My Style: Dimitri from Paris
Photo: Courtesy of Dimitri from Paris
Is comfort an enemy of style?
It can be in certain cases yes; mostly with shoes. It's also a matter of getting used to, and education. Chances are, you'll find it uncomfortable moving from sneakers to derbys, or t-shirts to blazer, but if you like how you look in them, your comfort standards will adjust by themselves.
Please describe your style in three words.
Preppy, classic, timeless.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Thinking that following fashion or specific brands is all you need to look well dressed.
Do you believe in role models?
As inspirations of course, not as examples to imitate.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Right now I love plaid and madras, but finding the one that works with me is hard but enjoyable work.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
No, if it works with the person, it will feel as a whole, so it's all that matters.
Which city has the best-dressed men?
Tokyo and anywhere in Italy.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Probably conservative; dressing is not a matter of statement for me, I'm more inclined to finding what works for me rather than doing anything to get noticed.
What are the rules, if any, in the way you dress?
I don't have any; I have my taste for classic, timeless stuff. If I like something, I need to try it. Fabric and pattern is one thing, the cut is everything. Unless I try a piece on, I won't know if it suits me.
Celebrities and style...
Is rarely authentic and leaves me cold.
One garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
I'm getting addicted to skinny, plaid bow ties. Since there are so many variations, I need a lot of them to find the right match with the rest of what I wear.
A man should always look like...
The best he can.
Who taught you what you know about style?
I think it came from the movies. I used to watch a lot of (now classic) US movies from the 60's and 70's. Cary Grant, The Rat Pack, Sean Connery, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, were all good looking teachers.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
I don't have a particular ritual — if the weather is bad, I tend to wear dark and little colours, and the opposite if it's good.
What is your biggest regret?
I regret that most men don't do much in terms of style other than following whatever fashion tells them to, and there aren't many guys I can discuss style with. :(
The three essential things a man should know about style are...
Learn what works on you, try things on and trust yourself, and feel comfortable in your clothes so they look like they belong to you.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
Not really — wherever I go, I try to be as exhaustive as time allows. I love to dig.
We will never see you wearing...
Anything from Ed Hardy.
The most stylish person you have ever seen...
Shuya Okino from Tokyo Jazz Massive.
What is the first thing you notice on a man?
The accessories.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
The opening titles of the original Thomas Crown Affair.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
To be honest I don't follow much; things that I like tend to occasionally appear here and there. With that being said, I'm quite fond of Prada's constancy — I like the fact that their men's line has been sticking to the same style for years. Other than that, Tom Ford is doing a few things I like, and Thom Browne has made preppy haute couture, but both kind of miss their market by being overpriced and in the case of Browne, oddly cut.
The only article of clothing that a man needs to pay close attention to is...
The blazer jacket, it's hard to find one that suits you perfectly. I personally favour the Gucci ones, they're great for me, very well built and finished. And then, then there's their price…
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
A Gucci velvet smoking jacket.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Like I said earlier, I don't follow much, but lately I found that the whole Tom Ford shop experience in NYC was quite impressive.
Who would you like to see next in My Style?
The guys at Kitsuné, they've evolved quite nicely from their original streetcar days.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Trust yourself and the rest will follow.
