Richard Chai brings untucked sophistication to the runway

Award-winning Chinese fashion designer Richard Chai showcased his spring 2011 menswear collection at the Milk Studios Monday morning.

Though Chai's collection lacked clean lines and any semblance of sharp structure, he managed to take the casual look and make it his own. Using subdued tones and playful cotton, Chai toyed with the idea of "untucked" sophistication. His collection invoked a safari-meets-beach-meets-sleepwear feel, encompassing nautical stripes and fisherman's hats while at the same time featuring sleeveless yet stylish army fatigues.

Powdery pastel blues, mossy greens and sleek silvery grays seemed to be Chai's colors of choice. And he was all about the free-flowing lines, with his endless stream of silky long-knit cardigans and oversized plaid button-down shirts. Nevertheless, the occasional trench coat or tinge of rich cobalt blue kept things classy. And that, in a nutshell, was the essence of Chai's line — a never discovered kind of nonchalance.