Neither Polo Ralph Lauren nor Calvin Klein won the tug-a-war for designer John Varvatos. The designer, who worked for both companies, launched his own line and opened New York and LA stores.

Although John Varvatos has five freestanding stores, his clothing line in Bloomingdale's, Barney's New York, and Saks Fifth Avenue, a fragrance line and fabulous celebrity clients like Brad Pitt and Hugh Jackman, the designer has yet to gain household recognition like his former employers Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. However, Varvatos doesn't exactly have to eat humble pie. He launched a womenswear line after the success of his menswear collection and established a foothold in luxury leather goods. Varvatos adheres to a simple design rule: detail, detail, detail. His clothing and accessories do not have splashy logos but appeal to the Details-reading set as well as Architectural Digest subscribers. His LA boutique reflects his elegant but simple aesthetic with clean lines, an exposed, vaulted ceiling in the entrance, oak floors and blackened steel accents. The LA store also offers custom tailoring to the already impeccably cut clothes. His attention to detail even affects the music played in his boutiques; he selects the soundtrack which ranges from David Bowie to Prince to Fleetwood Mac to Coldplay.—Mai Dinh