Describe your style in five words or less.

Dark blue merino.

What’s the common approach you use for all your projects?

Powered by curiosity. Like an insanely deep curiosity.

Curiosity seems to be evident in all that you do. Why is it important to always be a student in whatever you’re doing?

It's the fountain of youth. You're either expanding or atrophying. I think your desire to learn, your depth of curiosity, is directly related to how passionate you are about something.

Can you talk more about the process of the stainless steel hanger? How do you decide which objects to create?

The hanger work started with the marble ones. It really came from my time when I was doing more traditional fashion, and cut-sew clothing. My designs were really reduced—no logos, marks, etc—and I needed something to make my garments stand out on the rack. While no store ever let me do my marble hangers, the idea shaped how I view the idea of a product's ability to “communicate” a large story almost instantly with its sheer existence. The stainless steel version is made using a process called waterjet cutting. It's almost poetic. The idea of a bit of water and grit being able to cut through a solid stainless steel plate with such precision.

What’s the best thing you’ve bought under $20 recently?

This is a fun question. This sock company, Knest Knit, is just amazing. They're often sold out, but reach out to them via DM/email as they often have stock around.

What was the item that you thought about the longest before buying?

I really don't shop a lot, and when I do I'm fairly compulsive/direct in what I want. Honestly, it was probably a Staub pot that I use on the rare occasion when making pasta at home.

One item that you cannot part with.

I have this Herno Laminar dark blue long car coat that I've had for too long—four to five years. Maybe longer. They don't make it anymore and I'm a bit hard on my clothes, so it could probably be replaced ... but I just love it.

Three favorite brands, currently?

JJJJound, P. Johnson and Pelican Cases.

Do you shop more online or in person?

I wish I did more in-person, but almost entirely online.

What’s something you’re looking to buy at the moment?

Still looking for the perfect sweater. I love merino, but I can't seem to find the thickness I'm after—I want something really substantial. I'm really into this cashmere one—shape and density wise—it's just not merino and it isn't available in navy.

Best city for shopping?

New York I'd say? Maybe a boring answer, but you truly can get anything you want in-person there and it makes the process so much more enjoyable.

Necessary extravagance?

Dining out at a proper restaurant fairly often. I've tried to reduce it, but I end up feeling like I'm losing the pulse of the city/scene a bit. I often eat alone and find it a great way to observe the “right now” energy of any place.

Something you refuse to
spend money on ...

Oddly, maybe jeans? I have tons of 501s, but I just buy the regular release ones off their site. You have to really dig, but some of the washes are fantastic each season. I came from a world where I was buying Dior Homme jeans back in the day and totally justifying that expense.

What’s something you buy multiples of (either by design or by default)?

Often jeans, actually. If I like a wash, I'll buy a few pairs. Shoes as well. If there is a sneaker I like, I'll buy two to three pairs.

Are there benefits of being based in the Midwest? Opposed to New York or L.A.?

There are some of the obvious cost of living things, but I think there is something to be said for looking from the outside in. We are not in the middle of it every day, every minute. I've often wondered if that creates points-of-view that feel incredibly new as they're less informed by the current zeitgeist. I also just love the weather here.

What’s one shopping hack that you can let everyone know about?

I don't know if I really have one. I feel weird as it's like my third time bringing up the material, but I truly find merino to be better than cashmere for a variety of reasons and think more people should opt for it as it's often considerably more affordable and I just find it so much more elegant.