My Style: Glen Allsop
Portrait: Amee Allsop — Courtesy of Glen Allsop
The three essential things a man should know about style are...
It should fit. It should be you. You should enjoy what you're wearing because clothes are made to be worn.
Please describe your style in three words.
Accidental. Often rushed.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Blind-buttoning oxford shirt collars to the wrong buttons, ugh. I no longer button.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Suede at the moment. Always denim. Seasonally linen. Cotton is standard.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
When it becomes all about “style” and there’s no truth left.
Which city has the best-dressed men?
It's hard to top the artful dishevelment that I’ve seen first-hand in Rome and Florence.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
It depends on who’s asking, but I’m generally not that loud.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
No rules, I just have to leave the house feeling like me.
Celebrities and style..
Are too often over-quoted.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
I seem to keep picking up pocket squares around the world. I just think they’re interesting, like little artworks on fabric. Thankfully, they don’t take up too much space.
A man should always look like...
A man.
Who taught you what you know about style?
Who said I know anything? Thankfully, there’s really not that many pictures of me on the internet. I’ve learnt what I’ve learnt from friends; Antonio Ciongoli, Ed Bertouch, Marcus Malmborg, Agyesh Madan, Nick Ragosta, Zeph Colombatto, Quinton Clemm, Christian Kimber... The “one pair of trousers for all occasions” approach by Peter Stutchbury is also worthy of a mention. Naturally a few others too, but more than anyone my wife Amee; she's on another level and she always follows her own convictions.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
Often in the dark, heavily relying on good purchase decisions. When in the light, within a certain colour spectrum. I should totally replace the light bulb near my wardrobe.
What is your biggest regret?
No big regrets. I was young, in love, and on a fairly tight budget... but perhaps I should have taken the time to get a made-to-measure suit for my wedding. I highly recommend it to all grooms I speak to these days. So many great options and it’s a worthy investment beyond the wedding day.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
I over-research and overthink everything before buying anything. It works in the long run though.
We will never see you wearing...
Sandals, mandals, whatever you want to call them, they're not me. Not that I know of yet at least. And I have no problem with people who do wear them, they’re just not me.
The most stylish person you have ever seen...
I had the privilege of a quick espresso with Lalle Johnson earlier this year in Stockholm. Lalle, you are 100 per cent cool and I know you're only 32 but I’d love to be like you when I grow up. ;)
What is the first thing you notice on a man?
I had never really thought about this, so I took a week to think about it, and I would say the first thing I notice are the colour(s) he's wearing.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
Hard to pick one, because I haven’t found one image that captures multiple elements I’ve loved about different people... Images of George Cortina, Lalle Johnson, Antonio Ciongoli, Patrick Johnson, even Lapo Elkann come to mind...
Which new designers do you follow and why?
Eidos for consistently creating super approachable ways to wear Italian tailoring and sportswear. Stoffa for a succinct range of thoroughly thoughtful but playful products. PJ Tailors for solid solids and cool cotton.
The only article of clothing that a man needs to pay close attention to is...
I guess the most common answer would be “his shoes”, but I don’t feel like my white Superga's require all that much attention. Therefore, I’d argue that there’s more than one, but, let’s just say the fit, fabric, functionality and detail of a man's blazer should always be carefully considered.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
A ring my wife gave me embedded with the latitude and longitude of a little treehouse we lived in together for the first four years of being married, my navy wool RRL peacoat, a grey Stoffa hat, and a one-of-a-kind textured Eidos blue blazer that Antonio gifted me on my birthday.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Not at all. Clothes that fit are often the most comfortable of all. If only more men had this revelation.
Which fashion house never fails to impress you?
Eidos Napoli. Stoffa. RRL. Patrick Johnson Tailors.
Who would you like to recommend for My Style?
Marcus Malmborg, a total legend. And wise. And generous. And effortlessly cool 100 per cent of the time.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Less is more, on so many levels. And my good friend Agyesh is always reminding me that clothes should be worn, and enjoyed, or else—what’s the point?
