Is New York the city that never sleeps, or the city that often naps? In Slowear, situated on a stately corner on SoHo’s Lafayette Street, the mood is defiantly relaxed, despite the heady rush of downtown traffic — a lot of dolce far niente; a splash of sprezzatura in defiance of the perfect grid all around it. On Tuesday night, the place sloped easily from handsome clothing store to merry Venetian bar in a spray of cold Franciacorta and mortadella sandwiches. Friends of the brand and of Gentleman’s Journal sashayed through the rows of excellent shirting and soft cashmere as if walking onto a Riva. Tourists pressed their nose to the glass, hoping to step inside this portal to the Italian good life. But inside, the guests took their time — the only pressing decision whether to reach for another mozzarella bun or a pair of exquisite loafers.

Guests on the evening included Ben Brewster, Yolanda Edwards, Matthew Hranek and Alessandro Varisco — all beautifully watered by cold Franciacorta.

Ben Brewster

Yolanda Edwards, Matthew Hranek and Alessandro Varisco

Steve Gonzalez

Clara Zoroddu and Federico Zoroddu

Claudia Silver, Novella Paghera and Fred Castleberry

Jordan Murphy Doidge

Franciacorta

Albi Isakaj, James Yates, Ben Sherrell and Cyrill Ibrahim

Marco Muggiano and Owen Zeal

Chris John Millington