designer q+a: Raven Denim Mens | spring 2012 preview

words_riley james

I have three different pairs of jeans from Raven Denim on my Christmas list this holiday season, and with good reason. I’m currently wearing a pair of the Sid, a slim skinny fit jean (which was kindly sent for review). These are the toughest designer jeans I have ever slipped my manly legs into, and shamelessly enough, I feel wildly sexy in them. I have dressed them up and dressed them down, and even found enough confidence in them to wear nothing but the jeans themselves. Designer Ya-el Torbati knows a thing or two about masculine fashion, and was kind enough to share some of that insight with Tres Chic Now:

Riley ~ The mens line for Raven Denim seems so authentically vintage. What is it that inspires you to create jeans with heritage?

Ya-el ~ “Thank you! Well, I just can’t stand seeing men in cheesy over-processed or over-designed jeans. I believe the best way to have longevity and success in the men’s denim market is to put out something that is classic and timeless.”

Riley ~ With the plaid pocketing, 2-tone stitching, and a molded hardware button fly, I feel like a true American Rebel in my Sid Blackout jeans—even just walking around my house. What kind of man do you have in mind when designing this denim?

Ya-el “First, I go with my own taste and then before I decide on something integral to the jeans (like the pocketing for instance) I think, would my husband like this? would my brother like this? would my friend like this? would my co-worker like this? All of these guys I think of are very different from one another but all have great taste. If I think they would all dig it then I know its going to work for the customer and, at the same time, it’s my way to keep myself in check. But to answer your question more specifically, all of these men are smart, funny, interesting, down to earth, and one of them is very sexy.”

Riley ~  What do you believe determines a good fit on a man?

Ya-el ~ “Clean lines for sure. The jean needs to hang properly while worn. No bunching. No messy collapsing. Even a roomy fit should have nice clean lines.”

Riley ~  Is there an area of the body you try to emphasize?

Ya-el ~ “Regardless of gender, I believe it’s always the butt that must get first priority when it comes to fitting jeans. You know, that booty gots to look good!”

Riley ~ What’s your philosophy on men wearing skinny jeans?

Ya-el ~ “I love men in skinny jeans, I think it looks sharp. I know a lot of guys are turned off by the idea of a skinny, assuming they will look like leggings or something. But as you know, that doesn’t have to be the case with the right skinny.”

Riley ~ You have your choice of any one man to slip into some Raven Denim—who would it be and which style would you put him in?

Ya-el ~ “President Obama!  I do believe he’s more of a Max Trouser kind of man, but I would have to get him into the Sid Skinny in Blacksmith.”

 

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 29th, 2011 at 10:11 am. It is filed under clothing, fashion, mens. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.