Star Power

Wolf-Rayet, shirt of choice for human supernovas

August 17, 2007—Now that he's outfitted a generation of style-conscious professionals in Seize sur Vingt, James Jurney is going after a slightly hipper demographic with his newest label, Wolf-Rayet. (Longtime fans will be pleased to know he hasn't lost the penchant for oddball names.) Available at Seize sur Vingt's younger-skewing "Groupe" outpost in NoLIta, the shirts were specifically designed for after-dark pursuits. "We felt like we had something to say in the world of nighttime clothing," Jurney says. That message? It's all in the details. Buttons are coated in metallic paint (it's subtle, we swear) and attached via the old sartorial technique of triple-stitching (above). The backs are notable for a lack of pleats and a curved yoke, which helps keep the fit snug, while shoulders get their own mini-pleats, providing room to move for guys with actual biceps. (Jurney describes his target customer as thin "but not emaciated.") Fabrics, meanwhile, are ultrasupple and Swiss-made. As for that name, Jurney came across it while reading to his son. "Wolf-Rayet is basically a star that's on its way to becoming a supernova, but it's blowing itself up while doing it," he says. "Kind of like a self-destructive rock star." Translation: Wear one at your own risk.

Wolf-Rayet shirts, from $260, available at Groupe Seize Sur Vingt, 267 Elizabeth St., NYC, (212) 343-0007, www.groupe1620.com