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| Gerry Nelson @gezzaeyes on Instagram (Image 1 details below) |
GN: My name is Gerry Nelson. I’m based in Melbourne, Australia and work as a manager in a telecommunications company. I also perform music in a duo and a trio, playing the guitar and piano
GF: When and how did you first become interested in style, in clothes and dressing well?
GN: I’ve always wanted to dress well but started taking more seriously at university in 1991 or 1992. A few of my friends at the time were interested and I started paying more attention. I was drawn to Giorgio Armani for his soft tailoring and the amazing fabrics he used. I was lucky enough to be able to get a beige Emporio Armani double breasted suit which I loved. Then, as now, it was all about the textures and colours.
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| Gerry Nelson besuited (Image 2 details below) |
GN: Casual but comfortable. I’ve been working from home for the past two years, so I really don’t need to wear a suit or a tie unless I feel like it. Once in a while, it feels nice to put on a casual suit even if it’s just for myself.
GF: What sort of clothes do you wear and where do you find them?
GN: It’s really a mishmash of things. In winter, it tends to be tweed jackets, Shetland jumpers, flannel trousers and suede shoes or my favourite knitwear, a shawl collared cardigan. Summer tends to find me wearing drawstring linen trousers a lot of the time with a t-shirt and a light jacket. On occasion, I’ll reach for a linen knit when the days get cool. If I’m dressing up a little, I might wear a linen suit with a long sleeve polo or a short sleeve shirt. I mostly buy them online.
GF: Do you buy mainly ready to wear, tailored or vintage?
GN: Mainly ready to wear, followed by tailored clothing and then a sprinkling of vintage clothes. I’m quite lucky in that most things fit me off the rack or with minor alterations. I’ve got no issue with wearing secondhand clothing or shoes. In the right condition, they can be a bargain.
GF: Please describe the main style influences in your life - past and present.
GN: My earliest influence would be the old Giorgio Armani look books. Later, I would try and replicate they style of certain people but with my own clothes. On Instagram @cazjl, @seealan and @drakesdiary have been huge inspirations. Some of my friends (like Christian Kimber) also inspire me in the way the put outfits together. I love rich colours and textures. I also love Japanese brands like Kapital and Blue Blue Japan. I love the work they do with indigo and other dyes. Nowadays, I’m doing more ‘originals’ than ‘cover versions’ with my outfits.
GF: What are your favourite brands and stores?
GN: My favourite brands/stores are Christian Kimber, Modern Classic and Drake’s. The first two are in Melbourne and Drake’s, of course, is all over the world. I’ve been to both Christian Kimber stores and Modern Classic in Melbourne many times but only had the pleasure of visiting the Drake’s store in Tokyo. I hope to be able to visit the original store in London one day.
Other brands I like are Informale and Engineered Garments for casual wear, William Lockie for shawl collared cardigans, Inis Meain for Aran knitwear and Jamieson’s for Shetland knitwear
GN: Mainly ready to wear, followed by tailored clothing and then a sprinkling of vintage clothes. I’m quite lucky in that most things fit me off the rack or with minor alterations. I’ve got no issue with wearing secondhand clothing or shoes. In the right condition, they can be a bargain.
GF: Please describe the main style influences in your life - past and present.
GN: My earliest influence would be the old Giorgio Armani look books. Later, I would try and replicate they style of certain people but with my own clothes. On Instagram @cazjl, @seealan and @drakesdiary have been huge inspirations. Some of my friends (like Christian Kimber) also inspire me in the way the put outfits together. I love rich colours and textures. I also love Japanese brands like Kapital and Blue Blue Japan. I love the work they do with indigo and other dyes. Nowadays, I’m doing more ‘originals’ than ‘cover versions’ with my outfits.
GF: What are your favourite brands and stores?
GN: My favourite brands/stores are Christian Kimber, Modern Classic and Drake’s. The first two are in Melbourne and Drake’s, of course, is all over the world. I’ve been to both Christian Kimber stores and Modern Classic in Melbourne many times but only had the pleasure of visiting the Drake’s store in Tokyo. I hope to be able to visit the original store in London one day.
