Introducing Ryan

Ryan guides us through the “sexy modern bachelor loft” that he shares with his husband Mason and their little dog Gabriel in Brooklyn: stark corridors and rooms in black, white and gray, tasteful silver flourishes and several nude paintings and statues. Ryan stops alongside the Polaroids of parties and holidays that he has pinned to his fridge, to show us the seven plants he is unashamedly proud to have successfully kept alive.

A 28-year-old queer black CIS male who currently works at Moet Hennessy as a Senior Analyst for the Commercial Pricing team, Ryan talks to us as he walks us round his apartment, telling us candidly and often hilariously about real estate investing, traveling, shopping, dining out and having fun with his friends. About everything really. Except for books; “My husband does all the reading for us”, he tells us laughing, as he rushes us past the bookshelves. It’s okay, there are a lot of other things he can talk about.

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

My style varies and I can think of many names, a few would be Label Whore, Miami Papi, Skater Chic. 

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

My friends would describe my style as eclectic. I switch up my look so much. They might reinforce that I am obsessed with labels lol.

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

I think that we are all so unique and with such different styles in my immediate friend group that no one leads or follows. We will for sure give each other compliments and sometimes we own some of the same pieces or designers. But I've usually bought my look at a discount, I really hunt for those. My friends are all so stylish in their own way. When we go out as a  group we demand attention. People gravitate to our choice in clothing and our style in general.

Who inspires you style-wise?

I would say Pharrell inspires me. He is like the epitome of switching up style. You never really know what he is going to come with but it is mostly always fire. Another person who inspires me is Rihanna. Talk about versatility: she can f**king rock anything and make it pop.

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

I kind of answered this one in the last question. But to add a third person I would have to say PJ Tucker. He is cool and casual.

If you could ‘steal’ one person [in the public eye’s] closet, whose closet would you steal and why?

If I could steal anyone’s closet it would be Pharrell's. The amount of designer clothes this man probably has is astronomical.

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

The three places I get influence from are Instagram, people watching in New York, and LookbookNu.

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

Ssense (Online), Zara (Online/Physical), INA (Physical Store).

What is it about these stores that make them your favorite/preferred place to shop?

Ssense always has the designers I am looking for, but I only shop the sale. I also just like to browse through the categories and discover new designers when I am shopping for something generic. Like a nice shirt for a party or any occasion. Zara is a good place to shop for some basic pieces that still make a statement and are not crazy expensive, INA is a resale shop here in NY. I love to find hidden gems or some fire vintage s**t.

Does the experience of those stores matter to you too?

Environment always pays a part, I have to be comfortable when I’m shopping in the store. I don’t wanna be too hot or too cold. I am also way more inclined to buy something when I’m listening to good music, jamming out while I’m browsing. Like if some Kaytranda was playing while I was shopping for an event I was going to on a Friday night I’m probably walking out of the store with something. I do like the large format of Zara. I like the space and how open the stores are when I am looking around. Lighting is super important too. I prefer brighter lights when I am looking at clothes, I like to be able to really see the true colors and details. 

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

Fendi, Nike, Chanel, Gucci, Dior. I think I like high fashion brands because they are timeless. Some collections can be really flashy and then others are classic and cool. Nike is a brand that is extremely reliable and functional. It is also a brand that I have worn since I was a child. I don’t think the stories of the brands matter too much to me. 

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

1. Fashionable

2. Fit

3. Price

4. Material

5. Comfort

And why do those things matter to you in the order they do?

The most important thing to me is being fashionable. That's the whole point of buying clothes for me. The fit is also important because no one wants to wear anything that is not flattering on them. Price is next because most times I have a budget on how much I can spend. Material is next because I love for the clothes to feel good against my skin. Comfort is important as well because I hate being uncomfortable.

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

30 pairs of shoes.

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

20% Sandals

20% Loafers

10% Boots

50% Sneakers

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

My typical shoe would be a sneaker. Right now, my go-to sneakers are a pair of Dior hightops.

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

I think for me it is the brand, color and overall look of the shoe.

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

My favorite brands are Christian Louboutin and Gucci.

Why are these your favorite brands do you think? 

I think I like these brands because they always have quality and fashionable designs. 

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

I would say the same as the stores I mentioned previously. Ssense (online) and Saks (in-store/online).