My Style: Izzy Tuason
Photo: Sophia Callahan — Courtesy of Izzy Tuason
Please describe your style in three words.
Clean, dark, dandy.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Not looking at the mirror, or at the temperature.
Do you believe in role models?
I stalk them.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Suiting wool, rayon, chiffon, fur.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
I try to keep an open mind, but shorts and leggings have just never worked for me.
Which city has the best-dressed men?
New York City.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Bold, but never garish.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
Balance, restraint, humour.
Celebrities and style...
Putting people on a pedestal and copying their looks: it seems to be a natural human inclination. That’s what’s happening with street style now.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Jackets.
A man should always look like...
He can read.
Who taught you what you know about style?
My mother, many of her rules I’ve since broken.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
In disarray, if I hadn’t selected them the night before.
What is your biggest regret?
When it comes to style, I have no regrets.
The three essential things a man should know about style are...
Having a good knowledge of the classics (fit, balance, propriety) helps before you start experimenting. Style isn’t just about clothes. Attitude, intelligence, diction, hygiene, and posture all come into play. Hair should be included as well. “Lighten up, it’s just fashion.” — Santino Rice
Do you have any shopping rituals?
I check eBay and the forums before dropping dollars on any major purchase.
We will never see you wearing...
Too much of anything, except for black.
The most stylish person you have ever seen...
Mr Yohji Yamamoto.
What is the first thing you notice on a man?
His hair.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
Tony Leung as Chow Mo-Wan in the film In The Mood for Love.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
Craig Green for his patchwork knits, Ziggy Chen for his modern renditions of traditional Shanghainese garb, Tim Coppens for his work with leather, fur, and tech fabrics, and Siki Im for darkness done best.
The only article of clothing that a man needs to pay close attention to is...
The jacket, particularly the way the shoulders fit. Well-tailored shoulders can do so much to compensate for ill — or non-traditional fitting shirts and trousers.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
Watches from my father and grandfather, all my Yohji and Number (N)ine apparel, and my one-off pieces from Tim Hamilton and Rajo Laurel.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
It was in my younger days. Now, not at all.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Yohji Yamamoto, Damir Doma, Haider Ackermann, and Céline.
Who would you like to recommend for My Style?
Steve Salter, Rocky Li, Tracy Doyle.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
