NYMD Fall/Winter 26

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New York Men’s Day’s 25th Anniversary showcase took place at Mercedes-Benz of Manhattan showroom. Presented by title sponsor Project by Informa. The team at AgentryPR presented collections of eight emerging menswear designers to kick off the official CFDA calendar for New York Fashion Week. Designers in the morning session: A. Potts, Avon Anglers, Chelsea Grays, and Peak Lapel. Designers in the afternoon session: Christopher Lowman, Monday Blues Studio, Science Project Company, and WÀNGDA. Project by Informa showed in the morning and afternoon sessions.
Sponsored by Project, a platform for men’s contemporary apparel; Oribe hairstylists; Augment Korea makeup artists; Grimoire NYC skincare; Solgaard luggage; Vogel footwear, Favorite Foreigner Group liquor; and Smart Water water and refreshments. Location Mercedes-Benz of Manhattan. Photojournalist Fred J. DeVito, Imagemaker.

Scene: The WÀNGDA collection explored a refined dialogue blending Eastern and Western sartorial codes. The presentation focused on quiet confidence, intentional design, and fluid draping that evolved the brand’ signature menswear silhouette with quiet power. Founder/Creative Director Wangda Chen’s collection featured fluid, kimono-inspired construction, and softly structured outerwear. The brand continued its focus on abstract minimalism.
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Christian Ceja-Compin and team for Oribe; Makeup Artist Michelle Webb and team for Augment Tokyo; Stylist Michael Philouze; Public Relations Seventh House.

Scene: Designer Wangda Chen in cream sweater with models.

Scene: Monday Blues, Studio showcased its signature line, Coffee Couture. Designer and stylist Victoria operates with a distinct focus on precision, raw craftsmanship, and heavy emotional storytelling. The brand is known for reimagining discarded burlap coffee bags into one of a kind, made-to-order couture garments. Their presentation highlighted their innovative use of textures and patterns within the sustainable menswear space. Minimal yet intricate, raw yet refined, singular, and designed to exist as both clothing and memory.
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Mandee Tauber and team for Oribe; Key Makeup Artist Michelle Webb, and team for Augment Tokyo, Lead Artist for Augment Tokyo Monique Marquerite; Stylists Victoria, Catherine Xu, Ester Ludovisi, and Saint Claire; Public Relations Susan Blond Group, Inc.

Scene: Ashely Brecken of Oribe styling Alexis Woloschuk’s hair for Modern Blues, Studio.

Scene: A.Potts by Aaron Potts unveiled his collection Artists Gather. The line continued his signature nonbinary, relaxed tailoring, and soft structure. Expressive shapes offered real world ease, comfort, and fluid movement. Comfortable and wearable pieces designed as a working uniform for creative professionals. The presentation featured hand splattered graphic nylon, soft tailoring, and the runway debut of the new Werkshop by A. Potts label. The collection had an inclusive spirit, ease, and real world comfort.
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Kien Hoang and team for Oribe; Key Makeup Artist Michelle Webb, and team for Augment Tokyo, Lead Artist for Augment Tokyo Monique Marquerite; Stylists Catrina Henderson and Aaron Potts; Bow Ties and Jewelry Delfina Farias; Utility Bags Jansport; Clutches Pave; Footwear Gola Classics; Public Relations AgentryPR.

Scene: Designer Aaron Potts and Makeup Artist Monique Marquerite.

Scene: PROJECT by Informa highlighted a preview of brands bound for its Las Vegas event, which included:
Devereux Golf, Goat By James King, Gwop Meet (@gwopmeet), KNOTWTR, Lost My Accent, Monadic, Moshe Yossel, Public Drip, Psyco Bunny,  RTA, and Ryoko Rain.
Representing what’s new, now, and next in men’s contemporary apparel, footwear and accessories, This season at PROJECT, two key concepts from the FW26/27 Menswear Buyer’s Guide, Remastered Tradition and Functional Flair, and how brands are responding to changing consumer demands around authenticity, adaptability, and longevity in apparel and accessories. PROJECT by Informa Las Vegas is where domestic and international buyers go to be inspired by higher-end brands, find products from culturally relevant mid-market labels.


