CITYist

John Varvatos describes the men who inspired his fall/winter 2011-2012 collection as “sophisticated and rustic.” And they are appropriately so. Varvatos’ latest menswear collection is positively dripping with nostalgic charm – a contemporary marriage of Victorian and Old West aesthetics: the hyper-tailored meets the hyper-casual. And one cannot overlook the evident infusion of 1970s folk style, producing an unprecedented collection of modish anachronism. The general silhouette, Varvatos says, is “relaxed and individual. The look is soft, with a certain nonchalance. Outerwear, tailored pieces, shirts and knitwear caress the body without revealing it. Fluid lines and multiple layers suggest a take on style that is both protective and pragmatic.” The fabrics are a mix of wool and linen, cold-dyed moleskine, and seer sucker wool. Tactile leathers and heavy knitwear round out the collection all based in organic and muted earthtones.

The collection is incarnate of 2010’s emphasis on high-quality menswear. Varvatos has successfully created the next stage in the evolution of high-end, men’s apparel; making it equal to, if not surpassing, the narrative nature of womenswear. He says, “What I find exciting about fashion is that you can use clothes to build characters that morph and change season after season while keeping faith to their core values.”