Introducing Taylor

“I’ve always been fascinated by watches; their beauty and the utilitarian function of having a timekeeping device on your wrist”, explains Taylor, as he tells us what he’s been learning from a watchmaker: how to work on, service, and restore old automatic timepieces. It’s a hobby that fits nicely with a home style that he describes as “a meticulously organized antique store”. Endearingly nicknamed “Coach Boo” by some of his friends because of his side job training at a local CrossFit gym [the rest of the time he’s an Administrative Director for a local healthcare facility] and his keep-fit catchphrase, “You do you, Boo”. It’s a catchphrase that’s telling of the supportive and caring relationship that he has with his friends and how those around him see him: “I want people to be who they are and know that they are accepted and that they are cared for anytime they are around me”, he explains to us. “I am an outgoing energetic person trying to live life to its fullest and I find that life is at its fullest when it’s spent with the closest of friends, and of course in the companionship of a dog”.  Of which he has two – a pair of German Shepherds called Chaco and Radar – who live with him and his wife of ten years, Amanda; temporarily holed up in the basement apartment of his wife’s parents’ house while they build one of their own. He talks us through the practicalities of building your own home and the style they’ve settled on (“mid-century modern but with some industrial themes”) and just what it is about watches that fascinates him so much.

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

I want my clothing to be used well and for the intended purpose without sacrificing quality or style in functionality. 

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

Typically, my friends tend to want to wear a t- shirt and jeans, but I think there is always an opportunity to step up our game with a button down or blazer.

Who inspires you style-wise when it comes to your career closet?

Honestly, the first name that comes to my mind would be Ryan Reynolds. I feel like his styling, or his day-to-day dress, both casual and professional wear, is something that I not only enjoy but feel that I also share similarities with. His style is functional and can be fun but is a classy usable fashion that I fully want to achieve in my closet. 

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

Ryan Reynolds, as mentioned before. 

Matt Bomer - I love the class that he has in his styling, yet still functional in his look. 

David Beckham - I'm truly in love with Mr. Beckham's casual styling. I love his fit and how comfortable yet stylish his look is day to day.

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

Ryan Gosling - I don't feel that Ryan Gosling's closet would differ too far from what I would be comfortable in, I think there would be some items that would press my styling ability and let me grow. 

Is there anyone else you want to bring up whose style you love or anything else you want to mention?

I think some actors have some amazing styles throughout roles or movies they have been in and this might not be their personal style. But I think, for example, of Matt Bomer in White Collar: his wardrobe and wear in this series was amazing for professional wear. 

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

Pinterest, GQ website and Instagram men’s styling blogs.

Thinking about your closet, what percentage of your clothing is professional versus casual? How much of your wardrobe is given over to clothing you wear to look professional?

I would say 40% of my closet is for my professional wear, 40 % is Casual wear and 20% is active wear. 

What does ‘looking professional’ mean to you? How do you carry out and perfect that look? 

I believe professional wear can look wildly different day to day for me:  Some days, if there is a larger meeting, this could mean that I would go with slacks and full button shirt with blazer, however for day-to-day office wear you can 100% get away with a good pair of trousers and a polo/print button down (short or long sleeve). One thing that I do think can set any look off, or dress it up, would be the shoe that is paired with the outfit. I also carry a hunter green laptop case daily so, this could go with a spectrum of styles and helps set off a professional look. 

Thinking about those professional pieces in your wardrobe, what are the most important, staple pieces for you? The pieces that you wear time and time again and tend to replace?

Shirt stays? My wife makes fun of me for this from time to time, but I hate when a shirt that is to be tucked in comes out of place, and this for me is a staple for this type of wear. However, a daily thing that I think is very important is the right shoe, I then lean toward Cole Haan for my professional wear and consider this a staple for my daily use. 

Where are your three favorite stores to shop in for your career closet?

Banana Republic. Physical Store 

J-Crew. Physical Store 

Lululemon. Physical Store 

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

I have found that Banana Republic fits me best, just in sizing and the styling that they offer. 