Scene: Chelsea Grays’ collection titled Drowning. Founder/Creative Director Chelsea Grays’ presentation featured statement pieces like hand-felted wool blazers and textured outerwear. Her collection explored the emotional weight of survival, transformation, and resilience. Founder/Creative Director Chelsea Grays was inspired by the feeling of being overwhelmed by both personal and societal pressures, the collection transformed vulnerability into a language of strength. Structured outerwear, relaxed tailoring, utilitarian details, and layered silhouettes created a wardrobe that felt protective without becoming rigid. Painterly textures and unexpected proportions softened the collection’s military and utilitarian influences.
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Jacob Inocencio and team for Oribe; Key Makeup Artist Michelle Webb, and team for Augment Tokyo; Stylist Curatedbyjake; Footwear Merrell; Public Relations AgentryPR.

Scene: Christopher Lowman presentation Ski Trip. The collection explored a bold design tension by mixing alpine winter sports gear with rugged downtown streetwear. This brand is a luxury fashion brand born in New York City, blending elevated tailoring with contemporary street influence to create a new language of modern American design. Founded/Creative Director Christopher Lowman’s label is grounded in precision, craftsmanship, and emotional storytelling. He began this journey with a vision to reinvent the 1980’s rockstar attitude. 
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Coby Alcantar and team for Oribe; Key Makeup Artist Michelle Webb, and team for Augment Tokyo; Casting Gale (G Brand Management); Footwear Wolverine; Public Relations Seventh House PR.

Scene: Science Project Company Founder and Creative Director Heginz Janvier’s presentation Chain of Command focused on post-genderism, blending unconventional elements with classic influences to create elegant, minimal menswear. Notable pieces included ruched jackets with harness details, waxed canvas textures, and ruched stripe tops paired with curtain pants. SPC is known for militant minimalism, featuring architectural silhouettes and military inspired streetwear.
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Ashley Brecken and team for Oribe; Key Makeup Artist Michelle Webb, and team for Augment Tokyo; Stylist Gerby Janvier; Casting Chad Thompson; Production Lindsay Pauly; Public Relations Brianna Cameron.

Scene: Peak Label’s Co-Founders/Designers Jack Milkes and Ben Stedman debuted a collection titled Breaking Home Ties. The collection serves as an emotional exploration of the transition of leaving home for college. It draws heavily from the imagery of the “prodigal son”. A signature modern take on the preppy revival. It builds a direct dialogue between Ivy League codes and heavy workwear influences. Traditional tailoring with updated, relaxed proportions. Sharp construction, experimental layering, and refined sartorial details. Nostalgic yet current.
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Coby Alcantar and team for Oribe; Key Makeup Artist Michelle Webb and team for Augment Tokyo; Casting Gigi Genivia via Lucas and Genivia; Public Relations AgentryPR and Andy Chia Yu.

Scene: Avon Anglers, Designer/Creative Director Patrik Rzepski was inspired by artist Helen Frankenthaler and winter solitude. The collection showcased workwear inspired menswear. The line features practical tailoring and wardrobe workhorses crafted in merino, silk, and cashmere. Practical menswear tailoring and everyday wardrobe staples. It is a small batch contemporary menswear and sportswear brand designed and produced entirely in New York City. The clothing label rooted in a classic, planet conscious lifestyle aesthetic.
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Christian Ceja-Compin and team for Oribe; Key Makeup Artist Michelle Webb and team for Augment Tokyo; Casting/Creative consultant Julius Poole; Production Lindsay Pauly; Public Relations Rep Agency.

Scene: Vogel NYC served as a featured footwear sponsor at NYMD. America’s oldest custom shoemaker, crafting fine bespoke footwear and equestrian boots in New York since 1879 during the vibrant Gilded Age. Founded by German immigrant Egidius Vogel, a shoemaker. He set up his first shop in the Wall Street area and quickly gained recognition, crafting equestrian-style boots for New York’s elite—and eventually for the U.S. Olympic Equestrian team. Some even credit him with creating and popularizing what we now know as the modern-day wingtip. The multi-generational family legacy continues to deliver meticulously handcrafted shoes and boots from scratch to fit each unique client.

Thank you so much AgentryPR, especially, Founder/Owner Erin Hawker, President Joe Yang, Vice President Henry Kessler, and the other team members.

