My Style: Ali Samli and Goran Svilar
Portrait: Ruth Richardson-Child // Styling: Sophie Emmett
Please describe your style in three words.
Ali Samli: Smart, sporty, fitted.
Goran Svilar: Paris chic meets London street.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
AS: Not dressing for your body shape.
GS: Wearing a fake fur. I much prefer no fur at all.
Do you believe in role models?
AS: Yes, but not more then an inspiration level.
GS: I do. I believe we determine or adjust our behaviour based on role models. I think it’s good to know who you want to be like when you grow up and model yourself based on elements from them.
What are your favourite fabrics?
AS: Cotton.
GS: Silk, and it is also the name of my favourite book.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
AS: Any combination with bad shoes.
GS: Black, skinny jeans with brown, leather pointy shoes.
Which city has the best-dressed men?
AS: Milan.
GS: Paris.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
AS: I'm not an extreme fashion type — neither conservative nor bold.
GS: I think I like to mix. I am not really likely to go really bold and eccentric, but I believe my style is modern and combined with more conservative pieces than bold. I would love to be bolder at times.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
AS: Clothes should fit my body. Colours should match. I should carry the clothes, not the other way around.
GS: I think I'm a jeans type — skinny jeans and trousers are my go-to items and almost dictate the rest of my outfit. I have to feel "hot and cool" and I feel that my trousers are my best expression.
Celebrities and style...
AS: Don't go together without a great stylist.
GS: Makes good material for the fashion police.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
AS: Watches.
GS: Shoes.
A man should always look like…
Both: A man.
Who taught you what you know about style?
AS: Different cities and cultures.
GS: My own perception and Mondo Uomo, an Italian magazine from the 90's — absolutely the best men’s fashion magazine ever published.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
AS: It depends on my mood and schedule.
GS: My schedule definitely runs my every day style, but there is always one particular piece I feel like wearing and it will define the rest.
What is your biggest regret?
GS: No regrets, just lessons. Perhaps I could regret my check pants with yellow satin shirt for a rave party in Munich…but I'll consider it a lesson. On the other hand, what was I thinking?
The three essential things a man should know about style are…
AS: It starts with hygiene, continues with good grooming (haircut/beard) and finishes with wearing clothes that fit his body type.
GS: It definitely starts with hygiene. Every man should know that a pair of socks and underwear are not meant to last a lifetime. Get one pair of really good shoes and maintain them, and a few pairs of pointy, non-identifiable, brown shoes and a pair of classic non-identifiable leather shoes. Shoes make the man.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
AS: I simply love shopping. Shopping is my ritual.
GS: Not really but I shouldn't be rushed. I'm more of a browser, then I visualise myself and make combinations in my head…then I shop.
We will never see you wearing...
AS: Bad shoes.
GS: Fake fur.
The most stylish person you have ever seen...
Both: Tom Ford comes to mind as a first choice.
What is the first thing you notice on a man?
Both: His teeth and fingernails.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
AS: Ralph Lauren adverts.
GS: The Gucci Envy men’s fragrance ad campaign when it first came out.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
AS: For women, it’s Bora Aksu as he perfects the combination of creativity, romance and avant-garde.
GS: That’s a hard one. I'd rather name someone who recently (over the last two - three years) helped me change my style and the way I see fashion, helped me to get bolder in my choices. While definitely not a newcomer, he is for me: Rick Owens. One of my favourite newcomers is one of the designers we carry in our store, Ronald Abdala, founder of House of Ronald. He only designs for women, however we sell absolutely everything we order from him.
The only article of clothing that a man needs to pay close attention to is…
AS: His suit.
GS: His shirt, but it’s everything really.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
AS: My Hermès leather goods.
GS: My Gucci loafers and my Saint Laurent boots.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
AS: I don't agree with extremes. One should never get too comfortable nor too stylish; yet never lose comfort or style.
GS: Not necessarily. I'm 50/50 on this one. I'm so happy wearing large comfortable T-shirts with my, not necessarily comfortable, but very fitted blazers and jeans.
Which fashion house never fails to impress you?
AS: Alexander McQueen.
GS: Gucci. I think I could totally model for Gucci…please pass the message on.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
AS: Always be yourself and true to yourself.
GS: Treat others like you would want others to treat you.
Who would you like to recommend for My Style?
Elyar Fox.
