A “Peak” Into NYMD
Primaries meet plaids at the Peak Lapel New York Men’s Day show. Showcasing their Fall/Winter collection, designer Ben Stedman and tailors Jack Milkes and Brenna Gentner put on a unique presentation for New York Fashion Week: a dynamic twist on menswear with warm color palettes, mismatched patterns, and a refreshing take on classic suited silhouettes. From their first official runway show at the Georgia Room to theatrical stills at Sperry-sponsored events, we feel lucky to watch the brand flourish.
Our day began backstage, something the student-run brand does like no other. Forget pre-show chaos and think pre-show class—this process was an artistic exhibition in its own right. Model Audrey Coleman dazzled in a head-to-toe Peak Lapel ensemble while stylists worked meticulously to perfect every detail. A head full of hair rollers accompanied a red lip, and a plaid button-down was paired with an army green trouser. Akin to the opening montage in The Devil Wears Prada or a Vogue celebrity get-ready-with-me, Peak Lapel captured an air of creativity and personality that extended seamlessly into the presentation to follow.
Across the room, done-up models posed effortlessly for the camera as if doing so was their natural state. The models fit the molds of the designs—they truly embodied what it means to wear Peak Lapel in their attitudes and form. It comes as no surprise that a handful of the featured models were close friends of the Peak Lapel trifecta; one wholesome addition to the cast was Jack’s own father whose demeanor was fluid and instinctive. Jack says, “The whole point of the collection was to bring about feelings of being home for the holidays,” hence motifs of family, friends, and what is known to be “cozy … homelike … [and] familiar.”
From trench coats lined with baby pink silk to bold plaid suits layered over earth-toned knits, every piece tells a story of comfort and charm. The set for the presentation was equally as intentional in its appeal to that inviting, nostalgic home atmosphere. Jack tells us he wanted it to feel “lived-in and not something that was just placed for people to look at,” perfectly encapsulated by the chess board positioned between two decked-out models, the custom newspaper print with a relevant headline about the “case of the missing tie,” and the clinking of champagne glasses in the background. This set design in conjunction with the warm color palette tells a story that almost everyone in the room could relate to—it’s more of a feeling than a fixed experience, making it universal and therefore resonant and memorable.
With each new collection, Peak Lapel cements its position as a brand to wear and witness, and we feel privileged to be alongside its evolution. If this season is any indication, their ascent shows no signs of slowing down.