Summer 2011 Fashion Lessons: John Varvatos
Multiple authorities agree that John Varvatos is a force of fashion by himself. His many awards – most notably the 2000 Perry Ellis Award for menswear – should speak for that. Varvatos’ understanding of the male form is so thorough that his styles look good in any format, whether it’s a pair of Converse shoes at target or a signature blazer at Saks. Let one of the masters of menswear show you how to do summer, rock and roll style.
Color and Texture
Even designer clothes can get rather predictable during spring and summer. Most brands play around with color – usually bright ones like stop sign red or biohazard yellow – and lighter fabrics like linen. Unsurprisingly, Varvatos’ rock-and-roller f’ck-it aesthetic kicks in to buck the mainstream trend.
If you want to really stand apart this season, do like JV and experiment with both color and texture. Guys so often forget to work with the latter, despite the fact that textures give you so much room to try new things. Light and sheer shirts can be paired with chunkier light knits or sleek blazers, or even a satiny but loosely done necktie. There are so many things you can do, most of which are unlikely to be worn by another guy on the street.
Summer is the season for fun fashion, but one need not use something as overt as bright colors to give that impression. By using lighter, sheerer base layers balanced out with heavier and more opaque ones, you create the same result effectively yet uniquely.
Gents of Summer
Men make very clear distinctions between formal and casual dressing. Unless you have a suit and necktie, it’s highly unlikely that what you’re wearing can be considered formal. Varvatos makes a point this season: not wearing office attire is no excuse not to look sharp like a proper gentleman.
He strikes the balance between summery and smart by incorporating the accessories of a gentleman without going the whole nine yards on the formalwear. A hat was introduced into an outfit that featured a dressy shirt but very casual shorts. Another outfit made use of a necktie, but it was done in the loose, devil-may-care knot that simply can’t be mistaken as formal.
‘Gentlemanly’ accessories come in all shapes and sizes, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a piece to work with. Pocket squares, neckties and hats are just the tip of the iceberg. Cuff links, tie pins and bow ties are within the same territory, so they should create roughly the same effect if handled in a similar way.
Vested Interests
If you’re going to explore the gentleman’s wardrobe, you might as well play around with the idea of a vest too. It’s likely that you only see them as one of the parts in a three-piece suit, but Varvatos makes extensive use of them as key layering pieces in casual looks.
Vests are very true to Varvatos’ rock and roll vibe and, when they’re worn outside of a suit context, they tend to look rakish and unconventional. Wearing a vest is a great way to add depth and complexity to your outfit without adding the heft of, say, a cardigan or a blazer. Whether it’s a shirt and tie or a tee with shorts, vests are actually pretty easy to introduce to a lot of kinds of outfits.
The easiest ones to use are classic colors; slate gray, navy and black are very effective for mixing and matching. If you feel that an outfit looks too flat and one-dimensional, try the vest and check the result in the mirror. It dresses up your outfit with a dose of edginess so that you’re a little more put together but not stuffy.
One of the things you should definitely pick up from Varvatos is his style philosophy of mixing his street-inspired rock and roll influences with ‘higher’ pieces like blazers and neckties. It’s an aesthetic that simply never fails for summer dressing.
Other Suggested Articles:
Guide to Mens Spring Fashion 2011
Mens Summer Suit Guide
Your TieKing.com – Your Site for Finest European Designer Ties