After its rather despondent opening, the film quickly transitions into the fast-paced, frenetic style that will serve throughout its course. This isn't the ponderous exploration of a man's life, it is a snapshot of one fashion season and the audience is dragged along for the ride. Mizrahi's mind runs a mile a minute, drawing inspiration from everything he comes across, whether it be the film Call of the Wild or a particularly fashion-savvy Ouija Board, and his life moves just as quickly. Between jaunting off to Paris to select fabrics and footwear, meeting with influential fashion editors, sizing up models to walk his runway, and schmoozing among the fashionistas, it's amazing that Mizrahi has time to sit down and simply create. Just as this thought enters your mind, the answer becomes clear; Isaac Mizrahi is creating all the time. Director Keeve recognizes this and never attempts to reign in his subject. Everything and everyone Mizrahi comes across can find its way into his designs and the best way to illuminate his creative process is to simply trail him with the camera. The result is a random jumble of images and encounters, but the film plays so fast and entertaining, one hardly notices the flimsy structure.
Keeve sets out to record the evolution of Mizrahi's collection, but he is equally concerned with the artistic personality at its source, with its complicated balance of arrogance and self-doubt. Mizrahi isn't an abusive prima donna, but he can play the diva on occasion, particularly when he's under pressure. In one instance, Mizrahi lashes out at his assistant for showing him an article about a rival designer whose new collection is slightly similar to his own, accusing her of deriving pleasure from his pain. He's narcissistic enough to make such an accusation, but his anger is entirely based in insecurity. Like all artists who hope to support themselves financially, Mizrahi's success is dependent on public acceptance and this places him in an incredibly vulnerable position. Whatever liberation Mizrahi finds in fashion design, he still remains trapped by the commercial end of the business and the constant nagging fear of "losing it." There are times where the famous designer seems like nothing so much as a nervous boy desperate to fit in with the popular crowd, searching for the right move that will gain him entry.
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