Black Frame’s Brian Phillips Is The King Of Cultivating Cool

Everything about Brian Phillips, president and founder of PR firm Black Frame, seems deliberate. Not calculated, per se, just … exacting. The cut of his Simon Miller jeans. The blunt trim of his blond mustache that connects to his meticulous beard. The primary colors of his office furniture, designed by Marc Hundley, Martino Gamper, and Alessandro Bava. Even the glint in his sky-blue eyes seems intent on drilling right through to the core of whatever he’s working on. He’s intense, and maybe a little intimidating. New York is full of people who seem to understand, on a molecular level, how to be hip — which also means they smell bullshit from a mile away. This makes the job of promoting trends and brands tricky, even for professionals. Phillips is the man behind some of the more interesting trends of the past few years. Those single earrings from Delfina Delettrez that were all the rage a few seasons ago? Opening Ceremony’s bestselling collaboration with Calvin Klein? The ubiquitous presence of Rodarte’s ethereal dresses on the red carpet? He’s the guy making sure they catch on with the right crowd. Read more at The Cut.