By William Hanley, Published: May 23, 2007
NEW YORK—On a boutique-lined stretch of Elizabeth Street in Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood, one shop sets itself apart by offering more than tastefully hip clothing. While most storefronts in the area showcase downtown trends by small designers, this spring Groupe 16sur20 greets visitors with the hard angles of a glossy, black, 1983 Aston Martin Lagonda. Not only is the car for sale but its sharp-edged geometry, flashy exterior, and protruding hood lends an air of 1980s decadence to the men’s shirts, jackets, and other clothing on display farther inside.Linking a flashy car to hip clothing is nothing new. What is notable at Groupe 16sur20 is something you’ll discover as you venture deeper in the store: several eye-catching works by painter Peter Saul hang on the walls. Like the car, the paintings—examples of Saul’s signature comic-book style that presages a current generation of Pop-Surrealist artists—also come to bear on the garments for sale. If you buy these clothes, the suggestion goes, you can wear them to a gallery opening or, even better, an art-fair afterparty, the sort with a parking lot full of shiny Aston Martins."
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