The Art of Being an Imagemaker

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Scene: In the latest issue of RARE Fashion Magazine by Ja’Dee Murphy, Chief Editor.
In the world of fashion, there are creatives and then there are visionaries who transcend titles. Fred J. DeVito is one of those rare individuals whose journey is not confined to a single lane, but rather expands across art direction, photography, storytelling, and cultural documentation.
To call him a photographer would be limiting, To call him an art director would only tell part of the story. Fred J. DeVito is, as he defines it, an imagemaker, a creator of moments that live beyond time.
From iconic campaigns and historic collaborations to the quiet poetry of street culture, his work captures not only what we see, but what we feel. In this exclusive conversation, we explore the journey, the purpose, and the legacy of a man who continues to shape how we view the world through imagery.
Scene: Alva Chinn, Halstonette, photographed at the Cooper Hewitt Museum.
Scene: Young man in black leather coat and white socks photographed on Park Avenue.
Scene: Friends hanging out photographed on Wooster Street in SoHo.
Scene: Ad campaigns I art directed: Halston for Bloomingdale’s with Joan Severance and Tony Spinelli, photographed by Arthur Elgort; Almay Cosmetics with Yasmin Le Bon, photographed by David Seidman; Karl Lagerfeld with Tatjana Patitz, photographed by Wayne Maser; BodyViews with Monica Bellucci, photographed by William Garrett.

Scene: RARE front cover and content page.
What makes Fred J. DeVito extraordinary is not simply longevity in his career, nor the legendary names and iconic brands attached to his journey. It is the ability to remain connected to the human experience through imagery, emotion, memory, and truth.
In a world consumed with visibility, Fred reminds us that true artistry is not always about being seen, but about seeing. Seeing beauty in simplicity. Seeing history in ordinary moments. Seeing purpose beyond commerce.
Throughout this conversation, what resonated deeply with me was his humility, his wisdom, and his unwavering respect for the creative process. There are a softness and intelligence in the way he speaks about fashion, art, collaboration, and humanity that reflects the essence of someone who has truly lived through multiple eras of transformation while never losing his authenticity…

Special thanks to Ja’Dee Murphy for inviting me to be interviewed and appear in the latest issue of RARE. Much gratitude!





Helmut Newton x Steven Klein 

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Scene: Helmut Newton x Steven Klein On the Dark Side at Staley Wise Gallery in SoHo. In this exhibition, the photographic work of Helmut Newton and Steven Klein are united because they both share an inclination for the erotic, the fetishistic, the humorous, and the glamorous. Elements that have universal appeal.
Helmut Newton has long been known as an icon of fashion photography and scandalized magazine readers in the 1970s and 1980s with his charged and witty depictions of sex and power.
From the 1990s to the present, Steven Klein has taken up Newton’s baton with his equally provocative images while reflecting contemporary attitudes about beauty, gender, and sexuality.
Photo above: Helmut Newton Woman examining man, Calvin Klein, American Vogue, St. Tropez, 1975.
Scene: Steven Klein Karl Lagerfeld’s Studio, 2008.
Scene: Steven Klein I’m a cheat and a liar, 2008.
Steven Klein was born in Rhode Island in 1965 and studied painting at the Rhode Island School of Design before concentrating on photography in the 1990s in Paris, becoming one of the most provocative and influential image-makers of the contemporary era. In addition to creating advertising campaigns for the world’s leading brands, Klein’s work continues to be published in magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair. He is particularly known for his photographic collaborations with designers and artists, including Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford, Brad Pitt, and Madonna. His work has been exhibited at the Musée des
Arts Décoratifs in Paris and the Brooklyn Museum in New York, and is included in the permanent collections of institutions including the V&A Museum and the National Portrait Gallery in London and the International Center of Photography in New York. His first monograph, Steven Klein, was published by Phaidon in 2022. Most of the images in this exhibition are also included in his newest book, Steven Klein Vogue, which was published in 2025 by Abrams.
Scene: Helmut Newton TV Murder in a hotel on the Croisette, Cannes, France, 1975.
Helmut Newton was born in Berlin in 1920 and from an early age was interested in photography, assisting the prominent photographer Yva. With the emergence of the Nazis, his Jewish family fled Germany in 1938. Newton eventually landed in Australia, where he began his life as a photographer, achieving success and ultimately moving to Paris with his wife, June. In addition to his many years of editorial photography, most notably in French and American Vogue, Newton released several books of his work, beginning with White Women in 1976. His work continues to be exhibited worldwide and is included in permanent collections of institutions, including the International Center of Photography in New York, the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and most significantly, the Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin, which was founded shortly after his death in Los Angeles in 2004.

