Isaac Mizrahi has been fascinating the public on-screen, onstage, and, most notoriously, on the runways since he launched his eponymous collection in 1987. But unlike many of his compatriots, Mizrahi never takes himself, or his work, too seriously. He was among the first mainstream designers to host his own talk show, publish his own comic books, produce and direct both musicals and opera, trot out collections for retailers such as Target and QVC, and lend his design talents to theater, film, and dance productions. And there was also the unforgettable 1995 documentary Unzipped, which followed Mizrahi as he concocted and produced his fall ’94 collection. In 2019, he published I.M.: A Memoir. Next up: a four-day engagement at 54 Below, in New York, where he will perform cabaret. Herewith, he reveals his key components to the good life. —Ashley Baker
App: I adore Moon, which shows the phases of the moon. As I write this, it’s waxing gibbous!
Bag: L. L. Bean Boat and Tote. I have mine monogrammed. I still use the first one I ever got, when I was 16. It has navy trim. Manolo Blahnik got me one with green trim about 30 years ago, and I still use it!
BIKE: I adore the low-tech stationary bike I have in my guest room. I got it when I was a teenager and have kept it since. Such a simple machine. So much better—and less bossy than—a Peloton.
Breakfast food: Any laminated pastry from Mah-Ze-Dahr bakery, in New York, especially the one that’s filled with Gruyère cheese. Or a glazed doughnut from Krispy Kreme …
BREAKFAST ROOM: Gritti Palace, in Venice, looking across the canal at the Duomo.
Car: A Mini Cooper convertible. It’s the only car I can park.
Cocktail: Campari and soda. It takes the edge off without leaving you drunk.
Cocktail Appetizer: Mixed roasted nuts at Union Square Cafe.
