The second Master of Style is Mark Large, a Londoner with a fabulously colourful and eclectic sense of style which, as you'll see below, finds its roots in many sartorial movements from British street cultures to Americana, preppy and vintage.
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| Mark Large |
ML: Hi, I’m Mark Large. I’m originally from Cleethorpes but I’ve lived in south east London for about 25 years and I’m a painter and decorator.
GF: When and how did you first become interested in style, in clothes and dressing well?
ML: I’ve known what clothes I like and prefer to wear for as far back as I can remember, even as a child I remember one outfit that was my favourite and when it went in the wash I couldn’t wait to get it back to wear it again. The first movement that grabbed my attention was the Mod revival of the late 70s, when I first saw the older lads wearing those styles I was all in!
GF: How would you describe your style?
ML: I’d say my style is eclectic, I’m influenced by history and heritage, incorporating various British street cultures of my youth, the preppy style of the US, tailoring, vintage clothing and plenty of Americana.
GF: What sort of clothes do you wear and where do you find them?
ML: I wear a mixture of vintage clothing and various brands. I’ve collected/bought Ralph Lauren for a long time but I also buy from other stores too, I regularly get things sent over from Japan and Korea. I’ve loved wearing a suit from being a teenager.
ML: I’d say my style is eclectic, I’m influenced by history and heritage, incorporating various British street cultures of my youth, the preppy style of the US, tailoring, vintage clothing and plenty of Americana.
GF: What sort of clothes do you wear and where do you find them?
ML: I wear a mixture of vintage clothing and various brands. I’ve collected/bought Ralph Lauren for a long time but I also buy from other stores too, I regularly get things sent over from Japan and Korea. I’ve loved wearing a suit from being a teenager.
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| Mark Large |
GF: Do you buy mainly ready to wear, tailored or vintage?
ML: Vintage-wise I have a few dealers I go to and pre-pandemic days I used to love trips to Los Angeles, particularly for the Rose Bowl flea market in Pasadena. Overall the greatest proportion of what I buy is ready to wear, I guess the main constant in what I buy is colour, I like bold bright colours.
GF: What are the main style influences in your life - past and present?
GF: What are the main style influences in your life - past and present?
ML: Paul Weller was a major influence on my style in my younger days. I lived the modernist lifestyle, even down to the vintage Lambretta. Ralph Lauren is a major influence on my style, I’ve bought his brands for years. He rarely goes wrong! I love Norman Rockwell's imagery, Americana at its finest. I also reference/rely on some of the great British trends of my youth, mod, skin, suede, casual etc, all of these introduced me to various classic originals like Baracuta or GH Bass and many others. I’m also constantly inspired by friends, social media, people on the street (I always make a point of telling them they look great).
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| The eclectic style of Mark Large |
GF: What are your favourite brands and stores?
ML: As previously mentioned, I shop at Ralph Lauren a bit but I also like Drakes, Dawson Denim, TSPTR, Thomas Farthing, Eastman Leather, Simon James Cathcart, Jake’s, Scott Fraser Simpson and lots of Japanese and Korean brands.
GF: What is/are your favourite individual item(s) of clothing?
ML: My favourite items of clothing are usually the last things I’ve bought [laughs], but I do enjoy some of the classics I’ve had for years. For instance, as we’re in the midst of winter, I love bringing out the big coats. I try to buy at least one every winter and wear them again and again, year after year.
GF: Would you say that your style is still developing? If so, how?
ML: I would definitely say my style is developing, constantly evolving. At present, I’m probably more influenced by the 60s, whereas for the past few years it was more 50s or even earlier. Also, where I might have paired more of one style at once (for example, the full western look) now I’ll wear one piece with others styles which seems to be working for me.
GF: What skills would you say that you have that help you in your search for style?
ML: I’ve always known what I like and have never shied away from that, even in my younger days in a small town up north, I’ve still opted to wear what feels true to me, whether it creates a positive or negative reaction from others. I’m drawn to colours, I don’t think I’ve ever just worn black.
GF: What are your top tips for others on a search for style?
ML: If you wear something that makes you happy and feel good then you’re getting it right!
GF: Where can you be found on Instagram and other media?
GF: What is/are your favourite individual item(s) of clothing?
ML: My favourite items of clothing are usually the last things I’ve bought [laughs], but I do enjoy some of the classics I’ve had for years. For instance, as we’re in the midst of winter, I love bringing out the big coats. I try to buy at least one every winter and wear them again and again, year after year.
GF: Would you say that your style is still developing? If so, how?
ML: I would definitely say my style is developing, constantly evolving. At present, I’m probably more influenced by the 60s, whereas for the past few years it was more 50s or even earlier. Also, where I might have paired more of one style at once (for example, the full western look) now I’ll wear one piece with others styles which seems to be working for me.
GF: What skills would you say that you have that help you in your search for style?
ML: I’ve always known what I like and have never shied away from that, even in my younger days in a small town up north, I’ve still opted to wear what feels true to me, whether it creates a positive or negative reaction from others. I’m drawn to colours, I don’t think I’ve ever just worn black.
GF: What are your top tips for others on a search for style?
ML: If you wear something that makes you happy and feel good then you’re getting it right!
GF: Where can you be found on Instagram and other media?
ML: You can find me on Instagram as 1LRG
GF: Many thanks Mark for that fascinating insight into your style.
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