Icon is a word that gets thrown around a lot in fashion, but Nick Wooster has clearly earned a spot on the Mount Rushmore of modern menswear. He's been working in the business since his first job in high school at a men's clothing store in his hometown of Salina, Kansas. He later moved to New York and worked in advertising before becoming a buyer for Barneys and then Bergdorf Goodman men's director. He's since become one of the biggest street-style gods thanks to his constantly evolving personal style. Wooster is always put-together, but he's not afraid to mix things up and try something new. He's gone from dapper and buttoned-up to relaxed and rugged to more avant-garde. The guy's a wild card, but one thing remains constant—his impeccable taste and gentlemanly manners, which is why so many brands—from American upstarts and legendary Italian footwear makers to the coolest Japanese labels—are all clamoring to work with him. And it's why so often Wooster is on a plane and taking on another job. We finally caught up with him between business trips, to see how he starts his day and looks so damn good while doing so much.

I’m a morning person now, but that wasn’t always the case.

I pretty much transitioned from a night owl to a morning person in 1995—the year that I got sober. I absolutely love the morning—it's my favorite and the best time of the day. The earlier the better. If I'm getting up at six o'clock, that means I slept in.

That means I try to get to bed early most nights, too.

I usually aim to get at least six or seven hours of sleep. When I'm lucky, I very occasionally get a full eight hours.

Consistency is key.

My mornings have really been more or less the same since 1995. Before that, well, they were a bit more chaotic and scary! The great thing about today is that I take my time and enjoy the morning. I hate to be rushed.

Waking up at 4:00 or 5:00 am has now become automatic.

I always set an alarm, but I would say 90% of the time, I wake up before it ever goes off. I never hit the snooze button. Well, that's not true. This morning, I did, actually. Sometimes you need just a little bit more time.

I always make the bed.

Every morning, without fail. It's the first thing I do.

There are certain things I do every day.

They've become reliable rituals. I make my bed, I pray and meditate to help quiet my mind and set intentions for the day. I have my coffee, take my supplements, and five of six days out of the week, I'll work out.

My nightstand is tidy, but full.

I've got a nice coaster, the Peter Beard biography by my friend Chris Wallace, a lamp and the TV remote. Oh and eye drops. I always have to keep artificial tears handy. I had LASIK 20 years ago, and I still have dry eyes.