John Varvatos Spring/Summer 2013

"I am constantly inspired by everything that I see around me." says John Varvatos. " I think the idea of elegance is relevant again for an audience that, so far, has not experienced the taste of it. Youthful elegance, therefore, is my feeling for this season, meaning with youth an attitude, not a matter of age. I mixed a sense of dress-up with touches of my very own perfect imperfection and I added a dash of the military. The play of juxtapositions gives a nonchalant twist, yet everything looks proper on the surface. This is a collection thought out for men who want to be dressed up but not stiff. It works from day to night, because this is the way people live and dress today."

The silhouette is precise, but smoothed around the edges. Double-breasted jackets are paired with full or slightly flared pants, drawing a masculine, sensual line. There is an appreciation of all the little details that are integral to the ritual of dressing up: waistcoats are worn under suits and coats as a defining layer; shirt collars closed with tie bars are invariably paired with a necktie; straw hats with a wide brim complete most outfits. Masculine patterns in graphic black & white create a light crinkle: stripes of different width and small textural dots add a layer of visual friction. The alternation and amalgamation of ease and elegance, day and night is a constant shifting of codes: tuxedo bands, done in cotton, land on day trousers; a zipper rims the waistband of a pair of dress pants; black jackets sport white lapels; satin ribbons replace buttons and hooks on a coat. Double-breasted and cutaway create elegant lines in movement. The colour palette is classic, with unexpected accents: white, military green, grey, black, touches of red. Fabrics are precious, yet deliberately rough and intensely tactile: linen, cotton, cotton-metal, silk-linen, double jersey. Accessories include straw hats with a satin band, lace-up brogues in canvas and hand-treated leather, wingtips, varnished canvas boots. Bags add an urban twist: leather totes with studded details, canvas and leather satchels, leather duffels with a linen effect. A vision of elegance that is roughly perfect and classically imperfect. John Varvatos' signature rock n' roll is still there: it is an attitude. Music 1. Goblin - Opening to the Sighs 2. Miles Kane - Telepathy 3. Artic Monkeys, Death Ramps & Richard Hawley - Bad Woman 4. Miles Kane - Happenstance 5. Richard Hawley - Leave Your Body Behind You Finale. Miles Kane - Come Closer For HIGH RES IMAGES of the John Varvatos Spring 2013 Fashion Show, and backstage selects, click here To watch the VIDEO click here View behind the scenes images on the John Varvatos Facebook page here