Screen: Helmut Newton Rue Aubriot, Yves Saint Laurent, French Vougue, Paris, 1975.

Scene: Helmut Newton Rich Girls, Bordighera, Italy, 1982.

Scene: Guests arriving and viewing the exhibit.

Scene: Helmut Newton Paloma Picasso, Paris, 1978.
Scene: Steven Klein Bondage Warriors 01, 2009.
Scene: Steven Klein Toxic Bloom, 2012.
Scene: Helmut Newton Woman and Gardener, Lake Como, Italy, 1979.
Scene: Helmut Newton Winnie at The Negresco, Nice, 1975.
Scene: Steven Klein Predator, 2007.

Scene: Guests in the gallery.

Scene: Etheleen Staley of Staley Wise Gallery and quest.

Scene: Steven Klein Suburbia 11, 2007.
Scene: Helmut Newton Roselyne in Arcangues, France, 1975.
Scene: Helmut Newton Roselyne, August, 1975.
Scene: Steven Klein Power in Form, 2005.
Scene: Helmut Newton Untitled (Model reclining in open robe).
Screenshot

Scene: Grace Coddington and Guest.

Scene: Gallery view.
Screenshot
Scene: Steven Klein Cursed Romance, 2012.
Scene: Steven Klein Karlie Kloss, 2009. This is also the cover of his hardcover book Steven Klein Vogue, Abram Books, 2025.

Special thanks to Staley Wise Gallery for the inspiration and exceptional exhibition.





NYFW Malan Breton S/S ’26

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Scene: Malan Breton unveiled his Spring/Summer 2026 womenswear and menswear collections during New York Fashion Week themed The Age of the Machine, The Heart of Humanity. The presentation was an immersive, theatrical experience that blended high fashion with Broadway-style storytelling. Broadway Legends Baayork Lee and Priscilla Lopez and Muses, Elton Ilirjani, Angel Pai, and Consuelo Vanderbilt were on the runway. A celebration of reinvention and beauty as a form of resilience with inspiration from the Gilded Age. The designs featured a mix of 19th-century richness and futuristic lines with rich silks, brocades, and bold metallics. 
The collection explored the tension between mechanical precision and human emotion, presented in a structured “script-driven” narrative across four distinct acts: The Heart, Time, Transformation, and Legacy.
The show featured an original score composed by Breton himself, blending orchestral arrangements with futuristic soundscapes. 
In support of CaringKind, The Heart of Alzheimer’s Caregiving. Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Vivienne Mackinder. 60s nod to Vidal Sassoon. Clean, graphic, and simple hair. Every model wore a wig which was selected and cut to suit their face. Wigs Wigs.com. Hair Products Back of Bottle; Key Makeup Artist Odilis Trinidad. 50s glam. Colorfix lips Primary red and matte. Lashes by Odilis Lashes; Stylist Montgomery Frazier; Casting Sandi Bass; Production The House of Jax; Timepieces Seiko Watch, King Seiko; Location Léman Ballroom; Public Relations Lawlor Media Group; Collaborator Helen Oppenheim,
Photojournalist Fred J. DeVito Imagemaker.





NYMD Spring/Summer ’26

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New York Men’s Day opened New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026. The all day event is an eclectic assortment of emerging brands. The Designers showcased here are Clara Son, FIT Collective, Max Esmail, Oxblood Zebra, and Joseph McRae. NYMD is an AgentryPR initiative intended to help nurture emerging talent and consolidate the showing of contemporary menswear and genderless collections. 
Presented by: Project, a platform for men’s contemporary apparel, and Coterie, a platform for women’s contemporary apparel. Sponsored by GrimoireNY, Smart Water, Coca Cola, Gola Classics, and Victinox. Location Mercedes-Benz of Manhattan. Photojournalist Fred J. DeVito, Imagemaker.

Scene: Clara Son’s collection, titled Reset. The presentation featured a surrealist mock bedroom set where models posed in front of full-length mirrors to emphasize the theme of self-reflection and personal evolution. The collection focuses on post-genderism, blending unconventional elements with classic influences to create elegant, minimal menswear. Notable pieces include ruched jackets with harness details, waxed canvas textures, and ruched stripe tops paired with “curtain pants”.
Like her previous Reminiscence and Exuvia collections, Reset uses fashion to tell a story of transforming life’s challenges into a cohesive visual narrative.
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Kien Hoang and team for Oribe; Key Makeup Artist Michelle Webb, and team for Augment Tokyo, team support Academy of Freelance Makeup; Stylist Nyeelah Lewis; Casting Noella Diaz; Movement Director; Vive Khamsingsavath; Footwear: Florsheim; Interns: Hugo Arvizu and Alexander Sablow; Public Relations: AgentryPR.

