Meet Mr. Alex Brookins (@iheardthat) from Austin, Texas – working in the Education Technology space and passionate about film photography.
Alex, what does it mean for you to be a Modern Gentleman?
These days, to live honestly and with integrity. I’ve been a father of 1 for four years and a father of 2 for a little over four days, so a lot of the way I think about being a gentleman revolves around being a father. Take care of your flock, put them before yourself, and build a life for them.
When it comes to style, where do you mostly get your inspiration from?
I daydream about being an old Italian man who dresses in beautiful suits and sits in cafes. The reality is, being in Texas (with the exception of what you likely saw on the news a few weeks ago) it is very hot here. There are only a few months each year I get to layer up and really enjoy my Barbour. For the most part, it’s a classic white t-shirt and denim with a good watch and a good pair of shoes. Espadrilles are a favorite and when I need to “dress them up” I wear some from Stubbs & Wootton. Since Covid, I’ve been letting my hair grow and have leaned into a little more casual Jeff Bridges style.
What’s your personal style signifier?
I’ve worn a beard and a good watch for quite a long time now. I’m not sure if that’s a signifier but it’s a constant.
What are your main passions and how do you cultivate them?
Photography, particularly film photography. I’m obsessed. It’s almost all I think about, and I try to never be without a camera because you can’t predict when moments will strike. I have shot digital for several years and picked up a film camera last summer. After developing that first roll, I fell in love with how much more the scene looked like the way I remembered them. There are some parallels with why we love watches I think. It’s a mechanical, analog process. When I am shooting film, it feels like the element that has always been missing. To me, it’s what photography is supposed to feel like. Limited to 36 frames, and not getting that immediate feedback, makes your choices extremely deliberate. You see something, you capture it, and that’s it. It’s gone. It lives in that single frame you took in that exact moment.
Tell us what can never miss in your liquor cabinet?
I am a huge Negroni drinker, and 2021 is feeling like the year of the Martini, but my answer would have to be red wine. Pair it with a good record and some dinner prep and I’m in heaven.
Originally posted as part of the Gents Cafe Newsletter, a bite-sized read about men’s lifestyle to enjoy over a coffee or a nice cocktail. Join now!