Tulle, fringe and matelassé can be replaced by toxic assets, foreclosures and market collapse in a heartbeat. Fashion is indelibly connected to the economy, and it was no different when the stock market crashed in 1987. In 1991, during the resulting recession, WWD caught up with a few of America’s sartorial luminaries to see how they were handling the hostile business climate.
“Exercise,” said Calvin Klein. “No matter what, there’s no question that exercise relieves stress.” For Marc Jacobs, a little time with man’s best friend did the trick. “I once checked into the Carlyle Hotel with my dog for the weekend and ordered room service,” he said. “It’s my favorite place in New York.” Bill Blass found a more simple comfort in Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. “It’s an occasional indulgence,” he assured WWD, his little Rainforest Crunch crush making Calvin Klein’s five-day-a-week Radu workout look downright fanatical. Donna Karan, who liked to work out her knots with a trainer as well, employed perhaps the best specialist to deal with hard times. “When I’m stressed out, the first place I go is my shrink.”