Anyone that frequents J.Crew in Southdale knows Anthony. He has become somewhat of a local celebrity for his shopping expertise. When our team is in a pinch and needs a sassy ensemble at a moments notice, he is our go-to guy. His honesty and amazing sense of style makes him the perfect shopping buddy. Check out our exclusive interview with Anthony...
How would you describe your personal style?
I would say my personal style is fairly classic, just with the addition of an unexpected twist. Mixing and matching patterns has to be my favorite, not everyone can execute it successfully. For me it is all in the details. Accessories go miles for me as well in adding those finishing touches.
Who are your favorite fashion lines and/or designers?
Where to start, there are so many options right now. At the moment I would have to say I am obsessed with Tom Ford, Lanvin (Albert Elbaz), Burberry Prorsum, Jil Sander, Celine (Phoebe Philo), Balenciaga, and J.Crew of course. The +J collection from Uniqlo has been a godsend for everyday pieces for me. Sadly this was the final season for this collaboration. The new Jimmy Choo mens collection that debuted this fall has piqued my interest as well.
What staple pieces do you think every man and woman should have in their closet?
For both men and women a great coat is a necessity. We have the advantage of having four seasons up here in Minnesota and we should take advantage of it to the fullest. All too often in the colder months, I see people have a great outfit on only to bury it under a piece of outerwear that hardly lives up to the caliber of the underlying ensemble. An investment in a great coat will only serve to enhance your existing wardrobe.
For women, a must have is a killer black heel. Forget the LBD, the right black heel can transition you from day to the work place to evening effortlessly. Especially with pants getting wider, a heel is a must. If said heel has a red sole, more power to you!
For men, nothing beats a well-tailored suit. Spend the time and effort to get the suit tailored properly and you will be surprised by the result. An inexpensive off the rack suit can look like a million bucks with just a few points of fine tuning by a skilled tailor.
How do you spend your Saturdays?
In my business, I work on Saturdays. I arrive at the store in the morning and check my messages and any client requests from the previous day. Then I get to work pulling what I need for the days appointments and take it from there. As the day dies down, I return any phone calls that I need to, check my email, and then strategize for the upcoming week to see what we have coming in and what needs to be pulled as soon as it arrives.
What is your favorite fashion trend this season?
For women, it has to be all the bright colors. The brights have been around for a while now. However, there is just something refreshing about seeing bright colors in the doldrums of winter. What is nice about this is that you do not have to go all out to incorporate color. At one extreme, we have the color blocking of bold colors so you are literally saturated with colors head to toe. On the other hand, you could simply add a pop of color with a handbag, shoes, or even a layering piece.
For men, it has to be the return of brown. We are seeing a lot of browns and camels right now from everybody. To me, this is just one of those quintessential fall colors. I really love the idea of camels paired with whites in the dead of winter.
What is your favorite hangout in the Twin Cities?
Admittedly, I am more of a homebody. My greatest guilty pleasure is barricading myself at home and shopping online.
What is your favorite aspect of your job?
The best part of my job is being a creative problem solver. I actually come from a background in finance, so I feel my approach is a little bit different than others. In addition to using my creative side, my background also instinctively drives me to tackle a challenge with an analytical and logical mindset as well. I am actually a left-brained thinker, but in a right-brained line of work. Who would have thought? I do not want to forget to mention all my wonderful clients as well. They are also one of the reasons I look forward to my job everyday!
