Thom Browne does not hate New York

Nevertheless, we have to give Browne credit for wowing European audiences with a Florentine collection that actually was presented more like a performance piece than a runway show. But, this is Thom Browne we are talking about here, and rarely does he do anything commonplace or expected. At last night's GQ toast for the six finalists in the its Best New Menswear Designers in American competition, Browne reassured us he isn't snubbing New York: "I've been wanting to show in Europe for a while. It had nothing to do with not wanting to show here, I was invited to show here."

When it was speculated that perhaps his European showing might have had something to do with the fact that his designs often run antithetical to the mainstream, especially in the U.S., Browne responded, "I never trend to or away from anything. So I hope everybody is just conscious of doing their own thing." So, basically, he's just doing what he's doing because that's what he likes doing. No hard feelings.

But we still want you back, Thom...