With his brand’s first men’s collection, Steven Lagos says he’s giving men fine craftsmanship as well as the autonomy to mix, match, and play with jewelry.
“I’ve been asked countless times to design men’s jewelry, and the time was finally right,” Lagos, the founder and creative director of Lagos, tells JCK. “We’ve seen an increase in men purchasing our existing collections and showcasing their personalities through jewelry these days. There seems to be a lot more freedom in fashion right now, so I wanted to offer styles designed especially with men in mind.”
Lagos for Men’s Anthem collection, introduced on Jan. 22 at Bloomingdale’s and on the Lagos website, features some of the designer’s signatures, including Caviar beading. But Lagos says he added fresh shapes and colors and a rebellious spirit that take fine jewelry up to 11.
“I wanted my designs to reflect the individuality of the person who wears them. I envision the Lagos man having a creative edge, so my goal was to make great jewelry with a bit of attitude,” he says. “I wanted to offer men a chance to express themselves with styles that are understated yet powerful.”
Anthem has strong, masculine pieces, such as amulets (pendants) with daggers, skulls, shields, and Spartan helmets. Yet it also includes a variety of necklaces with freshwater cultured pearls in black and white, for a more refined look.
The collection gets its name from an album by one of Lagos’ favorite bands: the Grateful Dead’s Anthem of the Sun, a “musical collage” that sparks his creativity, says Lagos. “There are elements of my own aesthetic woven throughout the collection,” he says. “I was inspired by iconic rock ’n’ roll motifs, which certainly speak to my personal style.”
Lagos adds that with Anthem he worked with some colors and combinations of materials that he’d not yet used in his women’s jewelry—tan and forest green ceramic links, for example.
“For the men’s collection I used a matte finish, and it really elevated the look. It allows me to bring my designs to life in rich colors. I liked the idea of exploring hues inspired by natural elements. It felt authentic to this collection, especially with the matte treatment,” Lagos says.
If his brand’s website is any indication, the men’s collection has been well received—several pieces are almost sold out. Lagos says he is excited to see men try his jewelry, and he hopes they find a look they love with Anthem.
“When I started to work on our men’s collection, I knew the craftsmanship and the attention to detail had to reflect what you’d expect from Lagos,” Lagos says. “You notice right away the hallmarks of our brand, especially the Caviar beading in sterling silver and 18k gold. This is just the start of so much more to come.”
Top: Lagos for Men’ first collection, Anthem, offers a chain bracelet and black agate tag and ax amulets among its styles, which designer Steven Lagos describes as powerful yet fun to mix and match. (Photos courtesy of Lagos)
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