I’ve identified Niyi for 3 or 4 years and he’s at all times somebody I’ve learnt from. His fashion is eclectic: traditional menswear manufacturers alongside up to date vogue, bursts of color with subdued tones. But someway he at all times finds a method to put them collectively and make it look easy.
Niyi describes it as “sartorial chaos” and for him that’s a badge of honour. I do know a few of will probably be completely different to what PS readers are used to, however I discover it’s fascinating unpacking the ideas and tastes of a trendy individual like Niyi, particularly the place garments are involved.
Outfit 1: All Black
- Coat – Versace
- Hat – Uniqlo
- Sun shades – Cutler & Gross
- Sneakers – Vass
- Scarf – Classic Chanel
- Sweatshirt – Our Legacy x Armani
- Watch – Braun
- Jewelry – Rings are Mor London and classic bracelet
What do you do for a dwelling?
I’m a enterprise analyst at a media firm. I assist the enterprise join with the purchasers. It’s a hybrid house – I work at home more often than not however do two days within the workplace.
How does that have an effect on the way in which you gown, as a result of I do know you as a person of “sartorial chaos”. Do they permit chaos within the office?
Fortunately, they do! I wouldn’t say it’s conservative, like not a finance surroundings, but it surely’s additionally not a vogue surroundings and I’ve expertise working in each.
What was it like working in vogue? I’m certain that opened your eyes to lots that you just hadn’t seen earlier than.
Yeah, however I additionally discover I’ve naturally dialled down my fashion since then. It wasn’t a acutely aware determination, only a query of ‘the place I’m proper now’. I simply do what I would like and gown the way in which I would like, therefore that time period “sartorial chaos” of mine you talked about. I like my colors, I gown how I would like inside the context of an area.
So inside the context of this job, which is extra informal, what I like is that I can take my time and be relaxed. Once I was in finance prior to now I felt there was a lot emphasis on the way in which you gown, nearly to the detriment of the shopper.
So, this primary outfit is your definition of wanting ‘good’ proper? It’s clear, very slick.
Precisely. Lots of people when they give thought to dressing good, they simply default to a go well with. However this outfit for me is my concept of good. It’s as tailor-made as it’s relaxed, and that’s it.
I discover that if I do take the prepare to work (I principally cycle), I’ll be dressed like a freaking jazz grasp – and I really like that! That, for me, is feeling snug. Individuals will likely be like, is he going to a jazz live performance or is he going to work?
The trousers are a black army cavalry twill. I demand a hardiness in my garments, and these have gotten it whereas nonetheless being good. They have been made by my certainly one of faves within the sport, Fred [Nieddu, of Taillour]. I can put on them with trainers, I can put on my Vass bluchers and it’s similar to ugh! Nice.
That coat although is an actual assertion. What’s that ?
Classic Versace. Cashmere with a half belt on the again. I bought it from my classic man Waliou, this was one of many biggest items he ever discovered. He introduced it out and was like, “you’re the just one I do know that may put on this”, due to the size and every part. I’m fairly fortunate to be 6”2’ – you gotta work with what you’re given!
What I’ve bought underneath that may be a assembly of modernity and custom – a mock neck from the newest Armani/Our Legacy collaboration.
That is it. You combine the classics with vogue so properly.
I’ve large respect for custom, for the masters. There was a manner that Versace used to chop jackets that’s simply *snaps fingers*. It was huge however nonetheless regarded good, which is testomony to how properly tailoring was completed in these days
So long as your physique can fill the approximate silhouette it appears lovely. The worst factor that may occur is that it drapes, and that’s hardly the worst factor on the planet.
Identical goes for the trousers. That is the fantastic thing about Fred, he respects each custom and modernity. Take a look at the way in which he attire – he wears the classics, but additionally among the most up to date stuff on the market. Like white Margielas. Earlier than they grew to become a factor.
I’ve an actual respect for that as a result of these are those that aren’t afraid. What I dislike is after I see that excellent conventional stuff. Advantageous for different individuals, but it surely feels an excessive amount of for me. I can’t do something in regards to the time I stay in, and there’s nice stuff being made proper now.
Outfit 2
- Swimsuit – Noah
- Sneakers – Adidas x Wales Bonner
- T-shirt – Albam
- Scarf – Classic Celine
- Belt – Classic
- Socks – Isabel Marant
This should be certainly one of my favorite mixtures of yours, however let’s begin with the sneakers – you typically confer with them as your ‘silver surfers’.
