Ryan Seacrest's new menswear label helps guys coordinate colors
"I love attention to detail," says Ryan Seacrest of his new fashion line, now available at Macy's stores and on its website. Credit: Macy's Inc.
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.
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.
"He's impeccably well-dressed and he does a lot of changes," said Richard Carroll, senior vice president and creative director of Randa Accessories, the company behind the neckwear, belts and furnishings side of the line.
The entire collection will be merchandised together in Macy's stores, all the better to showcase a novel feature -- 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.
Hang tags 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." As for his input into the look and feel of the clothes that bear his name, Seacrest is quick to admit he's not steeped in the fashion world. "But I definitely have a point of view and I know what I like and what fits me well, so we started with that."
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 wool suit separates and a wide range of accessories.
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 windowpane. The range of dress shirts is only slightly more adventurous (if you consider wearing a micro houndstooth check or a tattersall an adventure).
Finishing the look
Accessories make the man. Ryan Seacrest Distinction offers a wide range of accessories:
Belts: In leather, with buckles laser-etched with herringbone patterns, $45.
Tie clips: Engraved with basketweave patterns, $29.50.
Cufflinks: Gunmetal with a blue stone, $45.
Ties: Long ties and both pre-tied and untied versions of the bow tie, awash with color and pattern in paisleys, plaids, pin dots, ginghams and stripes, $49.50-$59.50.
