A funny thing happened when I was poking around the fashion department last week. I spotted a clothing rack with some cool pieces from one of our Styles 2008 menswear finalists, Stewart Randolph, and decided to do a little digging on this emerging designer. It turns out this School of Music student at the nearby University of Michigan isn't just skilled at making outdoors-inspired downtown duds for guys—think trapper hats and loads of plaid—he's also got a few polished but casual urban options for girls available through his Etsy store.

And to think, it all started with a noble quest to find some cool jeans. Dissatisfied with the offerings for fashionable dudes, this former SoCal native signed up for an introductory sewing class and set about making his own denim instead. Unique washes and details like graphics on the pockets and belt loops and colorful stitching gave each pair a signature feel—and as it turns out, Randolph was just getting started.

Which brings me to his exciting debut collections for Fall 2008 (see them in his animated short, "The Sewing Machine"), which are meant to invoke a caricature of a macho masculine ideal. Aside from his carefully-crafted jeans and pants, standouts for fellas include Randolph's rugged Green Wool Felt Jacket and the lumberjack chic Red Plaid Hunter Jacket. For the girls, I've got my eye on his eye catching Mustard Pea Coat and the toss 'n go Navy Banded Dress—both sporty pieces also happen to be on sale, so lucky for me, I won't have to choose. "I would say my ideal customer is someone who approaches fashion from an artistic and easygoing viewpoint," he explains. "Ideally, my clothes should express my customer's personality without overshadowing it."

For more information please visit www.stewartrandolph.com.

- Caroline Stanley

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Similar Topics:debut collection, fall 2008, fashion, menswear, Styles 2008

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