Other brands I like are Informale and Engineered Garments for casual wear, William Lockie for shawl collared cardigans, Inis Meain for Aran knitwear and Jamieson’s for Shetland knitwear
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| Gerry Nelson's relaxed style (Image 3 details below) |
GF: What is/are your favourite individual item(s) of clothing?
GN: I have a few (!): Any of my shawl collar cardigans made by William Lockie
Christian Kimber Riviera knit (think of the short sleeved Italian knitwear in The Talented Mr Ripley), Christian Kimber white band collar shirt, Inis Meain linen knits, a green Donegal tweed suit, an Engineered Garments Field Parka, Edward Green Dover split toe derby shoes, Christian Kimber tobacco suede unlined loafers, Informale drawstring linen trousers.
Christian Kimber Riviera knit (think of the short sleeved Italian knitwear in The Talented Mr Ripley), Christian Kimber white band collar shirt, Inis Meain linen knits, a green Donegal tweed suit, an Engineered Garments Field Parka, Edward Green Dover split toe derby shoes, Christian Kimber tobacco suede unlined loafers, Informale drawstring linen trousers.
GF: Would you say that your style is still developing? If so, how?
GN: Absolutely! I’m not experimenting as much these days. If I do, it’s with clothes that I already have rather than new pieces. I feel like I’ve gotten to the point where my wardrobe is extensive and covers every occasion with my lifestyle. My style is developing in smaller steps these days with tweaks rather than major changes. A look through my Instagram feed will give you a good idea of how things have changed.
GN: Absolutely! I’m not experimenting as much these days. If I do, it’s with clothes that I already have rather than new pieces. I feel like I’ve gotten to the point where my wardrobe is extensive and covers every occasion with my lifestyle. My style is developing in smaller steps these days with tweaks rather than major changes. A look through my Instagram feed will give you a good idea of how things have changed.
GF: What skills would you say that you have that help you in your search for style?
GN: I think I have a good eye when it comes to colour matching, for the most part. I’m also not too fussy about the fit. I’ll try to make things work. If I really can’t make something work with my wardrobe then it gets sold or donated. I’m very persistent when it comes to finding a piece to fill a particular gap in my wardrobe. I also have a very good idea of how I will coordinate something before I buy it and it usually turns out well
GF: What are your top tips for others on a search for style?
GN: Don’t be afraid to try different styles. Try to be objective to see whether something works well for you. Expect that not everything will work. When you’re buying something new, have an idea of where it will fit in your wardrobe, i.e. what you’ll wear it with. Some things will only work for one outfit but if you’ve though about it, you’ll know that from the start.
GF: Where can you be found on Instagram and other media?
GN: Don’t be afraid to try different styles. Try to be objective to see whether something works well for you. Expect that not everything will work. When you’re buying something new, have an idea of where it will fit in your wardrobe, i.e. what you’ll wear it with. Some things will only work for one outfit but if you’ve though about it, you’ll know that from the start.
GF: Where can you be found on Instagram and other media?
GN: I am @gezzaseyes on Instagram and can be found on Tumblr at https://gezzasmenswear.tumblr.com/
GF: Many thanks, Gerry, for this fascinating glimpse into your style.
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| Image 4 details below |
Image 1: Ivory Shawl Cardigan
Shawl Cardigan – The Armoury (made by William Lockie)
Shirt, Bandanna – Drake’s
Trousers – Chad Prom
Boots – Trenery
Linen Knit
Image 2: Green Tweed Suit
Shirt – Drake’s
Waistcoat – Man 1924
Suit – P Johnson (Caccioppoli green tweed fabric)
Shoes – Edward Green Dover
Band Collar Shirt
Shirt – Drake’s
Waistcoat – Man 1924
Suit – P Johnson (Caccioppoli green tweed fabric)
Shoes – Edward Green Dover
Band Collar Shirt
Image 3: Shirt – Christian Kimber
Trousers – Informale
Unlined suede loafers – Christian Kimber
Trousers – Informale
Unlined suede loafers – Christian Kimber
Image 4: Linen knit – Inis Meain
Shirt, Trousers – Drake’s
Belt, Shoes – Christian Kimber
Belt, Shoes – Christian Kimber
