Justin has been someone who I’ve supported for a long time — and he’s supported my blog for a long while as well. I almost always take his advice before making any major blogging related decision. On top of running the only menswear blog I can actually read and enjoy, Justin is a self taught photographer who has shot editorials for Doc Martens and the like… He also works as a buyer for a major luxury retailer, on top of being a blogger and fashion editor for the online-only magazine Urbane Sophisticate. So get to know the other “JB” (yes, I had to go there.)
The Fashion Files: You’ve not been in fashion for a very long time, but you’ve had amazing opportunities, such as having some of your work featured in Esquire & GQ. What do you attribute this to?
Justin Bridges: I’m not sure to be quite honest. If I had to venture a guess, I’d call it the intersection of hard work and good personalities. I’ve bonded and networked with a lot of people in a short amount of time. When good people take notice of the time and energy you’re putting into a quality product, they want to help you share that with more people. The menswear community is small but extremely supportive. So with humility and deference, I would say a good bit of my short term successes have come with the help of some really amazing and talented people willing to support me and give me an opportunity to showcase my talent.
TFF: How did your family react to your decision to leave finance?
JB: Jokingly, my parents wondered how I was going to pay them back for my student loans…luckily they aren’t in my name! Seriously, my parents are extremely supportive - especially of my happiness. There are tons of things that can go wrong in their “child’s” life, and if switching careers is the current concern, then I think it only meant sense that they greeted it with smiles and open arms. I know they worry about me making enough money, etc…but largely, my family, my brothers and sister…they are an extraordinary foundation.
TFF: Did you have any perceptions about the industry that either rang true as you became a part of it or were proven false as you worked?
JB: Excellent question. I don’t really enter too many situations with preconceived notions. For fashion, I always assumed it’d be more a more relaxed work environment, it would be filled with mostly female colleagues, and I would meet tons of self-important people (not unlike finance, but for different reasons). I work in fashion retail on the buying side, I would say for my world - dot com - the work environment is more relaxed but don’t be fooled. It is a corporate animal. I have tons of female colleagues on the retail side! Tons of them on the editorial side in PR. And lots of men on the menswear front, but like I said, mostly females. You know what, you meet self-important people everywhere, so I’d say I’m indifferent on that one being true or false. This experience, thus far, has been wholly positive, somewhat tough and frustrating, but majorly eye-opening and welcoming.
TuckedStyle for LiveFast Magazine
TFF: Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
JB: No comment. No clue.
TFF: If you had to give yourself a singular “aesthetic” what would you say it is?
JB: Experimental. That or, “mash-up.” I don’t know how to define my aesthetic. I use to hate when people pigeon-holed me into “prep” or “Americana.” I never thought it applied to me, and I never rocked the same look from week to week. I take influence and inspiration from Japan, Europe, American heritage, street style…all kinds of places. Then I just let it hang and don’t think about it at all. I just let my mind create aesthetics in my head and it usually ends up being a mash-up of different looks and ideas. Consistency isn’t my goal in personal style, except for consistently making it look effortless and good.
TFF: What’s your favorite thing about menswear?
JB: My favorite thing about menswear is the experimentation of fabric and texture. I love unexpected fabrics in a tie, on an outerwear piece…on a shoe. I just like when a menswear designer shakes it up a bit. In menswear, you have to be so careful about altering the silhouette, so you don’t get all types of different garments and concept pieces like you see in womenswear…at least not in mainstream channels. Therefore, you have to find your little pieces of rebellion elsewhere in more classic menswear items.
TFF: What do you appreciate about womenswear?
Wooster, as shot by Bridges.
JB: I love the variety. Women don’t have the same reluctance or perception of gender and sexuality that men have to worry about. Therefore, you see more expression, more costume, more interesting things in the world of womenswear. My favorite thing about menswear is the ability of women to blur the line in an appropriate way. Androgyny and women in menswear are two exciting themes I love to observe.
TFF: If you could swap lives with anyone in the industry for a day, who would it be and why?
JB: I don’t know about all that. One day is such a tease anyway that I wouldn’t want to torture myself in that way. Maybe the ultimate day in a person’s shoes would be taking over a designer’s role on the day of their fashion show. I don’t know though, I really just want to get to the point where my dream world merges closer to my reality.
TFF: Is there one piece of advice you got that’s really transformed how you approach your work?
JB: I don’t think so. I’ve learned a lot of things from a lot of people. With regards to photography, I learned a lot working with Greg from SPREADhouse with regards to how I choose to shoot. I snap tons more pictures and try tons more techniques when I’m shooting because I’ve learned from the way he works. Everybody I interact with usually provides a nugget of information that is key to my development. You can never learn to much; you can never learn it all. I wouldn’t necessarily put anyone’s advice over another. Trial and error is the best thing I know when it comes to approaching a project or anything else in life. Mistakes are awesome.
another portrait by Tucked
TFF: What’s your favorite trend/designer?
JB: I have favorites, but not a favorite. I’m a student of style and fashion but I’m more oblivious than my fans and readers would realize. If I had a dime or nickel for every time I ended up being the only person aloof during a menswear conversation with bloggers or editors at GQ…boy, I could quit my day job. My standard answer, however, goes something like this:
I love the cropped looks from Thom Browne, along with his consistent color palette. The rag & bone look, as long as they stay true to their roots, is something I’m always feeling. It’s like the new way to do American heritage. I’m pretty much a fan of anything Dries Van Noten produces. Michael Bastian suiting is amazing. Burberry Prorsum has put out some incredible suiting pieces and outwear. I am not quite a fanatic, but I love what Junya Watanabe does. I’m a big fan of the designs that emerge from InAisce. My attention has been captivated by Simon Spurr’s past two collections. Phillip Lim - a new and exciting aesthetic for me. There’s so many…I’ll just stop there before this gets ridiculous.
TFF: I’ve noticed you aren’t afraid to experiment with your blog — do you think this has been largely positive for you? Or, has it confused your readers?
JB: I think it has been incredibly positive. Tumblr is a platform that you have to learn to interact with. As an original content guy, I found it extremely confusing figuring out the best way to share my content. You don’t want to work against the machine and erode your chances of spreading your blog’s voice far and wide. You also don’t want to dilute the format so that the journalistic intelligible approach to blogging is lost. I think merging article content with solo photographic images is the perfect harmony. It gives true knowledge hunters an opportunity to learn from my opinion and fact finding. It also gives pure Tumblr addicts the ability to curate their own blogs using my images. I think it works.
Stalk Justin full time over at: tuckedstyle, on twitter @jbridgesnyc & @tuckedstyle
