Man Behind '55 Thousand Dresses' Pulls at Heartstrings, Merits Praise

If he isn't already, Paul Brockmann is an icon in the making.

He is extraordinarily genuine about three major things:

1. His circle of support

2. His collection of vintage designer dresses

3. And helping others

I had the absolute honor of meeting Paul for the first time last Saturday, on Feb. 28, 2015, just before 7 p.m. West Coast time at the Screen Actors Guild Foundation in Los Angeles, CA.

What a special way to end the shortest, and what I'm sure will be, my favorite month of 2015.

Paul Brockmann (left) and Julia Flaherty (right), Feb. 2015

Traveling to L.A. for the First Time

I had never been to L.A. before.

Originally, I flew in to attend a weekend press conference for my job as Arts and Entertainment Editor at The Pointer at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point.

It just so happened that Paul's documentary premiere fell on the same weekend. What luck! An invitation to the premiere was extended to me by his daughter, Louise, and creative director, Elodia, which I gladly accepted.

My roommate, best friend, and co-editor, Mykayla, accompanied me.

After walking for over an hour from the train station to reach the venue, I was pleased to finally sit in a theater that evoked old-Hollywood glamour. This was particularly due to the stunning women wearing Paul's dresses and the jazzy music that suggested an early evening ambiance.

Several of the elegant female guests told me that Paul had picked out their outfits himself.

Paul's Unique Eye for Fashion

Paul mentioned several times throughout the evening that men have an advantage in dressing women. He said men tend to have no individual self-bias and, as a result, pay attention to the unique curves and figures of the female shape.

Other men might've made me raise an eyebrow by saying this, but I knew Paul was coming from a good place.

Paul was surrounded by an impressive panel of colleagues, including his delightful creative director, a celebrity fitness instructor, fashion week correspondents, photographers, videographers, media executives, and correspondents, and more.

The screening was followed by a Q&A with Louise, Margo, and Paul Brockmann. Elodia, 55 Thousand Dresses' Creative Director and social media dynamo, accompanied the family.

Louise and Margot both wore scarves, designed by Norma Hill of Norma Hill Designs, specially made for the ladies to wear at the event.

Paul told the audience a story I've heard many times before: how 55 Thousand Dresses came to be collected. Still, it did not lose fervor. Paul is expressively genuine about his life. Though some think his collection is zany or strange, he doesn't think twice.

Beautifully Strange

One aspect of the documentary "The Man Behind 55 Thousand Dresses" involved speculation about Paul being a cross-dresser. He is not, and even if he were, why does it matter?

He remarked that women aren't labeled cross-dressers for wearing pants, eliciting laughter from the audience.

Paul collected his dresses out of passion and for personal reasons, not to impress others or create a stir. He is entirely true to himself. He cares about others but remains steadfast in his unique individuality, regardless of societal expectations.

What's more, it appears no one has asked him to change.

A Collection Built on Romance

Paul is loving. He is kind and romantic, an emblem of knightliness for a lazy millennial male or a hopelessly romantic female.

Paul's collection is a family. His collection isn't just clothes. It's a man's life and legacy, supported by a lasting marriage of almost 60 years.

Paul just turned 80. He moves about happily and healthily, and it seems he would like nothing more than to sell his collection to a buyer at this point in his life.

A buyer would have many options for how to market Paul's collection, whether targeting a vintage designer prom market, a film or theatrical costume storehouse, or a historical fashion museum.

The possibilities are endless, and Paul's story is beautiful, making his collection priceless and valued at over $1 million.

$1 Million or Priceless?

You can't put a label on friendship or love. Paul proves this.

His documentary is a fine example of his character and purpose in life. He hopes that when he finds a buyer, he will be able to donate part of the proceeds to helping young people leave bad homes and onto better paths.

"The Man Behind 55 Thousand Dresses" has incited laughter and tears, and will truly touch your heart. It has already won the praises of several critics and festivals.

If you haven't heard of him yet, I'm willing to bet you will know about Paul Brockmann in 2015.

For a man who has told me on various occasions he is sometimes unsure about how to access the internet, watch out for him, my friends, he's about to blow up.