My Style: Will Young
Portrait: Courtesy of Will Young
Please describe your style in three words.
Sweat patch avoidant.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Doing it in the dark.
Do you believe in role models?
No. I think we are all our own role models, and I strive to be the best person I can in life.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Linen and cashmere. Linen because it allows me to stay cool in the summer and cashmere because it keeps me perfectly warm in the winter. How can you go wrong?
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
I do object to an oversized suit teamed up with square toed shoes.
Which city has the best-dressed men?
Lagos in Nigeria. Their combination of smart suits and vibrant colours creates their own unique style, and I love it.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
I am a mixture of both. I'm happy to wear a prim tea-dress but with muddy farmers boots.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
My only rule is to feel as comfortable as possible.
Celebrities and style...
Is something rather boring.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
You can never have enough white T-shirts. They look great under a jacket, great with jeans, and great with boxer shorts.
A man should always look like...
Himself.
Who taught you what you know about style?
My stylist Susan Hildebrandt. She taught me the importance of a well-fitted jacket and how to get the best silhouette, no matter what the style.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
In panic.
What is your biggest regret?
Blonde-highlighted tong straightened waxed hair.
The three essential things a man should know about style are...
A great suit hides everything, nothing beats a white shirt, and don't wear blocky shoes.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
I am quick and deadly, just like a lion kills!
We will never see you wearing...
Shorts with cargo style pockets.
The most stylish person you have ever seen...
Grace Jones.
What is the first thing you notice on a man?
His shoes (and then his bottom).
The one image that defined your approach to style...
The cover of the album 'David Bowie Live In San Francisco'. The perfect silhouette and the perfect colour.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
Craig Green and J.W.Anderson. They're incredibly confident and everything is done for a reason, not for show. I have the utmost respect for them.
The only article of clothing that a man needs to pay close attention to is...
Jacket and shoes. Can't pick one!
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
A Raf Simons cashmere trench coat, a Lanvin spring coat and all my Ann Demeulemeester items.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Yes, it is.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Ann Demeulemeester. She creates clothes that are comfortable and always have a sense of intrigue about them. The manner in which the clothes are made makes me feel a million dollars.
Who would you like to recommend for My Style?
Susan Hildebrandt, one of the most stylish people I know. Adam Reed and Paul Percival from Percy and Reed Hairdressers, because a good haircut is actually more important than the clothes.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
If in doubt wear black, and never drink Yellow Snow.
