Helmut Lang, from Butt to the Times

DESIGNER, WITH PECKER Lang

De-clawed fashion eccentric Helmut Lang is keeping a noticeably higher profile these days. First, there was his very sexy photo diary in Dutch Butt magazine with Helmut snapping photos of himself in flimsy white underwear. Then there was the cover of Fantastic Man with a nipple-baring Helmut holding up a rooster.

Now Helmut's in the news again. According to WWD, he took offense in the recent article in the New York Times Styles section that called him out for "corporate insubordination" and a lack of commercial appeal. Lang's inflamed relation with the Times started in 2001, when he famously banned the paper's fashion critics from attending his show.

What's more, Helmut has something special in the works—and according to his spokesman, the Times's statements could even be considered damaging to Helmut's "current projects." Let's just keep our fingers crossed for something good, like, say, a fashion collection.