My Style: Rocky Li
Photo: Rebekah Seok — Courtesy of Rocky Li
Which new designers do you follow and why?
I like a lot of the young designers from London like Shaun Samson, Martine Rose, and Lee Roach. Also, I am a fan of what Tim Coppens does. Shoutout to Highland too, they’re one of the few brands doing something fresh in New York.
Please describe your style in three words.
Comfort, simplicity, laid-back.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Wearing items that you don’t feel like yourself in.
Do you believe in role models?
Yes, but you should make things your own, instead of doing something because another person is doing it.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Leather, nylon, and denim.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
When people blatantly copy the style of another person.
Which city has the best-dressed men?
A stylish guy can be anywhere.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Somewhere between the two. It depends on my mood.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
I start with the shoes I want to wear and decide from there.
Celebrities and style...
Can be inspiring or absolutely embarrassing.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
My Undercover leather rider jacket, I will never get sick of wearing that thing.
A man should always look like...
He knows who he is.
Who taught you what you know about style?
I taught myself.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
Depends on the weather, my mood, and my plans that day.
What is your biggest regret?
Selling some Undercover and Raf Simons pieces that I would still wear regularly today.
The three essential things a man should know about style are...
What goes well with his body type. Style should reflect your personality and interests. Don’t buy cheap shoes.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
If I’m looking for a particular item (say a coat), I’ll look through countless versions of it to find my favourite both online and in stores.
We will never see you wearing...
Loafers.
The most stylish person you have ever met...
I don’t know if I can answer this. I see really stylish people regularly but don’t always get a chance to speak with them.
What is the first thing you notice on a man?
His shoes.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
I am not sure where there is one image I can cite. For me, it’s a process of constantly finding new inspiration. Music videos and movies definitely play a huge role.
The only article of clothing that a man needs to pay close attention to is...
Every man should have a go-to jacket that they can wear in most weather.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
Both my Undercover rider’s jackets because I coveted them for a long time before I got them. I’ll be wearing my knit sleeve rider jacket from Undercover F/W 09 more this year, without a doubt. That’s also one of my favourite collections of all time. My FW07 Rick Owens high-top sneakers because they discontinued the model with the check. I hated those things when I first saw them online, but they grew on me and now I think they really represent his philosophy as a designer so well.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
No, quite the opposite.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Takahiro Miyashita of Number (N)ine / Soloist because he is so uncompromising in his vision. Undercover because the brand constantly changes in unexpected new directions.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Consider how you wear things as much as what you wear.
