Real talk: When I saw images of some the so-called “couture” being used as evidence in the tax and bank fraud case against former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, I almost filed this story under “Crime,” due to the visual assault (and yes, I will be pressing charges).
But honestly, I also have questions: Namely, who knew there was a white version of Dapper Dan (the now-shuttered New York City luxury menswear store Alan Couture)? Or that items like this hideous—and now infamous—$15,000 ostrich leather jacket still existed anywhere outside of reruns of The Sopranos?
As it turns out, $15K is actually a bargain for ostrich—I guess you get what you pay for. But your boy Manafort is still quite the clotheshorse, reportedly spending over $900,000 (via wire transfer) over a five-year period on a wardrobe that, to paraphrase my colleague, news editor Breanna Edwards, would be better suited to either a 20-year-old first-round draft pick or a 50-year-old pastor (both black, of course).
Seriously; this wardrobe is full of gems that look like they should have matching hats and gators, including a bevy of Steve Harvey-worthy suits and jackets that indicate a borderline fetish for exotic skins—my favorite is a reportedly $33,000 bright blue lizard jacket with a hand-embroidered lining that reads “Wearable Art by Bijan for P.M. [Paul Manafort].”
Wearable art, y’all.
To be fair, at least one of these items—a $18,500 custom-made python jacket by Alan Couture—may have actually belonged to Manafort’s wife Kathleen, who remains by her husband’s side as his trials proceed. I guess the couple that slays together, stays ... You know what? I can’t.
In short, it’s ridiculous; perhaps not as ridiculous as the equally hideous $51,500 Dolce & Gabbana jacket worn by Melania Trump to Sicily last year (or the estimated one million already spent on Meghan Markle’s wardrobe as a member of the British monarchy—Prince Charles purportedly picks up that tab). But $900,000 to look like a walking mid-life crisis? C’mon, Man ... afort.
And to be honest, I still think there’s a matching collection of gators out there somewhere.
DISCUSSION
Apparently Manafort was some kind of international pimp on the side. Wonder if he was the one who introduced the golden shower ladies to 45. Side note: you’d think a 15K ostrich jacket would at least have a feathered collar.