Television host, producer, radio personality and entrepreneur Ryan Seacrest has added a clothing label to his ever-growing empire, an exclusive-to-Macy’s assortment of men’s tailored clothing and accessories aimed squarely at the millennial male. It launched online in mid-August and at 150 brick-and-mortar stores in early September.
Called Ryan Seacrest Distinction, it’s not so much designed by the hardest-working man in TV as it is inspired by his on-screen wardrobe of sharply tailored three-piece suits, spread-collar dress shirts and crisply folded pocket squares.
The entire collection is merchandised together in one place in Macy’s stores, all the better to showcase a novel feature of the new collection — a color/number matching system called “Style Made Smart” that organizes jackets, trousers, shirts and ties into four numbered color categories to aid the suit-wearer in putting together an outfit.
Hangtags also offer up additional pairing and styling tips. While that may sound a lot like Garanimals for grown-ups, the styling suggestions have their roots in the way Seacrest and his longtime stylist Miles Siggins have arranged his workday wardrobe.
“We’re always in a rush; we never have enough time to do a fitting or to try something on,” Seacrest said, “So any system that make it seamless and quick and lets you know that you’re probably not going to get it wrong is a good system.”
Among the inspirations Seacrest cited for the launch collection were the ’50s and ’60s, Frank Sinatra in his Rat Pack days and Mid-Century Modern architecture.
The result is serviceable, accessible assortment of 100% wool suits and suit separates. Jackets, which nip in slightly at the waist, are two-button with side vents. Trousers are slim-fitting and flat-front, and dress shirts are spread collar with a two-button notch cuff. Accent colors in the fall and winter 2014 launch collection included purple (edging a white pocket square) and dusky orange (paired with navy blue in a bow tie).
The suits for this initial season hew to the classics — variations on solid blacks, blues, browns and grays as well as a gray pinstripe and subtle blue window pane. The real breakout stars of the debut collection are the accessories and furnishings, thanks to a deep bench of detail.
“I love attention to detail,” Seacrest said during a press preview. “I said to them (his partners), with each component of this line, “tell me about the depth of detail, — how far we can go and (still) keep it accessible and affordable.”
The answer seems to be pretty far. Sold as separates, a three-piece suit costs $630, and building a complete look (including dress shirt, necktie, tie clip, belt and pocket square) runs less than $865.
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