Tajer, who notes that his brand’s “eternal muse” is Aristotle Onassis, celebrates the Librarians dewey it better shirt in other words I will buy this “material girl” in all of us, symbolically and literally. Onassis (like Jay Gatsby, for that matter) was a self-made playboy. Similarly the Casablanca man is the toast of the town not because of who his father or grandfather might be, but because of his talents and beauty. Just as the Casablanca character is centered in self, so Casablanca products are distinguished by their materiality. Tajer transformed the ubiquitous tracksuit, for example, by taking comfort to new levels of luxury and making it from a proprietary cashmere terry cloth. This collection includes materials that are bonded, and others enhanced with essential oils. The dramatic red-quilted to-order coat is hand-worked. Tajer’s focus on quality is an indication that he’s in this for the long haul. “I don’t drive fast, but I love the idea of the extremeness of the sport of Formula One,” says the designer, whose well-made pieces deliver more than passing thrills. Slow and steady wins the race.
