While we were in Venice last month, we had a chance to grab lunch with Micah Cohen, the founder and designer behind L.A.-based menswear label Shades of Greige (pronounced /gr?zh/). Cohen launched the line two years ago, at the age of 26, and Shades has become a must-have staple in stores and closets alike ever since. The clothes are a fresh, modern-take on menswear basics and wardrobe staples: knit cardigans, button-down shirts and tailored jackets made-over with unique details and shapes (One of our favorite shirts this spring was a Shades funnel-neck plaid shirt with extra-long cuffs; and on the day we met him, Cohen was wearing his own Oxford shirt, which we loved for its narrow collar and buttons).
A fashion school graduate, Cohen started the line partly based out of frustration with finding nothing to wear. Tired of graffiti-print tees and over-embellished jeans, he set out to bring back classic, yet contemporary menswear that would outlast the trends while remaining affordable. The result is a collection that’s versatile enough to wear to a summer wedding, or all rolled up for a day at the beach.
In an industry where designers sometimes let their personalities overshadow their clothes, Cohen is the exact opposite — he’s laidback, soft-spoken and genuinely a nice guy. He played gracious host and tour guide after lunch, and even took the afternoon off to hang out with us at our Corduroy photoshoot with Brandon Boyd, who we later found out wore Shades of Greige in his latest music video. It was quite the coincidence. But then again, maybe we shouldn’t have been too surprised. It seems as though everyone is talking about Micah Cohen and Shades of Greige these days. And with his deft eye for menswear and the right attitude to match, it looks like they’ll continue talking — and shopping! — for a long time to come.
Shades of Greige is available in select stores and boutiques, including Revolve Clothing, Urban Outfitters and Oak (New York). And check out more photos of Micah in our gallery.
- TC
(photos by Peter Ash Lee)
