November 27-December 3, 2003

artpicks

Kenneth Cole

books

I may not always agree with the title of designer Kenneth Cole's book, Footnotes: What You Stand For Is More Important than What You Stand In (Simon & Schuster; with Mira Jacob), especially not after buying several sumptuous Richard James and Paul Smith suits. But Cole has long mixed serious sociopolitical ideals (both in marketing and charitable monies) with his quirky, pun-filled ad campaigns. It makes for a potent, personalized mix of humanity and haute couture unique in this biz. Rather than revel in his fabulousness, Cole writes a self-deprecating tome that's fast and funny, drifting and darting through a life that includes marriage into the Cuomo family and another kind of marriage to the designer rag trade that's more seductive and cutthroat than any spurned mistress. Footnotes is packed with wonky, witty ads and the clothing they're meant to sell. His insistence on making his marketing ripe with charitable notions -- most notably homelessness and AIDS research, long before reaching out became chic amongst fashion's minion -- is what gives the project the weight of heavy tread, a density that carries Cole beyond the goofball charm of his advertising. And I like his shoes a lot.

Kenneth Cole, Wed., Dec. 3; 11:30 a.m., Moore College of Art & Design, 20th Street and the Parkway, 5:15 p.m. booksigning, University of Pennsylvania Bookstore, 36th and Walnut sts., 215-898-7595; 6:30 p.m. booksigning, Kenneth Cole store, 1422 Walnut St., 215-790-1690 .

—A.D. Amorosi

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