A&E Top 10: Fashion Designers

In this installment of A&E's Top 10, a series usually notable for superficiality, most of the fashion designers profiled are from the very recent past (how else to get accompanying throbbing video clips?), but the 3-4 minute sketches are actually entertaining and informative. The criteria by which the proverbial panel of experts (including K-Mart's own Kathy Ireland and CNN fashion maven Elsa Klensch) chose their top ten were name recognition, innovation, longevity, and aesthetics. The designers limned are those you might expect--Versace, Armani, Klein, etc.--so maybe the surprises are the fashionistas not mentioned. Bill Blass appears, but doesn't make the list, while Eddie Bauer and Tommy Hilfiger are mercifully absent. Viewers learn that Ralph Lauren took "preppie to the extreme in fashion," which Ms. Ireland apparently intends as a compliment, and that Christian Dior "gave women joy in their clothes again," which is as powerful a metaphor as one is likely to hear on television. Who was the #1 designer? You'll have to watch the video, but it seemed a good choice even to this dedicated enemy of fashion. A reasonably informative fashion history primer, consider this a strong optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (M. Tribby)