Scene: The FIT Collective.This curated showcase featured the work of recent graduates from the Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT) menswear program, highlighting the next generation of American design talent. The presentation was noted for its collective energy and for functioning as a space for high-visibility mentorship within the industry.
Designers: Mitchell Godfrey, Lucas Coburn Allen, Anderson Guerrero, Christian Allen, Coolidge Abel-Bey, Griffin Queen, Max Mullertz, Jake Savoca, Jaden Villegas, Johan Cruz, Loren Crowe, Morgan McAndrew, Basil Cho, Oliver Perry Reinard, Parker Bel-Devaney, Kazu Okamoto.
FIT Faculty Professors: Christopher Uvenio Assistant Chair, Tetsuo Tamanaha, Michael Maccari, Nilcem Stitt,, Wonki Lee, Steven Schacht, Igor Kozlenko, Ruobing Zhao, Eugene Ree.
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Ashley Brecken and team for Oribe; Key Makeup Artist Michelle Webb, and team for Augment Tokyo, team support Academy of Freelance Makeup.

Scene: Max Esmail’s collection, titled Confidant. The collection marks a departure from the architectural, Bauhaus-inspired minimalist aesthetic of his debut and leans into a darker, more cinematic narrative. It features a “mob-boss allure” characterized by sharp tailoring, dark tones, and vintage leathers. Max Esmail (Maxwell Amadeus Kamal Coombs Esmail) is a London-born, US-based designer who founded his namesake brand in 2024.
The Confidant collection is heavily influenced by the underworld of crime and gangster/dystopian sci-fi films that Esmail grew up watching. Highlights include sleek, high-end menswear such as tailored suits, leather outerwear, and accessories like luxury watches, all designed with a “criminal edge”.
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Christian Ceja-Compin and team for Oribe; Key Makeup Artist Michelle Webb, and team for Augment Tokyo, team support Academy of Freelance Makeup; Watches Tag Heure; Shoes Allen Edmonds; Glasses Vintage Frames Company.

Scene: Oxblood Zebra’s collection, titled Off-Script: The Rule Breakers’ Uniform designed by Reuben Shaw. The collection is characterized by a rebellion with refinement aesthetic, blending sharp tailoring with deconstructed elements to challenge traditional corporate attire. The collection focuses on tailoring with a pulse, emphasizing individuality over standard work uniforms. 
Oxblood Zebra’s presentation highlighted several distinct stylistic choices:
Dual Identity: The brand name represents the intersection of oxblood (rich legacy and power) and zebra (untamed individuality).
Tailoring Techniques: Looks featured blazers with sharp precision softened by draped trousers, asymmetrical layers, and shirting that blurred lines between polished and deconstructed.
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Mandee Tauber and team for Oribe; Key Makeup Artist Michelle Webb, and team for Augment Tokyo, team support Academy of Freelance Makeup; Creative Consultant Denny Balmaceda; Jewelry Urban Society; Dress Footwear Florsheim; Sneakers Gola; Team Vernon Hadley, Chase Whiteside, and Ayana White; Public Relations: Concept Jones.

Scene: Joseph McRae’s collection, titled Bloom ’25. The collection celebrates the designer’s 10-year anniversary and draws inspiration from the classic film and musical The Wiz. 
Described as a Dysphoria of Prints, the collection pays homage to the story of Dorothy, symbolizing self-discovery and the concept that home is about embracing one’s truth. The collection features gender-fluid designs with a heavy focus on striking shapes, architectural structure, and bold textures.
The collection highlights oversized, interchangeable pieces, such as half-and-half puffer jackets and flowing pants in muted tones, focusing on themes of transformation. 
McRae utilized his signature washable neoprene to create structured silhouettes. The presentation highlighted stacked beanies, one-size-fits-all jackets, and branded sweatshirts.
Talent for the show: Key Hairstylist Kien Hoang and team for Oribe; Key Makeup Artist Michelle Webb, and team for Augment Tokyo, First Assistant Monique Marquerite, team support Academy of Freelance Makeup.