Walk into Carter Young’s showroom and you can almost hear Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby singing Cole Porter songs, swilling Champagne and loving every second of their place in American high society. That sense of stylish, black-tie fun infused every bit of his thought-provoking collection, which fused day and tailored eveningwear.
“I want to make black tie feel contemporary again, so I mix occasion wear with sportswear,” said Young, an American based in London and tailored clothing specialist who’s worked for brands including Kith and Alyx.
Young has loosened everything up, swapping fly fronts for studs on a tuxedo shirt, which can easily be worn with a pair of his wide-leg denim or sack cloth trousers or vintage washed chinos. He sees cummerbunds — which are made from deadstock silk — as fun accessories adding color to casual and evening looks alike.
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During a walk-through of the collection, Young was wearing a tuxedo jacket, but it didn’t scream “red carpet event.” Instead, the lapels were narrow and subtle and there was no sheen to anything. He paired it with jeans.
He also channeled his love of Americana into soft Japanese flannel check shirts with a worn-in look and into corduroy suits with a “Love Story” feel — this one more Ryan O’Neal than Sinatra and Crosby. On that New England note, there were also chunky rib knits with a 1950s vibe and a collegiate feel.
It was charming from start to finish, and the prices are pitched at the lower end of luxury, with shirts retailing at around 305 euros, and a custom tailored suits around 1,200 euros. The collections already sell in nine countries and that number is sure to rise once more people know how easy it is to swan around in “evening” clothes, even if it’s just to nip down to the corner café.
