As a kid growing up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, fashion designer Thom Browne was a state-champion swimmer. After college, he tried his hand at acting in Los Angeles, then moved to New York to work in fashion, where he introduced his first collection in 2001—it was five men’s suits, each in shades of black and gray, and all cut to the slimmer, shorter silhouette that forever changed men’s wear. Browne has since expanded into designing for women, where he has earned a reputation for dramatic, beautiful work. (Michelle Obama wore one of his pieces to her husband’s second inaugural.) Tomorrow, the 29th of September, he will debut his spring 2020 collection at the ready-to-wear shows in Paris. But not before he took a moment to reveal his keys to the good life …
AIRLINE: Pan Am
AIRPORT: Idlewild
BAG: Mr. or Mrs. Thom bag
BEDTIME: 11:30 p.m.
BIKE: Schwinn
BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND: Just “friend”
BREAKFAST, WEEKDAY: Toast and coffee
BREAKFAST, WEEKEND: A sugar croissant and double espresso from Sant Ambroeus
CAR: A Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman
CHILD: A curious one
COCKTAIL: Champagne
COCKTAIL APPETIZER: Potato chips
COUPLE: Me and Andrew [Bolton, Browne’s partner]
DIET: No diet
DINNER, WEEKDAY: Italian
DINNER, WEEKEND: Chinese
DRESS: Formal
ESCAPE: Home
EXCUSE: “My dog ate my homework.”
FIRST LADIES: Eleanor Roosevelt and Michelle Obama
TOAST:
“I like to have a martini, two at the very most. After three I’m under the table, after four I’m under my host.” —Dorothy Parker
FRIEND: A loyal one
GOOD-BYE: “I hope to see you again.”
HOTELS: The Ritz Paris and Claridge’s in London
INSULT: “Your pants are too long.”
JACKET: My own
LUNCH, WEEKDAY: A tuna sandwich
LUNCH, WEEKEND: A ham-and-cheese toast
MATCH: McEnroe and Borg
MOVIE: Metropolis
SHOES: My wing tips
WRITING INSTRUMENT: A pencil
PET: Hector, our dog
PIECE OF ADVICE: “Always be true to yourself.”
PODCAST: David Zwirner’s Dialogues
PRESIDENT: John F. Kennedy
RESTAURANT: The original Four Seasons
SAYING: “Ignorance is bliss.”
SINGER: Björk
TELEVISION SERIES: Dynasty
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: Carly Simon’s “Let the River Run”
TIME OF DAY: Six p.m.—drinks time.
VACATION: Anyplace with Andrew
VIEW: Central Park from my terrace, with Andrew and Hector in the foreground.
WEEKEND BAG: Mr. Thom
WORK OF ART: John Singer Sargent’s Madame X
