My Style Rules: Brock DeHaven

My style is classic with a relaxed edge. Good style means investing in quality clothing, making sure your fit is right and going for classic pieces that can easily mix and match with the rest of your wardrobe. Dress in the way that makes you your most confident, comfortable self.  

The five wardrobe items I couldn’t live without? A great white tee, Levi’s 501 blue jeans, white low-top sneakers, a hardworking cashmere sweater and sunglasses.  

Invest in quality garments that are well made and will never go out of style. I have an amazing suede jacket from Vince that was a lot of money, but I wear it all the time. My Common Projects are expensive for a simple white sneaker but, again, I wear them nearly every day. If you want to explore a particular trend, shop second hand, so if you happen to give up on it you aren’t contributing to the fast fashion cycle.  

I am currently saving up for a piece from Bode. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind garment composed entirely of antique textiles. I love Bode’s modern workwear silhouettes and am honestly not sure if I want a shirt, a pair of pants, or one of its famous jackets. I just know one of them is going to be my next big purchase and I am really excited to get my hands on a handmade piece that tells a story. I also recently bought some black Issey Miyake Homme Plissé pleated trousers.

Most days I wear a t-shirt and jeans. Then I layer with a cool short-sleeve shirt. Then I choose my shoes depending on where I am going for the day. This may be embarrassing to admit but I recently just got a pair of Birkenstock Bostons and rarely take them off.

I can never see myself wearing bright colours. I have always gravitated towards more neutral and earth tones – the idea of putting something super bright on that would attract attention makes me feel really uncomfortable. I feel the best when I wear clothes that have a neutral colour palette, so while I love seeing neon and bright colours on others, they will never work for me. 

If I could only wear one brand, I’d pick Sunspel. I love its range of classic wardrobe staples, own a lot of pieces and can attest to the amazing quality. The pieces always fit well and I just love the designs and color choices. 

I’m really not a suit guy. I’ve only worn a suit two or three times in my life, but I would say that making sure you can move in your suit is essential to feeling your best. When it comes to loungewear, find materials that are breathable and made sustainably, and always go for an elasticated waistband. Always. 

My footwear collection is pretty much just lots and lots of white sneakers. I have Common Projects Achilles Lows, Veja V-10s, Adidas Stan Smiths and Nike Killshots to name just a few. I also have two pairs of Converse High Tops, New Balance 990v5s, two pairs of Birkenstocks, one good pair of black boots, and some workout shoes.  

I only like men’s jewellery on the right person. It has to feel authentic. I personally don’t wear much – if I do, it is just a simple metal chain bracelet or leather band. I don’t have any watches yet – I want to save up for a classic vintage piece from Cartier or Rolex, but it is not high on my list.  

There are lots of cool under-the-radar brands out there. My favourites currently are Riley Studio, Samuel Zelig and Story Mfg.  

I don’t have singular people that I look to for fashion inspiration. My inspiration often comes from movies (currently The Talented Mr Ripley, Call Me By Your Name and James Bond films), from reading magazines and scrolling through Instagram and Tumblr. If I had to name some cool people to follow on Instagram, @JordanBunker and @AndreaFaccio are some of my favourites. 

I live in New York City so I’m biased, but I think the style here is so authentic and expressive. However, I would say Paris has the best style. It is just so classic, timeless and refined, but can also be really fun and modern at the same time.