There are many stylish GQ type, sharp looking guys in London. There are many indie boys who are all about skinny jeans and tight t-shirts with old school trainers. However I don’t see that many truly eclectic male dressers, the male equivalents of so many girls in London. For every ten such female dressers, there could be one guy that manages to not look like a style stereotype. So it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Matthew Josephs and his amazing style. I noticed his style on The Fashion Spot and really admired the way he mixes things up and wears things that not many people would think could be pulled off. He wears the skinny jean sillhouette incredibly well but manages to come off not looking generic. So here is a week of Matthew’s style and a little Q&A with the guy himself.
What do you do:
I study BA womenswear fashion at Central St. Martins and I’m about to go into my second year. I love everything about this school. I model part time, I’m signed with FM; I do mostly magazine stuff because i’m kinda short though the runways i have done are so exciting. I suppose I’m also a club kid as I’m always pictured drunk off my face in Super Super!
Describe your style:
I dunno – maybe eccentric? I wouldnt really know how to describe my style in one snappy sentance; its always kind of English with the way I wear new things with my old favorites even if they don’t particularly match. I would say it’s slightly feminine I suppose. I liked the way the New York Dolls dressed in the 70’s. I wanna look like that.
What are your favourite designers to wear/admire?
To wear i like Dior Homme because the clothes fit me right though i dont find them particularly interesting, they’re more like good quality basics. I like to wear vintage stuff because no one else will have the same pieces. I also like to wear Vivienne Westwood – her cut is so weird and the fabrics are so great – i get a lot of attention in her clothes. Designers i admire are Ann Demeulemeester because she always sticks to what she does and her cutting just blows me away. Alber Elbaz for his take on femininity, Vivienne Westwood for just being her (who else can get away with wearing a pair of gold horns at Wimbledon???) and Preen because their clothes are so beautiful oh and i suppose I should put Hedi Slimane in there for his work at YSL and early Dior Homme collections.
How do you go about putting an outfit together (thought processes, etc)?
I suppose the music I’m listening to gets me in the mood. Say if i’m listening to The Hellacopters i’ll wanna put on a Dior Luster or Strip look-a-like outfit because it fits the music or if i’m listening to classical music I’ll wanna wear something grand so usually i break out with the Vivienne Westwood. So yeah, music and to some extent the runway influences me.
How do you rate your own dress sense in comparison to other guys?
I dress very feminine compared to most guys. I’m kinda skinny and young looking so i can maybe pull it off? I dunno – I like to push the boat out a little bit, get peoples heads turning (or get them whispering is that a guy or a girl?) LOL.
<<Monday
Deep V jumper – H&M (used to be a dress)
White shirt – Vintage
Shiny blue jeans – Dior Homme
Shoes – Vintage
Pearls – "Borrowed" from my grandma so i think they’re old.
Mug – V&A Vivienne Westwood exhibit
Tuesday>>
Grey hoodie – Dior Homme
Black waistcoat – Vintage
Pink belt – Dior Homme
Black jeans – Cheap Monday
Hi tops – Converse
<<Wednesday
Grey shirt with funny collar – Vintage Vivienne Westwood
Skeleton brooch – Marjan Pejoski
Red rubber braces – Vivienne Westwood
Black jeans – Cheap Monday
Bag – H&M
White hi tops – converse
Thursday>>
Black vest – Select (nicked from my sister)
Deep v jumper – used to be a dress (H&M)
Black belt – Vintage Nike
Rolled up jeans – Dior Homme
Socks – ASDA (a British supermarket)
Winkle pickers – Vintage
Gold shirt with stripes – Vintage Celine
<<Friday
Jacket – Vivienne Westwood ("borrowed" from my grandma)
Skeleton Brooch – Marjan Pejoski
Guinness Badge – Pub (I got that with a hat on St. Patricks day because the barmaid said i was cute, I think she thought i was like 15 or something)
Red rubber braces – Vivienne Westwood
Grey shirt with funny collar – Vintage Vivienne Westwood
Black jeans – I made them
Silver shoes – topman
Saturday>>
Jacket – KTZ
T-shirt – Casette Playa
Jeans – Dior Homme (self styled with silver Gaffa tape)
Shoes – Topman (they’re very battered now)
<<Sunday
Green vest – Alexander McQueen
Scarf – Scrap fabric that i found on the floor at college
Jacket – Vintage
Pink belt – Dior Homme
Jeans – Cheap Monday
Hi tops – Converse