On The Town: John Varvatos Pays Tribute to Detroit Rock ‘n’ Roll at Store Opening

The John Varvatos store opening - hosted by the Chrysler Brand, and in partnership with Dan Gilbert and Bedrock Real Estate Services - welcomed over 600 guests for a rock show that celebrated fashion, music, but most importantly, Detroit. The star-studded black carpet was filled with celebrities from Detroit including Alice Cooper, Justin Verlander, Kate Upton, Michael Bolton and Nicole Curtis, amongst many others.

Before Alice Cooper took the stage, John Varvatos welcomed the crowd. “For me, this is more than a store opening celebration,” said Varvatos. “It’s a kickoff celebration of things to come to the city of Detroit. The future is bright and it’s just the beginning!” 

We're going to have to agree with that, John. Alright, alright – less talking, more viewing. Pictures from the night, courtesy of John Varvatos, are below.

Varvatos Makes the Move to New York Fashion Week

I suppose it’s only appropriate to share the news that John Varvatos has announced that his runway fashion show move the day after his party with Alice Cooper. We’re going to keep this Varvatos train going as long as we can.

The John Varvatos Spring 2016 Collection will be shown at the Inaugural New York Fashion Week: Men’s, the new standalone showcase for American men’s fashion created by the CFDA.

“From the time I started my brand in 2000, the timing between NYFW and the menswear calendar was never truly aligned,” said Varvatos. “After eight years of showing in NY, I moved my show to Milan and gained a global audience. We’ve shown there for the past seven years and it’s been a wonderful experience and a real boost for our international growth. Last month, we opened a store in my hometown of Detroit and we received such an overwhelmingly positive response that it made me want to bring the fashion show back to New York."

The John Varvatos spring collection will close the men’s event with a fashion show on Thursday, July 16. The move is a return for Varvatos whose last New York fashion show was in spring 2008.

Oh, Shop It: John Varvatos Opens Its First Midwest Retail Store

The John Varvatos press preview happened last night, and it was magical. Housed in the historic brownstone on Woodward Avenue, walking up to the store was like being transported to New York City. The building is beautiful and is owned and managed by Bedrock Real Estate Services; the storefront is minimalistic, yet it made a statement, and it complimented the rest of the brownstone perfectly. 

The store’s interior design takes inspirations from Varvatos’ store on the Bowery in NYC, which was formerly CBGBs, the seminal birthplace of the American punk movement, and it rocked. It’s 4,600 square feet on two levels and it offers a full product breadth of menswear including footwear, bags, belts, eyewear, limited edition watches and men’s fragrances.

“It’s with honor, passion, and pride that I open my newest store in my home town of Detroit,” said Varvatos. “This is a dream come true. Going back to my roots, where all my influences started, brings back so many great memories. I look forward to being a small part of building the future of this great city. Get on the Detroit train. It’s going to be a magical ride…”

The grand opening of the store is today, so head downtown, do a little shopping and stop by one of your favorite Detroit restaurants for a bite to eat. Pro tip: Whright & Company is just above John Varvatos, and the smells alone will lead you upstairs for good eats and a couple of cocktails.