Enjoyable reality, my favorite superhero is the Silver Surfer. The Sambas are once more custom assembly modernity. Wales Bonner attracts from the previous and infuses it with one thing up to date. Just like the silver?
Like it. That Noah wire go well with is fairly good too. What led you to it? It’s an uncommon place to get a go well with for many PS readers.
There are such a lot of locations you will get a go well with, however a skate store doing tailoring? I simply discover that fascinating. When Noah first introduced them out, they wished it to be a Decide ’n’ Combine state of affairs. Relatively than have the go well with multi functional color, they wished you to purposefully combine it up. That’s right down to Brendon Babenzien’s imaginative and prescient.
I really like a great double breasted. My proportions are fairly broad so I like how DBs flatter me. I might simply put on a DB with a shirt and tie and appear to be a Kray Twin, however the place’s the enjoyable in that? That’s the default! I need to put the garments by means of their paces MY manner and put my very own spin on them.
That’s the place individuals can get fashion unsuitable I believe – they’re not attempting to infuse their garments with who they’re.
How lengthy have you ever had this go well with for, as a result of you’ll be able to’t discover this sort of factor from Noah in the intervening time. Imagine me, I’ve tried.
I’ve had it for eight or 9 years. The goal is at all times to personal nice items for some time – they need to be used, be worn. I don’t like this age the place we deal with clothes like glass. Even when it’s silk. Run it. Run it by means of its paces. The extra you put on it the extra you appear to be an attractive rascal.
An attractive rascal? Why do you need to appear to be a rascal?
Louche possibly is the phrase. To be louche, to be free. I go away the home carrying a corduroy go well with, and on the finish of the day I’m nonetheless carrying one – it would simply be slightly crumpled. Reveals that I’m dwelling life you already know.
Outfit 3
- Trousers – Classic army
- Knit – Bryceland’s
- Shirt – Muji
- Sneakers – Yuketen
- Sun shades – Cutler & Gross Scarf – Classic Celine
Lets speak horsebit loafers – I’ve seen you in a number of pairs, even seen you at evening dancing in a pair of Guccis
I do love my horsebits. Actually greater than horsebits, I simply love loafers. It goes again to that relaxed mindset. There’s nothing like slipping in, getting in your bike, doing what you gotta do.
Actually, one of many first issues I do after I get a pair of sneakers like that is go straight to the cobblers and get some rubber half soles, so I can cycle in them. Yuketen are made to be worn over time, they’re not made flimsy.
So I put on them to the membership, however after I get house, I brush them after which if I have to go to a celebration or bar mitzvah I’ll rock them once more.
You’ve bought fairly a little bit of classic proper – does that return to the purpose about respect for custom?
Yeah, I estimate that my wardrobe is 50 or 60% classic, particularly in terms of trousers and jackets.
That’s the place the Bryceland’s knit is available in, the lower is conventional, primarily based on an outdated block good and cropped. However then the yellow is simply… rambunctious.
Equipment are essential with you, and each outfit appears to have a distinct print scarf, both tied round your neck or protruding of a pocket. The place’d that tendency come from?
I really like print, however greater than that I really like the dimensions of the silk scarfs. Giant and environment friendly protection in opposition to the chilly, and so they don’t go away fluff on you. And did I point out the prints?
You at all times appear to be in sun shades too – why?
Sun shades are a humorous one, that was a 180 second for me. I by no means used to put on them, it was the identical perspective as my social media – I not often go away it on personal as a result of I’m an open individual. What you see is what you get.
Anyway, I went to the physician and the physician stated to me, “Oh you’re going to have to start out carrying sun shades since you’ve bought a sunspot in your eye” I used to be like “Bro, I don’t want this… OK truthful sufficient.” So, I began attempting to put on shades extra in the summertime.
Sadly, I take advantage of contacts as properly and since I’m at all times on the bike what occurs is my eyes get dry shortly with the wind, so I incessantly put on my tinted sun shades even at evening. It’s inadvertently was a vogue assertion, however in the end, I’m snug with it.
And these explicit ones – I’ve been on for a pair of jazz-black glasses for some time: darkish darkish, I’m speaking Thelonious Monk. Actual black. God bless Cutler & Gross. They usually’re properly made, they’ve an actual weight to them.
Niyi, chale*, as at all times this has been enjoyable. Thanks!
*Ghanaian slang for my buddy/mate/dude
