Derek Buse

“Tough beat, boys.” That’s what I had to say to Joe Sadler, Greg Ullery and Derek Buse, the trio behind Riviera Club, who were recently nominated for GQ and the CFDA’s New Menswear Designer of the Year award. Riviera Club lost out to Alexander Wang, but I can see why they were nominated in the first place. They say their collection is “nestled at the intersection of blue collar chic and polished dishevelment,” and I’ll buy it. This is a coherent, handsome collection, punctuated by sparks of color, work wear and Americana.

On Thursday night, The Ace Hotel got to feel cool when GQ took it over for a party celebrating the nominees of their fourth annual Best New Menswear Designer, which they award in conjuction with the CFDA. The nominees included Kirk Miller (of Miller’s Oath), Patrick Ervell, Riviera Club’s Derek Buse, Joe Sadler and Greg Ullery, Alex Wang for T, Michael Bastian for Gant, and Rick Klotz, the mad genius behind Warriors of Radness. Alexander Wang was announced the winner this afternoon. He was chosen by a panel that includes Tommy Hilfiger, GQ editor-in-chief Jim Nelson, creative director Jim Moore, and others, and will receive $50,000 and a contract to collaborate with Dockers (last year it was Levi's, a match made in heaven for Billy Reid, who took home the prize).