Raunchy rock icon Iggy Pop is the star of the current John Varvatos Fall/Winter Collection brochure, but the best pic is this opti-only signage of the main Stooge in these signature shades photographed by Danny Clinch at the St. Regis Hotel in New York. Quite honestly, everything Varvatos delivers these days is the crest of cool. It was interesting to eavesdrop on a licensing exec from Converse recently delivering the inside dish on Varvatos and his recent collaboration whipping up some signature designer Jack Purcell sneaks. Apparently when Varvatos told his kids he was going to do some design details on classic Chuck sneakers they told him to “be sure not to mess things up.” We swear he didn’t and feel equally assured that with Iggy on his side this is one designer genuinely steeped in some venerable music heritage traditions.

—James J. Spina