Overcoming Struggles by Helping Others

This story originally appeared on the Gents Cafe Newsletter. You can subscribe here.

Meet Sebastian Nowak (@corpocore), from Poznań, Poland. Cybersecurity specialist by day, Sebastian is also a men’s health activist and infertility awareness advocate after hours.

1. How do you define your style?

My style is a blend of my experiences and background. My wardrobe has evolved significantly over the years, but for the past decade, it has mostly consisted of basic, timeless clothes in a limited palette of colors. I have found that this provides a neat, blank canvas for my tattooed body and accessories. Even though I tend to blend and experiment with different styles, everything I wear somehow aligns closely with who I am. I feel comfortable wearing clothes I bought years ago, as long as they still fit.

2. What does it mean for you to be a Modern Gentleman?

I’d like to detach the image of a gentleman from that of a rich guy on a motorboat. For me, being a gentleman means to live an intentional life. Staying true to your principles, being open minded, considerate and focused on developing yourself, regardless of your situation. I think being a modern gentleman is a mindset, rather than a social status.

3. When it comes to style, where do you mostly get your inspiration from?

As I’ve mentioned, you will definitely see traces of my past endeavours in the way I dress. Everything I do in life leaves an imprint on my style. My wardrobe includes traces of inspiration from the skateboarding scene and years of playing in hardcore and metal bands. There is a dash of workwear and gorpcore here and there. Working in a corporate environment sparked my interest in classic menswear, tailoring and smarter clothes. I’m active on social media, so I also get a lot of inspiration from Instagram.

4. What’s your personal style signifier?

I feel naked without a fragrance and a watch. I’m fortunate enough to have a small collection of both, so I can match how I smell and what I wear on my wrist to my mood or situation. The way someone smells changes my whole perception of that person. In my mind it’s the ultimate final touch, that ties the outfit (or dare I say – person) together. Then again, I work almost exclusively remotely, and if I still use perfume daily it is just for my own pleasure, so my perception might be skewed.

5. What are your favorite wardrobe essentials?

I tend to dress from the ground up, so I put a big emphasis on shoes. This is the only item of clothing I sometimes allow myself to go a bit crazy on. Good leather boots are absolutely essential for me.

6. What are your main passions and how do you cultivate them?

My interests can be grouped into three main domains – arts, sports and helping people. I have a deep desire to express myself artistically, and my longest love affair is with music. I’ve been playing and touring with bands for the best part of the last two decades, and even though I’d still consider myself an amateur musician, it was a hell of an adventure. Even though I’m not touring anymore, I still write and produce music. I also love photography, and consider fashion as a part of the art world as well.

At this stage of my life sport – gym, especially – is essentially a part of my basic hygiene. I believe that no clothes will beat the effect of being in good health and shape.

Lastly, a few years ago I decided to share my infertility story online. Since then I’ve been building awareness about this condition and actively providing support to men and women who go through this journey and are struggling with their emotions.

7. What does your ideal Sunday look like?

Recently my Sundays have been dedicated to longer cycling trips. I love to hop on my gravel bike and just ride for kilometers on end. There is something special in returning home exhausted, after a few hours on the saddle, taking a nice shower and just relaxing for the rest of the day. Nothing clears my mind better than this.

8. Describe an interesting trip you have taken and tell us what’s the next destination on your bucket list.

I have many fond travel memories, but my biggest adventure was a big tour with my band. We were all just a bunch of kids in our early 20s, and we played shows in Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. A few weeks on the road, sleeping in the van or at the venues, eating whatever we received. I’m very proud that our passion and talents allowed us to see a big chunk of Europe, meet amazing people and create a truly unforgettable experience.

I’m really excited about my next solo trip. I’ll cycle the length of the Polish Baltic coast. It’s not a very difficult or long route, and I will have a lot of time to ride, but it will be my first bikepacking trip, so I’m looking forward to the experience.