My Style: Chris Habana
Photo: Eli Schmidt — Courtesy of Chris Habana
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Worrying too much. I personally don’t have a full-length mirror, so I kind of just put stuff on and go. Sometimes it’s not the best outfit, but who cares? It’s just an outfit.
Please describe your style in three words.
Rock, rave, a little homemade.
Do you believe in role models?
Sure, it’s good to have people to look up to.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Cotton jersey and wool — usually. Does leather count?
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
Nope.
Which city has the best-dressed men?
Paris or Tokyo.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Bold.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
NO RULES!
Celebrities and style...
Umm, no comment.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Jewellery!
A man should always look like...
However he likes.
Who taught you what you know about style?
No one has ever really taught me about style, but I will say that I was always entranced by my mother’s disco outfits. She used to wear full black cat suits with fur pelts and high-heeled boots when she’d go out. She was awesome back then.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
By wearing whatever is left over from the night before.
What is your biggest regret?
I don’t regret too much in life.
The three essential things a man should know about style are...
Dress the way you like. Dress the way you want. Dress the way you can afford.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
I hate shopping. Most of my clothing is collected or re-imagined from thrift and friends.
We will never see you wearing...
A suit.
The most stylish person you have ever seen...
There are a lot of them, but they’re usually people and not celebrities.
What is the first thing you notice on a man?
His hands and feet.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
BCALLA, Telfar, and Zana Bayne are new-ish designers who are my friends. Their work is new and refreshing in fashion today.
The only article of clothing that a man needs to pay close attention to is...
His shoes. I mean, they not only have to look good, but you don’t want to be wearing uncomfortable shoes that affect your feet… you can tell I really pay close attention to a foot.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
My vintage Gaultier Jeans vest and pant combo, my oversized leather duster trench coat, and my Chris Habana SS13 Asimov Ring.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
No.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Jean Paul Gaultier and Walter Van Beirendonck.
Who would you like to see next in My Style?
I’d love to see Jessica Bobince, a stylist friend of mine. I’d also like to see Dom Smith, my amazing friend who shoots my lookbooks. They are both different and stylish in their own ways.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
My friend, fellow jewellery designer and sometimes muse, Jesus Varela Jr., always says to me, “If you could take a time machine and go towards the future when your problems will be solved, then your problems will not have been that important right now, right?” It never made sense to me, but it always makes me smile when he says it.
