Club Monaco channels Cary Grant’s style at Cecconi’s

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Club Monaco aims to become Brooks Bros. for a younger, hipper customer.
On Thursday, the retail chain introduced L.A. fashion journos, bloggers and stylists to Timothy Farah, vice president of men’s design, who presented key looks from the fall and spring collections at Cecconi’s Butterfly Room.

Farah, garbed in a Club Monaco Prince of Wales plaid blazer with matching tie and a pair of Levi’s 501s, said he was excited that the classic 1950s and ‘60s American men’s style epitomized by Cary Grant and popularized by men’s designer Thom Browne and ‘Mad Men� has become a dominant trend. “It’s in Europe -- all over the place -- the silhouette is everywhere,� he said. “American men’s clothing had gotten too baggy,� he added, noting that the new Club Monaco collection follows a return to a “slender shorter silhouette.� (Perhaps Ryan Seacrest, who was dining in other room, could heed Farah’s classic-style advice.)

Farah, 44, had worked with Browne in developing the Brooks Bros.’ black-fleece collection. The Michigan native was also design director at Andy Spade for five years and previously worked on snowboard clothing for Nike (‘It’s hard to get into snowboarding when you start in your 30’).
Farah’s work with Club Monaco targets a dapper gentleman on a budget by offering a suit for less than $500 that would cost twice as much at Brooks Bros. Farah suggested an under-$500 look that features a $249 wool blazer worn over a cashmere cardigan and white Oxford button-down.

For spring, models at the presentation paired classic blazers and ties with more casual bottoms, such as cutoff seersucker shorts.

When it comes to guys’ fashion, it’s better to “present something fun but something new,� said Farah. “But never dictate.�

-- Max Padilla

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