In Earnest by Byron Lars, spring 2021 ready-to-wear
Photo: Courtesy of Byron Lars
Byron Lars is bullish on the future. Thirty-one years into his career the designer knows the ups and downs of the industry, but he still believes in the power and joy of fashion. So much so that he’s decided to launch a new venture, In Earnest, in the midst of the pandemic.
The debut In Earnest collection is inspired by Lars’s Harlem neighborhood, particularly the African street vendors and the treasures they sell. Wax prints and colors predominate, sport elements intermingle with lingerie touches, and almost everything stretches for comfort. These are happy-making clothes and Lars wants to see them worn now, even if they’re paired with sweatpants. “You cannot tap out forever,” the designer says. He’s alert to the individual touches that can up a person’s style quotient, be that a creative mask or a good accessory game. “I feel like that is really the way to do it,” he says, “to dress into the joy.”