Jaime is a reader based mostly in Atlanta, Georgia. He’s a pastor there, and works notably on social justice tasks and inter-faith relations. Church has at all times been an excuse for him to decorate up, but additionally an excuse to speak to younger males within the congregation about how they will costume higher. 

He has different strings to his bow too. He and his spouse run a podcast about marriage (above) – “your mentors for the messy center” – and he’s making an attempt to carry native menswear occasions to Atlanta alongside together with his pal Wesley Knight, one other reader and menswear man. 

It was fascinating speaking to Jaime concerning the tradition of church and likewise of Brooklyn, the place he grew up – particularly its perspective to Ralph Lauren again within the day.  

Outfit 1:

• Swimsuit: Orazio Luciano
• Coat: Coherence
• Shirt: Everlasting Model
• Tie: Petronius
• Hat: Drake’s
• Scarf: Drake’s
• Sneakers: Alden
• Glasses: Rigards

Jaime, let’s begin along with your first experiences of menswear. When did it start? 

Nicely, once I was rising up I needed to be a stockbroker, I needed to work on Wall Road – partly as a result of I needed to put on fits on a regular basis! My Dad at all times wore a go well with and he would educate me about supplies and kinds. 

I believe it was round 12 or 13 that I began entering into menswear closely, I used to be studying GQ each month, making an attempt to place all of the appears to be like collectively. Then I moved onto Males’s Ex, after which blogs after they occurred – Die Workwear, Everlasting Model – and now social media is blowing all of it up. 

This was within the nineties and I used to be rising up in Brooklyn. Again then, Ralph Lauren was the model to put on. It was an actual streetwear model. 

That’s fascinating as a result of I really feel that was extra of a New York factor, it didn’t occur a lot in London. 

Yeah it was huge in Brooklyn, the Lo Lifes they referred to as themselves. Head-to-toe Ralph Lauren, on a regular basis, even all the way down to the socks and underwear. The factor about Ralph Lauren is, he is aware of how you can promote a life-style, and it was what children in Brooklyn needed to be, to emulate. It wasn’t even a remodeling of the model, placing their very own spin on it. It was simply pure Ralph, worn as road model.

That motion grew into ‘Lo Heads’ extra typically, the tremendous followers, and there’s nonetheless an annual meet-up in Occasions Sq. – they provide out awards for the very best gear.

I’ve a bunch of classic items and I’m often sporting one thing – I bear in mind once we met in New York final yr I used to be sporting these bright-red twine trousers from Ralph, with a Rubato yellow sweater. 

Yeah that was fairly the look. You dressed a bit extra conservatively for this shoot. 

True, and it was actually chilly on that day too, so there have been fewer choices. We tied it right into a go to I used to be doing to a church to talk, and it was 8am and freezing. 

The place’s the brown go well with from, that’s an incredible color. 

It’s Orazio Luciano, though really I acquired it off a pal – I do this rather a lot, swapping pre-owned issues with folks. This one pal is about the identical dimension as me and he was eliminating it. 

In case you don’t thoughts me asking, do you assume along with your pores and skin color you may put on stronger colors extra typically? 

That’s advantageous, and sure I believe I can, though really darkish brown is the one color I often keep away from, as a result of it’s too near my pores and skin tone. I discover I must put on it with one thing that has various distinction – like this pale shirt and the patterned tie – or it can drown me. 

I don’t really put on a number of actually sturdy color, but it surely’s a private model selection as effectively proper? These crimson pants are one of many brightest issues I personal, and I hadn’t worn them for years. Although I do have one different actually sturdy pair, bright-yellow Purple Label linens. Truly it’s typically simpler to put on that sort of color on the underside half, I discover. 

I hadn’t considered that, however yeah it makes a number of sense. I believe this shade of brown appears to be like very nice with that blue of the raincoat as effectively. And in reality the Shade 8 cordovan is good too – they’re each good examples of what works effectively with mid-brown. 

Thanks, sure I do know what you imply. These loafers are nice – I put on loafers a lot, and actually rarely put on different leather-based footwear. I believe I’ve one pair of lace-ups. They work for me as I’ve flat toes, they usually’re so versatile. It’s a number of Aldens, however I even have Spigola, Crockett & Jones. 

Outfit 2:

• Swimsuit: Ovadia & Sons
• Shirt: Everlasting Model
• Sweater: Membership Monaco
• Sneakers: Alden
• Tie: Drake’s
• Watch: Timex

Inform me about church, Jaime. Do folks costume up?

Yeah, completely. Within the African-American custom church is actually the place you make an effort, it’s nearly like a trend present. It’s like each week is Easter Sunday. 

You see that fairly a bit the place I reside too, across the evangelical church buildings in Peckham – the brilliant colors, everybody singing, a way of actual celebration each Sunday, it’s fantastic. 

Lots of the pastors right here put on robes, however I prefer to put on my fits, I believe it appears to be like good and it’s a pleasant excuse. In reality, I usually get youthful guys coming as much as me saying they need to costume this manner, asking for recommendation. 

Oh that’s cool – so what sort of factor are they sporting?

