PARIS, May 12, 2004/ FW/ --- During the show season, it is figuratively and physically impossible to be present at everything going on during fashion week.

My goodness, here in Paris alone we have on average 100 fashion shows, presentations, showrooms, cocktails, parties, lunches, drinks, dinners, breakfasts, etc. All of that in only 7 to 10 days!

The work of a fashion journalist or critic is truly a never-ending affair. When a rare break does occur, I visit as many showrooms and press offices as I can in order to catch a glimpse of what I may have missed before.

Last week, Bruno Michel from the press office At Large, invited me over to the Cinq Etoile Luxe showroom meet its designer, Thierry Le Pin and to see the collection. That is a decision that I could hardly regret.

Let it be known that when I go to visit a collection, I take my sweet time. That is the only way that I can effectively and honestly write about what I’ve seen.

I like to feel the clothes. I touch them against the delicate, sensitive skin of my face. If there is no immediate allergic reaction, then that’s always a good sign. I then carefully submit each piece to a scrutiny that rivals that of a Senate confirmation hearing.

Created in 2001, Cinq Etoile Luxe (The Cinq is pronounced sank) was no exception to that rule.

The current spring summer collection is a man’s dream come true. Everything is soft, wearable, comfortable, stylish and most of all, unpretentious. No big mystery as to why Barney’s and GQ are fond of it.

The prices range on average from $65 for most pieces in his general collection which includes T-shirts, sweat pants, jackets and micro bathrobes run up to $1500 for his hooded mink-lined parkas.

Don’t worry! A similar parka is available in rabbit’s skin for a more affordable price tag.

I tried on a few pieces, and I immediately felt GHETTO FABULOUS! I knew that I could wear these clothes like a second skin and successfully infiltrate the closed circles of America’s top rappers and hip-hop stars with no problems.

The clothes are not strict or confining. That is what we men like in general about clothes regardless of personality or individual style. These clothes can be worn practically anywhere: to a tennis match, to a hip-hop concert, shopping at Saks, or at just home for some simple, good old fashion relaxing.

Not resisting temptation, I called on designer Thierry Le Pin for a quick interrogation. He amazed me when he confessed that his cottons were not Egyptian.

‘How is it possible to have such softness with any other cotton’, I wondered. Well, that will evidently remain a secret until I can pin him down for further interrogation.

Cinq Etoile Luxe

Cinq Etoile Luxe