Greg Chait is the dude behind the menswear label The Elder Statesman, and he’s also the latest Council of Fashion Designers of America Vogue Fashion Fund winner. Chait’s label is just five years old, but he’s already gained a reputation for his comfortable, lived in style. Chait takes home the top prize of $300,000, while jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer Maguire (who is married to Tobey Maguire!) and shoe designer Tabitha Simmons were chosen as runners-up. All three will benefit from the fund’s mentoring program, and you can find designs by each semi-finalist on e-retail site The Corner. We’re not especially fans of Chait’s laid-back surfer style (I mean, he’s got a bunch of Baha hoodie drug rugs in his collection for Chrissakes!), but are pretty sure there’s a big market for what he does. [NYMag.com]
