Because at the time, cool was the thing to be. Even though I was just a pup back then, it didn't stop me from running with the big dogs. That was when it was all about downtown. From Soho to Tribeca and back to the East Village-slash-Lower East Side. My friends and I were like a traveling band of social players. A cultural mosaic of reds and browns and tans who'd artfully amalgamate business with pleasure. And no set of velvet ropes could stop our romp.


Commes Des Garcons' spicy Jewel perfume is cool		 But now things are different.

That was when the In-Crowd was in. Now, most in crowds are pretty out. And to make matters worse, cool has gone pop. I guess when you think about it, it was inevitable. After all, we are living in an age where edge cutting rap artist like Wu-Tang and Bone Thugs and Harmony make most of their loot off of mid-western kids .

Cool has nothing to do with accessory driven, downtown scenesters who stand with posed expressions under the most flattering lounge light as they sip chilled Cosmos at some uber-trendy downtown bar with a way hip name. Cool is not about shallow namedropping at parties as you devour cool cocktail shrimps and posh pate. One eye, star gazing the room. The other blinking disdainfully.

Cool is an evocation of self assuredness. A feeling of easiness because you are the person you wish to be. Because lets face it, everybody wants to be cool. No, really. Everybody. Coolness has become saturated.