J-Crew also is a place that I look to when looking for printed button down shirts.

Lululemon has been stepping up their game in the slack-like trouser department and is something I enjoy wearing.

Does the experience of those stores matter to you too?

It does have an effect on my desire to shop in the store, mainly because I want any store front that I walk into to be welcoming. I prefer the store environment to be clean and organized. If I walk into a store that is not organized, I feel a bit overwhelmed and honestly typically would give up the search through the madness to find clothing that fits or matches my style I want to shop for.

What other stores/spaces are you shopping in for your ‘career closet’ and why? What do they bring to the mix?

Express will from time to time provide a well-fitted shirt to the mix, in that they are typically usable and fit well for a slimmer cut. Express also tends to have a bit more men’s accessories that I will pick up (bracelets etc).

REI - I will shop outdoor wear, to provide outer clothing such as coats and rain jackets for usability.  

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

1. Banana Republic - I enjoy this brand's styling and the fit that is more attuned to my body type. For example, the  Traveler Jeans are the best jeans to wear, mainly because of how they fit and how they look. I have a hard time finding jeans that are slim cut but allow for my body shape and they are perfect. I'm not too worried with the brand's story or the designer, more so the usability and reliability of the product. 

2. Patagonia - Patagonia on another hand has a very well marketed story and I enjoy the company and how it promotes self sustainability. They also make wonderful products that I wear almost daily, whether it is a coat, rain coat, button down shirt, or belts. I enjoy wearing their products and the reliability of the craftsmanship of the brand. 

3. Born Primitive - I enjoy the story here of a vet's own business, and the exceptional customer care. I have converted over fully to Born Primitive shorts for my workouts and have done so due to the quality and the fit of the shorts.

4. Lululemon - I have been impressed with the usability of their products as well as the fit that attuned to my body type. I have not looked into the story of this company nor am I concerned with anything here. 

5. Tom's - While I have worn them more in the past, I have always been very impressed by the company’s story and their giving back to the community. I enjoy that my act of buying is also supporting a good cause in the world. 

Thinking about your ‘career closet’, what part can your clothes play - if any - in helping you do your job even better?

I have a couple of items that I feel my most confident in, one is a new suit that I bought that was a bit different for me in that the slacks were tie tops and jogger style. Slightly casual, but is a strong summer suit that I feel confident in, and good about myself. I tend to gravitate to wearing a more fitted, put together outfit when having meetings to make a good impression, which I think is mainly a side effect of being confident and comfortable in my clothing and person when meeting new people. 

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

1. Usability 

2. Styling 

3. Comfort 

4. Resilience to wear 

5. That the item could have multiple uses for both work or a night on the town. We live in a world that does not allow for wardrobe changes when coming from the office to a night on the town. I prefer to have a fit that can do both! 

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

Mainly because that is how my judging process works during my buying process. If I can make it past number 3 then I have a higher likelihood of buying the item. If something is comfy but has zero style then what is the use? Or if something is very stylish but has no usability to it then I don't honestly need it. 

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

40 - 50 pair is a safe bet. 

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

25% dress shoes

25% business casual (everyday)

40 % tennis shoes/athletics 10% Summer wear (flip flops etc.) 

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

Chukka Boots/Athletic shoes.

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

Styling and comfortability. 

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

Cole Hanns

NoBulls

Sanuk

Chaco.

Clarks 

Why are these your favorite brands do you think? 

I enjoy all the mentioned brands for different purposes, however mainly due to the styling and comfortability of each. I find it hard to buy something that looks good and goes along with my style but is not something I would not want to go out in because it hurts my feet. The brands I mention all have shoes that I enjoy because I think they are conformable and fit my style. While all the companies have things I like, they also make things I would never wear. 

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

Typically, I will buy all my shoes in a store front, unless I know how they fit and I will buy them online. Because shoes are a bit difficult, there is not a particular store that I can respond about because I might find the same shoe at two different store fronts. I have chosen the companies above however due to not only their product styling and comfort but their level of customer care and ease of use to order.