Fits too, however they’re way more trend pushed proper? So it’s very slim fits, very tapered pants, vibrant socks, muscle tissue like poking out of the sleeves. Slim lapels often. Whereas the older guys on the church, they’re much less stylish – the fits may not look very present, however they’re basic. They’re higher made as effectively – not bespoke, however good, perhaps previous Armani. 

However the youthful guys get to really feel they don’t need to appear like a child anymore. Possibly they’ve had a child themselves, or they’re married, they usually need to look extra mature. They’re not in school anymore. 

It is a little bit of a random thought, however do you ever see zoot fits, or echoes of that model, in among the church buildings you go to?

Not so excessive, however sure in African-American church buildings you do see some kinds like that – very vast pants, saddle footwear, the chain popping out of the pocket. You don’t see jackets so long as that, however maybe there’s folks referencing one thing else they’ve seen. Fashions are at all times recycling themselves. It’s not my model, however I see it. 

Is that this chalkstripe go well with additionally a pre-owned one?

No, however I acquired it fairly low-cost. It was from Ovadia & Sons, again after they had been doing tailoring. I believe it was made by Martin Greenfield, I noticed it at one of many pattern gross sales and it was simply siting there, I paid about $300 for it and it’s Fox Flannel material. 

Good. And the place’s the watch from, I like the straightforward design. 

It’s Timex, a collaboration with Todd Snyder. I like Timex as a result of I can bang them round. I’m not good with watches – I at all times appear to hit stuff with my wrist and I’m taking part in with my children. If I break a Timex it’s like $150 to get a brand new one and that’s OK.

I need to get a Cartier Tank some day, however not but. Possibly if it’s a costlier watch I’ll be extra cautious, but it surely’s exhausting to take the chance. 

Your glasses are uncommon, I bear in mind choosing up on that form across the bridge once we first met. 

Thanks, yeah these are Rigards, r-i-g-a-r-d-s. It’s a Japanese model, they’re handmade and infrequently slightly quirky within the design, although not an excessive amount of. They’re full titanium so actually gentle and powerful. In addition they include like a inexperienced visor that you simply connect with magnets, to show them into sun shades. 

Outfit 3:

• Coat: Drake’s
• Sweater: The Armoury
• Denims: Full Rely
• Shirt: Drake’s
• Sneakers: Alden
• Hat: Ralph Lauren

What’s the menswear like down in Atlanta? You haven’t been there lengthy proper?

No, simply over a yr. I used to be in Texas earlier than that, and New York earlier than that. 

Texas was very western put on, a number of huge hats, huge boots. Atlanta is slightly sparse, not rather a lot happening. You may have Sid Mashburn however he’s very a lot in his area of interest. It really works for him, however he’s nonetheless acquired these slender lapels, there isn’t a lot that is progressive anymore. I believe that’s why I get complimented rather a lot once I go round really, folks at all times need to know the place issues are from. 

I’m hoping to start out one thing down right here with my buddy I instructed you about, Wesley Knight, perhaps only a pre-owned occasion or one thing to start out with. I used to be speaking to the Alfargo’s Market guys and getting recommendation from them. It’s loopy how huge they’re now in comparison with the place they began. 

Yeah, I believe it’s nice. We went to 1 once we had been in New York and it had such a pleasant vibe – the combo of pre-owned, skilled classic sellers, model pattern gross sales after which different stuff like espresso or chainstitching. It felt identical to a spot you’d go to hang around. 

Precisely, I’d love to try this right here. It might be like a spot for folks to all meet up. 

You at all times appear to put on a shirt below your crewneck sweaters – is that one thing that comes from Ralph Lauren styling again within the day?

I don’t assume so really, it simply at all times appears to really feel proper. A crewneck and not using a shirt beneath simply at all times appears to be like incorrect. It’s not what everybody does although, perhaps it’s a little bit of a mode signature. 

Is there the rest like that?

I put on caps rather a lot, and have rather a lot! I used to be tempted to put on a baseball cap with each one among these outfits. My spouse retains on telling me to cease it with the baseball caps – sufficient is sufficient. 

How do you retailer them – I do know guys who’ve these huge teetering piles of them on high of lamps. 

Yeah I’ve that! I additionally put some nails within the wall so I can dangle all of them up. They’re what we name dad caps, the low profile, they usually look higher the extra worn in they’re. They get moulded over time and get this patina. I actually love a beat-up cap. 

What would you say is your largest lesson from being into garments all these years – what would you go onto a reader simply beginning out?

I’d say purchase higher high quality, I believe. I speak to guys at church about this. The fits I’m sporting right here, they’re like 15 years previous. It’s price spending 3 times as a lot on a go well with as it can final 3 times as lengthy – and for the entire of that point, your go well with will look significantly better than a budget one. So it’s worth for cash, the maths isn’t exhausting.

Cheers Jaime, it was an actual pleasure speaking to you. 

You too Simon, sustain the superior work. 

Jaime is @danewnegro on Instagram, and you may see some very cool (and fewer tailor-made) outfits over there. Some we appreciated are proven under. The podcast together with his spouse Carlen is @carleneplusjaime and that is cool for each of their outfits too. Their pal Wesley is @cwesleyknight.