"It's all about graphic transparency," said Karl Lagerfeld of his latest collection. Excuse my ignorance, but what the hell is graphic transparency and how does it relate to fashion? I'm not so sure the eccentric source of the comment knows himself .

If designers can't describe their own handiwork without resorting to vague abstractions, I'm doubtful that anyone can, yet fashion critics abound. Only they're not so much critics as they are sycophants and they don't criticize so much as they praise. Designers and so-called fashion critics are members of a mutual admiration society; an arrangement that defeats the purpose of criticism altogether.

Certain women's magazines, beacons of the fashion genus, along with other fashion outlets, perpetuate this scenario. All editors are aware of the thrust of their publication (or network), so it should come as no surprise to Vogue 's Anna Wintour and Cosmo 's Kate White that most, if not all, fashion coverage is about one step away from outright butt-kissing.