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A Good Fit

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Ed Filipowski and Mark Lee are more than a fashion couple.

Photograph by Martien Mulder

ED FILIPOWSKI
Co-president of KCD, a fashion PR agency
Our friend Todd invited me to a party in the East Village -- I actually went because I had a crush on the host, to tell the truth -- and I met Mark that night. He was wearing some Emporio Armani '90s sport coat. I remember looking in his eyes and knowing that there was something there for me. I'm so happy that he's back home in New York. We're very deeply New Yorkers.

Even though, professionally, we're very similar, our relationship is based on what we enjoy together outside of work. Yes, we are -- for lack of a better phrase -- a "fashion couple," but it's not what defines us. I think the key to our relationship has been having these similar values. It's allowed us to have a rich professional and personal life. Neither of us underestimates or takes for granted how special that is. He's very grounded. I have my moments of anxiety, and he balances me.

MARK LEE
CEO, Barneys New York
We met 20 years ago at a party in the East Village. We immediately gravitated toward each other. For our first date, he was wearing white jeans and a navy-and-white gingham shirt. I liked him right away. For six months, we did that thing where we were staying at each other's places, then got up and went home to change, trading off apartments. That got old fast. We said, "This is silly. We should just move in together." We had a complicated life for a long time because I was living and working in Europe for nine years. We tried never to spend more than one weekend apart. It intensified our commitment because we had to organize our lives so that we could be together.

As told to Max Berlinger

Advocate Channel - The Pride StoreOut / Advocate Magazine - Fellow Travelers & Jamie Lee Curtis

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Ed Filipowski and Mark Lee