Samba dancers, tropical setting, carnival-like music conjures up images of Brazil, right? Well, not necessarily. For spring 2017 Nick Graham used these cultural references to give a nod to Cuba of the 1950s, the bacchanalian Cuba of glamorous nightclubs, decadence, gamblers, and playground of American high rollers. Behind this Cuban heyday was an undercurrent of change and Castro’s Cuban revolution.
“It was a fascinating period, with the Tropicana Club at the center of the action. Americans would come in droves and party like they couldn’t in the US,” explained Nick Graham. Once Havana fell, the Americans moved to Las Vegas, along with the showgirls and everything else that came with it.”
Like many menswear designers this season, Graham did not stray far away from traditional menswear silhouettes. Though we’ve seen all these looks before and consumers will love what Graham has done with reinventing the tried and true.
The beauty of this collection is in the presentation and the styling. And having top models Sebastian Suave, Chad White, Kevin Sampaio, and Nick Truelove added to the professionalism and momentum of the brand.
A few seasons back, after not presenting collections during New York Fashion Week, it appeared that the brand was in trouble, and it was!! However, Nick Graham has back with a vengeance and is proving that by staying true the brand’s DNA of post-prep seen through the lens of youthful exuberance that a revitalized brand does not have go outside of its design aesthetic to retain its audience and expand its base.
Images courtesy of Tommy Iannaccone/wwd.com
Graham reinvents the brand’s design aesthetic by using Madras sport coats and shorts to create the new “tropical suit” designed for stylish summer nights. Pulling from the images of the impending Cuban Revolution, Graham employs a hint of camouflage in blazers and accessories.
Standout looks in the collection include the skull-print sarong with cotton tank top and blue linen blazer, Camo blue baseball jacket with tee and blue jeans, and black paisley tuxedo jacket with black shirt and pants.
—William S. Gooch
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