Tobi.com Summer Picks: Helmut Lang and John Varvatos

Helmut Lang

Another great designer offering classic, yet fashionable attire in the upper mid price range, between $200 and $1000. Think Calvin Klein with a hint of Prada.

Casual bomber jacket for colder summer nights. This item features a fitted waist with an advanced 85/15 cotton/polyurethane blend for that extra rugged quality that will resist fading, with little details such as a covered zipper.

Stretch shirt in a luxurious 66/30/4 cotton/nylon/spandex blend that holds its shape and is rugged enough to see the washer when necessary, but will snap back into place rather than hang off of you. The designers at Helmut Lang have taken care of creating a shirt that offers a tailored fit in a relaxed attitude; all you have to bring is the panache. Plus the details such as an elastic band across the sleeve cuff and a button covering center placket do not hurt at all.

Slouchy skinny leg pant shows that you have a mature, yet relaxed attitude towards fashion and are willing to take a chance on a trouser that isn’t too loose but looks relaxed. Made in a nice 65/35 cotton/nylon blend with details such as a pocket on the left out seam.

John Varvatos

A cross between serious minimalist style and the unorthodox nature of designers like Michael Kors, John Varvatos has created a collection that offers the best of New York style with the neutral tones of Chicago. Prices are pretty affordable too, at $50 to $500.

This linen button down shirt is featured in a color described as soil; wear it with your favorite pair of khakis or jeans on those days you want a button down shirt that breathes and offers the comfort of your favorite lightweight short sleeve shirts.

A twist on cotton lightweight shirts this linen crew neck shirt is featured in sting ray and khol; clean, masculine colors that show that the comfortable, relaxed nineties attitude towards fashion isn’t all forgotten.

A persimmon dip tee in a color some would rather think of as blood red; it’s your own choice with John Varvatos, but what we do know is that the idea of dying the shirt even further on the bottom shows just how fun fashion can be. You’ll probably want to complement that darker red at the bottom of this shirt with a pair of dark grey or black trousers, dark rinse jeans or perhaps pants of the same color.

This stitched ministripe button up shirt showed on low-res photo might appear as a cheap cotton/polyester dress shirt from far away, but inspection on high-res photo will show a mature, sheer quality 100% cotton shirt that is worth adding to your wardrobe.

Those of you who like to rock sweaters in the summer might enjoy this lightweight “Vista Knit in Sky” number in cashmere. Dipped at the bottom just like the persimmon tee; an interesting modern touch on classic luxurious item.

- Chris Kendalls