John Bartlett brought a cheeky eroticism to menswear when he launched his eponymous label in 1992, injecting sly accents like lace-up closures and hints of leather to an era characterized by minimalism. His success with the line earned him two CFDA awards and enabled him to expand into womenswear in 1997. The women’s line maintained a similar aesthetic with menswear tailoring, luxurious Italian fabrics, and a distinct awareness of other American designers like Halston and Bill Blass in the use of jersey for clinging dresses and crisply cut jackets. But in 2000, Bartlett’s business went sour –his backers dropped out and his collections were not as well received—and he was forced to shut it down. He made a comeback in 2003, however, with a small collection of menswear, which he showed at the Harvard Club (his alma mater). Despite being charged with designing Liz Claiborne’s menswear in 2008, Bartlett continues to grow his signature menswear line as a four-person operation. Tight cabana shirts, preppy knits, and box-cut suits can be found in his West Village flagship, which opened in 2007.

Status

Established

Clients

Phil Donahue, Tyson Ritter

Collaborations

John Bartlett for Liz Claiborne (Fall 2009 to present)

Owned By

John Bartlett

Address

143 Seventh Ave. S.
New York, New York 10014
212-633-6867

Where To Buy

John Bartlett

Related Websites

• John Bartlett (Official)
• CFDA: John Bartlett (Other)
• Men.Style.com: John Bartlett (Media)