John Varvatos looks to rock and roll’s fashion heritage to shape his fall 2009 collection, reworking it into a dressed-up line that’s polished with a glamorous edge. Varvatos is the most famous Greek-American designer based in NYC but this year he chose to present his new collection in Milan. The John Varvatos Fall/Winter 2009 runway show took place Tuesday, January 20^th 2009 at Chiesa sconsacrata di San Paolo Converso, Milan, Italy. The vent too on the is the oppositEvery element of the collection: silhouette, detailing and proportion, is given a contemporary gloss. The palette is dark, moody and elegant. Black reigns, with charcoal, burgundy and rich chocolate accented by tones of grey and inserts of white.

Distinguished by its hourglass shape, John Varvatos has softly evolved his silhouette into a more modern, sleeker profile. A slender but well-defined shoulder skims down to a nipped in waist and a lean trouser leg that finishes with a slight flare just below the ankle.

Tailored looks come in evening structures, characterized by shawl collars, rich tweed and plaid fabrics and a cummerbund-turned-sash that sits swathed on the hips. Tonal layered suits: a double-breasted flannel dove gray jacket is constructed with a contrasting darker smoke-hued flannel lapel and paired with a silvery shirt and tie. Another narrow-cut, one-button gray suit is outlined with black-tipped notch lapels and welt pockets. Vests, in crinkled wools and smooth cashmeres topped with felted closures, reveal inside buttons and linings printed with a fluer-de-lys pattern. A velvety chevron design is flocked over a tweed evening jacket. White trim, button-down, spread collars top striped, patterned and check shirts. Gauzy cotton voile scarves with a floating paisley print are tied around the looks. Hats are pliable, modified felted bowlers.

Long outerwear descends to a subtle A-line and emphasizes the sleeker silhouette. Coats are double-breasted, high-collared and trimmed with antiqued metal buttons. Built in dramatic shapes: a wool coat’s base unzips to curled-like tails, another take on the trench is given an inverted triangle silhouette with prominent shoulders and lithe belted hips. Modern fabrics polish up casual styles, like the polyutherene coated cotton/linen parka that shimmers with a soft, cracked finish in antiqued silver, and a cotton-touch nylon jacket, padded and emphasized with a exaggerated collar and loop buttons.

Leather’s long-standing fashion role in rock and roll is reinterpreted with a new sleek, elegance. A printed plaid collarless leather jacket is washed so soft it has the hand feel of a cashmere fabric. A suede trench and motorcycle jacket are washed to become lighter and more refined. Chocolate shearling is cut into a hooded parka with a lustrous pony skin finished exterior.

Elongated hand-finished cashmere knits trail out from shorter jackets, marking the juxtaposing proportions. Full-length dark cashmere sweaters are trimmed with horn buttons and crochet edges. Fine rib knits and printed stripe cashmere Henleys are embellished with small metal buttons.

Headlining accessories is the debut of John Varvatos’ new jewelry collection. Cufflinks, rings and bracelets are handcrafted from sterling silver, black onyx and brandish diamonds. Necklaces feature weighty, eye-catching trinkets, like the famed Venetian doctor mask. Heraldic style medallions, some sprouting a plume of feathers, adorn jacket lapels and ties. A refined, updated silver safety pin closes knits and vests. Double-twisted intricate chains link around boots, while chain belts link up with a fleur-de-lys design, a recurring ornamentation throughout the collection.

Gators — washed leather buttoned ankle covers positioned over the shoe — accentuate the silhouette’s subtle flared and shortened leg. Dressy shoes include buckled demi boots, washed canvas and leather styles with studded details and an oiled suede boot with a tucked detail on the top. Bags have masculine shapes. Canvas and leather totes and a modern briefcase are framed with buckles and straps. Another punchy model is tooled from gleaming silver crocodile-embossed leather.

Emarel Music announces its debut CD entitled “ήχώ/echo” the music of Mimis Plessas, produced in Greece and released this month (January 5), featuring 10 classic Greek songs newly arranged by New York-based leading vibist, musician, and composer Christos Rafalides. His collaboration with Mimis Plessas, the internationally renowned multi award-winning Greek composer, has resulted in an urban sound –mosaic of global rhythms– echoing Rafalides’ musical roots.  The album features the soulful vocals of Greek performer Evi Siamanda and Mimis Plessas, as special guest on piano.

Known as the “Greek Gershwin,” Mimis Plessas’ music has been celebrated throughout his illustrious career in film, theatre, opera, concerto suites, radio, and television. The CD “ήχώ/echo” reintroduces Plessas’ arrangements originally interpreted in the ‘60’s by eminent female performers Tzeni Vanou and Marinella.

“As an arranger, working on “ήχώ/echo”, I tried to reflect my own musical personality into these songs and mix them with the sounds and rhythms of the New World. Inspired melodies, intelligent harmonies and romantic lyrics –from my Greek heritage– is what I had to work with,” said Christos Rafalides, founder of the New York-based contemporary jazz quartet Manhattan Vibes.

About Christos Rafalides
Rafalides has appeared with the Charles Mingus “Epitaph” Band featuring bassist Christian McBride and conductor Gunther Schuller; the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis at Lincoln Center in NYC.  He has shared the stage with Ravi Coltrane, Antonio Sanchez, Joe Locke, Donny McCaslin and Mark Ledford among others. He has also added his vibraphone and marimba textures to recent recordings of vocalists Chaka Khan and Christy Baron. Rafalides is a graduate of Berklee College of Music with post-graduate studies at Manhattan School of Music. Since 2000, he has led Manhattan Vibes and appears at cutting-edge venues in New York City. For more visit his website manhattanvibes.com

About Evi Siamanda
Siamanda has performed with Mimis Plessas, Mario Frangoulis, Goran Bregovic, Stefanos Korkolis, and Antonis Remos. She has appeared with Christos Rafalides along with Grammy-nominated Donny McCaslin and several Grammy winners such as Mark Ledford. Siamanda was featured on the soundtrack of the documentary “Secrets of the Past” with the music of Grammy-winning composer Steve Woods.
“ήχώ/echo” the music of Mimis Plessas is a production of Emarel Music recorded and produced in Greece, now available in the U.S. and other markets. Sample listening of four tracks is available here. More information at: emarelmusic.com