John Varvatos

John Varvatos began his fashion career at Polo Ralph Lauren in 1983, headed Calvin Klein's menswear collection in 1990, then returned to Polo Ralph Lauren and started its Polo Jeans Company. Not a bad first ten years; the next ten years would be even better.

John Varvatos launched his eponymous label in 1999, and his debut collection in 2000, which immediately won him the Perry Ellis Award for Menswear, for being the most promising new talent in the industry. In 2001, John Varvatos won the CFDA's Designer of the Year Award. Above: one look from  his menswear 2010 collection.

His inspiration has always been rock and roll, which comes through in a combination of distressed material and urban sleekness, and a little humour in the spirit of rock.

John Varvatos was also consigned by Converse to collaborate on a few ranges of sneakers. His signature stamp on the sneaker: classic, monochromatic, sleek, and lived-in. 

His eye for eyewear remains sleek and masculine, with the story of rock embedded in the details.

 Like his 2010 menswear collection, his latest eyewear dabbles in a mix of matte metallics and subtle patterns. John Varvatos is for the dapper who likes to rough it up a little, who likes a little slouch in his pinstripes, whose prep is never pristine. 

Collection now available at seen@dempsey.

ANDY WOLF: restocked!

CHLOE Fall 2010

In the hands of Hannah McGibbon, Chloe has taken on a more grownup personality, discarding the frills and hardware that adorned the It accessories when Phoebo Philo and Stella McCartney were at Chloe's helm. Replacing the girly aesthetic is a businesslike, seventies sportswear look, with camel-coloured clean cuts and menswear-inspired coats.

(runway photos from style.com)

Complementing the clothes are a collection of eyewear that tell the same story. American shapes from the seventies come in muted colours with subtle luxe details. The entire look? The woman who steps off a plane and is heading for a business meeting, but never loses her elegance.

The Chloe eyewear collection is now available exclusively at seen@dempsey.

Lucie Raffoul: The Alain Mikli touch

13th July 2010

6:30 pm

The Alain Mikli Gallery Party

A select few had the privilege of meeting Ms Lucie Raffoul, mother of Alain Mikli, and also his brand ambassador.

True to one of Alain Mikli's campaign slogans, "Made in Passion", Lucie Raffoul herself lent her Mikli touch to the displays.

She spoke with pride about how her son created daring, risk-taking designs in the brand's initial launch.

On display were vintage Alain Mikli frames and advertisements, truly shocking both then and now.

To this day, 30 years later, Alain Mikli designs still push the limits. It was Alain Mikli who created slatted shades in the 1980s, now popularized by Kanye West and termed "shutter shades", probably the most copied item in youth markets in the last few years.

Choy was our emcee for the night.

There was a silent auction of a 30th Anniversary Limited Edition pair, in support of Touch Youth Learning Centre, a school for disadvantaged youths.

DJ Tirso spun the decks,

while canapes were prepared by Willin Low, celebrity chef of Wild Rocket.

Lucie Raffoul personally chose frames that would suit our guests' face shapes.

Cheers to you, Lucie Raffoul!

You should be ashamed,

to miss the one-day display of Alain Mikli vintage frames and advertisements. 14th July, seen@dempsey.

Alain Mikli: Fascinating Eyes

See this frame up close, and more.

Alain Mikli is flying in their rare vintage collection for one day only at seen@dempsey.

Along with the largest range of Alain Mikli ever shown in Singapore, the Alain Mikli gallery show will include a history display of 30 years of advertisements, vintage frames reworked for contemporary wear, and a special accessory range.

seen@dempsey is proud to dedicate their store to this remarkable French designer on:

14th July 2010

11 am to 11 pm.

Be seen@dempsey!

latest thing seen@dempsey

If you're lucky, you might spot Lucky curled in a ball in her basket in a very inconspicuous location around dempsey.

She makes no sound and is growing stronger everyday.