Introducing Ben

Ben Anderson loves to talk about books. Sitting in the small and sparsely decorated Los Angeles studio apartment that he shares with his girlfriend and an old indoor cat called Frank, the smell of fresh flowers fills the small space which they have admirably maximized (mainly to fit in as many books as possible), the 27-year-old freelance writer, actor and translator talks us through all the books he’s reading at the moment: an Italian translation of Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits (“the copy was my grandmother’s and I’m curious about the choices made in translating from Spanish to Italian”), Wallace Stegner’s Beyond the Hundredth Meridian, Andreas Malm’s The Progress of This Storm, and Event Factory by Renee Gladman (“I highly recommend this last one”).

After living and working in Washington, DC for seven years, Ben and his girlfriend moved to LA a few months ago, and unexpectedly ended up moving in together when the arrangements his girlfriend had made with a friend fell through. Now they’re saving up for a bigger place, and being as thrifty as anyone can be in LA; “we splurged on a mattress and bed frame that we aim to keep for the foreseeable future”, he laughs. Anything that wasn’t a long-term purchase was either thrifted or rehabilitated off the street with the help of “a very handy neighbor”. We found a little space in their little space to sit down and talk to Ben about federal government, foreign languages and everything in between.

Let’s start with having you explain your style to us, Ben...

Trendy. I definitely pay attention to trends. I will take advantage of trends I like (buying pants has gotten easier since skinny pants have gone out of style) and skip the ones I don’t (athleisure, comfy-chic). My favorite jacket I’ve ever had is a black Banana Republic moto/bomber jacket. Just a good black jacket. I bought it in 2011 and still get compliments on it to this day.

Would your friends describe your style any differently do you think?

They might say my style is more “out there,” because I’m not afraid to try something out or wear really bright colors or a little more jewelry.

Thinking about your friends, what’s your ‘style/fashion role’ in the group?

I am definitely the lead in this case. I have an eye for trends and tend to be a very early adopter if I like it. After 4 or 5 clear cases where I was right about a trend, I became someone who my friends would ask for fashion advice. I love to help my friends and family dress better, or dress more the way they would like. I definitely encourage people to take risks, try something new, or back them up when they need a little validation.

Who inspires you style-wise?

Regular people! I’m more inspired by, and interested in, the choices that regular people make. When a regular person is fashionable, the outfit is greater than the sum of its parts. Maybe it’s a construction worker whose pants are cuffed a certain way, a librarian’s glasses, a fruit vendor’s shoes. I notice little things like that. They cheer me up. 

In the public eye, whose style do you admire and are influenced by?

- Tyler, the Creator: bright colors, floral patterns, totally unique and unabashedly himself. Went through a lot to be able to be himself, too. 

- Cynthia Arivo. I saw her in person doing a show recently, and she just oozes style. She has the benefit of exceptional talent and looks, but you notice her style immediately. The style is colorful but not gaudy. She sees herself clearly. That seems to be key to style.

-Pharrell. His wardrobe must be insane, I love how he pieces quirky things together but still looks fashionable.

Where are the other places you’re getting style/fashion influence from?

- Walking around in big cities (Milan, NYC, LA, Tokyo, Istanbul)

- Anime from the late '80s/early '90s. You’ll notice that there are companies making and selling specific items from that genre. Look up “Akira motorcycle jacket” if you don’t believe me.

Where are your three favorite stores to shop in for clothing/apparel?

- H&M

- eBaY

- ASOS

What other stores/spaces are you shopping in and why?

I love second hand stores. You can find amazing stuff that’s out of your price range normally for pennies.

Going a little more specific, what are your top five favorite brands?

- Anne et Valentin (glasses): often imitated, but always have a selection that is bold. Great for a statement piece. I wear a pair of their sunglasses daily.

- R.M. Williams: gorgeous Aussie work boots that last forever. Very expensive but worth the money.

What are your top priorities when it comes to buying new items of clothing?

1. Price

2. How long will it last?

3. Does it go with the rest of my clothes?

4. Will it go out of style quickly?

5. How many times will I wear this?

How many pairs of shoes, any shoes, do you own?

30ish.

If you had to split them up into categories and write a percentage next to them [what, math!] what would that look like?

- 40% heavy boots

- 20% workout shoes (running, soccer, etc)

- 20% misc sneakers

- 20% sandals

What type of shoe would we typically find you in, if you there is a ‘typical shoe’ for you?

Black leather boots.

What are the most important things for you when it comes to buying your favorite kind of shoe?

How many places or occasions can I wear these?

What about your favorite brands for shoes? Who do you always end up going to?

 Frye

Doc Martens (all black bluchers)

What about your favorite shoe stores, again - on or offline? What makes them your favorite stores?

- Frye (offline)

- Doc Martens (offline)

- Zappos (online, for sneakers only - wide selection)

- For the first two, I had good experiences shopping there in-person when I was young, and that was enough to keep me loyal.