name, that name: be still, my heart.

Bronwyn Cosgrave: How could you miss with that?

But I digress.

This book features "100 up–and–coming fashion designers," though many would seem to have already arrived and ensconced themselves in comfortable quarters.

I mean, come on: Olivier Theyskens of Rochas, Nicolas Ghesquière of Balenciaga and Phoebe Philo of Chloe are not what you'd call newbies.

No matter, let's not quibble.

I love, Love, LOVE books like this, a kind of "experts' experts" compendium.

I just ordered my copy.

But I digress again — I mean, who really wants to hear about me or my life or what I do?

Get over it, Joe.

OK.

Done. (Now where did I put that darn NexTel phone? Oh, yeah, NexTel's no longer in existence... what should I call it then, I wonder? A question for the crack research team, fer shur.)

Anyway.

The editor of this compilation assembled ten doyens of the fashion scene and asked each to pick the ten most promising designers from around the globe.

Clearly, when two of the curators picked the same person, one must've been forced to go back to their wait list to find a substitute.

But again, let's not be so darn nit–picky.

You know why they call someone who's annoying a pill?

Because they're hard to swallow — as in take.

Get it?

When I first figured this out — I was, oh, I dunno, maybe 23 or 14 at the time, it gets hazy when I try to remember... — I was so pleased with myself.

So about the book: It's got jagged, hand–cut, artfully pleated pages and white covers (top) showcased in scrapbook form and includes 1,000 illustrations (including previously unpublished sketches, never–before–seen photographs and other archival material) displaying the work of the chosen 100.

Benjamin Schwarz, reviewing the book in the December Atlantic magazine, wrote, "The unconscionable neglect of [Narciso] Rodriguez, to my mind the best designer on the scene today, is the book's greatest flaw."

If that's the case then this is one great book.

£31.50 ($54; €46) here.

And remember, before you blow what's left of your money and credit, Calvin Klein's remark, to wit: "You don't have to buy the clothes — just feel the fabric."

If you will, that's a perfect metaphor for life.

Who knew good ol' CK was a modern–day Marcus Aurelius?

Hmm... — mA.

I like it.

Is he under contract yet?

Have his people call my people — we'll take a meeting.

Or at the very least, do lunch.