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Meet Mr. Aaron Foster (@aaron_foster90) from Birmingham, UK, Creative Executive at Clements and Church (@clementsandchurch).
Aaron, how do you define your style?
I’d say my style is understated, but I suppose that’s subjective. I think it’s a mix of high and low, I’m as passionate about fine tailoring as I am about traditional workwear so you’ll likely see the two worlds mixing in my wardrobe, especially with my work. For example, I’ll make a chore coat and drawstring pants using traditional tailoring fabrics and vice versa; a custom-made suit using cotton twill or corduroy.
I think this duality comes from my first job working at Levi’s and spending my teenage years skateboarding, to working for a tailoring brand for the past 10 years, so these two worlds have definitely influenced my wardrobe preferences.
What does it mean for you to be a Modern Gentleman?
I think it’s about balance. With regard to fashion, you can take pride in how you present yourself, without being flashy. Take pride in your work but be humble.
Always mind your manners, and be polite and respectful of others, and of course, good manners go a long way. I think the modern gentlemen can be more in touch with their emotions than previous generations. And finally, I believe modern gentlemen should look to accept their imperfections and own their individual quirks as it is what makes them unique.
When it comes to style, where do you mostly get your inspiration from?
Traditionally, I’d say movies and TV, Steve McQueen has always been a style hero for me, always effortlessly cool – from the three-piece suit and Persol shades in The Thomas Crown Affair, to the off-set dressed down jeans and a heavyweight t-shirt.
But more recently the Instagram explore section has become a great source of inspiration, I can now easily connect to similar minds from across the world.
What’s your personal style signifier?
With most of my outfits, I’ll be wearing a hat, either a ribbed beanie or a baseball cap. I’ve built up quite the collection now! I almost always wear a watch, and I’m very fond of Seiko and Hamilton. There’s a fair amount of hardwearing or technical fabrics, oh, and plenty of olive green too!
What are your favorite wardrobe essentials?
I love the classics: you can’t go wrong with a good pair of well-broken-in selvedge jeans, a selection of white tees and oxford button-down shirts. Tailoring-wise, I built up a collection of trousers in classic neutral colours in both flannel and cotton twill. They’re the most versatile items in my wardrobe. I hate being unprepared for the weather, so a water-resistant car coat is a must for tackling spring showers and a sturdy woolen overcoat for when the temperature drops later in the year.
What are your main passions and how do you cultivate them?
I’m passionate about fabrics, clothing and the relationship between the two. So it’s a good thing I get to be involved at every stage of this process, from sampling and road testing certain fabrics or new silhouettes before they go to market, and then figuring out how we can convey that story to the customer.
What does your ideal Sunday look like?
My ideal Sunday definitely starts without a hangover. I’m a man of simple pleasures, so breakfast would be scrambled eggs on sourdough toast at one of our local independent cafes, followed by a take-out coffee and a walk—and relaxing midday with a book by the window. Then we finish with a Sunday roast with family or friends. I’m happy with it being home-cooked or in a pub, just as long as there’s stuffing (it’s the best bit).
Describe an interesting trip you have taken and tell us what’s the next destination on your bucket list.
I do plenty of traveling with work, we recently shot our latest campaign in Barcelona, but unfortunately, I rarely have time to explore. The last great holiday I had was in Thailand last year. It was my second time out there, and I loved every minute. Later this year, I’m looking forward to a buying trip in Milan, then a trip to Bergerac and Paris with friends. The main destinations I want to tick off next are Rio de Janeiro (which me and my girlfriend actually had booked pre-pandemic) and Tokyo.
Tell us what can never be missing in your liquor cabinet.
I rarely drink in the house, so my cabinet is 95% filled with my girlfriend’s preferred Tequila and Mezcal (which I can’t stand). However, we’ll always keep a couple of nice bottles of wine around. I’m lucky to be on friendly terms with some of our city’s best mixologists and bartenders, and I’m partial to an Old Fashioned, or a Caipirinha during the summer.
What are your three favorite books?
Reading is something I neglected over the last few years, but over the back end of last year, I built up quite a stack for the 2023 reading list.
I have varied interests but I’m a geek at heart, so I just finished The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett.
I’m currently reading Originals by Adam Grant (a gift from my brother) and up next is A New Formation: How Black Footballers Shaped the Modern Game by Calum Jacobs.
What are your three favorite movies?
This is always such a tough one to answer, but off the top of my head: Akira, Star Wars Original Trilogy (Slightly cheating here), and Drive.
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