Jaime is a reader primarily based in Atlanta, Georgia. He’s a pastor there, and works notably on social justice tasks and inter-faith relations. Church has all the time been an excuse for him to decorate up, but additionally an excuse to speak to younger males within the congregation about how they’ll 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 attempting 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 Fashion
• Tie: Petronius
• Hat: Drake’s
• Scarf: Drake’s
• Footwear: Alden
• Glasses: Rigards

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

Properly, 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 all the time wore a go well with and he would educate me about supplies and kinds. 

I feel it was round 12 or 13 that I began stepping into menswear closely, I used to be studying GQ each month, attempting 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 Fashion – 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 massive in Brooklyn, the Lo Lifes they referred to as themselves. Head-to-toe Ralph Lauren, on a regular basis, even right down to the socks and underwear. The factor about Ralph Lauren is, he is aware of find out how to promote a life-style, and it was what youngsters in Brooklyn needed to be, to emulate. It wasn’t even a transforming 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 offer out awards for the perfect gear.

I’ve a bunch of classic items and I’m often carrying one thing – I bear in mind once we met in New York final 12 months I used to be carrying 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 a terrific color. 

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

For those who don’t thoughts me asking, do you suppose along with your pores and skin color you’ll be able to put on stronger colors extra typically? 

That’s high-quality, and sure I feel 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 have to put on it with one thing that has various distinction – like this pale shirt and the patterned tie – or it’s going to drown me. 

I don’t really put on a number of actually sturdy color, however it’s a private model alternative as nicely proper? These pink 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 feel this shade of brown appears to be like very nice with that blue of the raincoat as nicely. And actually the Colour 8 cordovan is sweet too – they’re each good examples of what works nicely with mid-brown. 

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

Outfit 2:

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

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

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

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

Quite a lot of the pastors right here put on robes, however I prefer to put on my fits, I feel it appears to be like good and it’s a pleasant excuse. Actually, 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 carrying?

Fits too, however they’re rather more vogue pushed proper? So it’s very slim fits, very tapered pants, vibrant socks, muscle mass like poking out of the sleeves. Slim lapels often. Whereas the older guys on the church, they’re much less fashionable – the fits won’t look very present, however they’re traditional. They’re higher made as nicely – not bespoke, however good, possibly previous Armani. 

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

This can be a little bit of a random thought, however do you ever see zoot fits, or echoes of that model, in a number of the church buildings you go to?

Not so excessive, however sure in African-American church buildings you do see some kinds like that – very huge pants, saddle sneakers, 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 all the time 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 have been doing tailoring. I feel 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 fabric. 

Good. And the place’s the watch from, I like the easy 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 all the time appear to hit stuff with my wrist and I’m enjoying with my youngsters. 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. Perhaps if it’s a costlier watch I’ll be extra cautious, however it’s exhausting to take the danger. 

Your glasses are uncommon, I bear in mind selecting 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 somewhat quirky within the design, although not an excessive amount of. They’re full titanium so actually mild and robust. 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 Depend
• Shirt: Drake’s
• Footwear: Alden
• Hat: Ralph Lauren

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

No, simply over a 12 months. I used to be in Texas earlier than that, and New York earlier than that. 

Texas was very western put on, a number of massive hats, massive boots. Atlanta is somewhat sparse, not so much occurring. You’ve got Sid Mashburn however he’s very a lot in his area of interest. It really works for him, however he’s nonetheless acquired these slim lapels, there isn’t a lot that is progressive anymore. I feel that’s why I get complimented so much once I go round really, folks all the time need to know the place issues are from. 

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

Yeah, I feel it’s nice. We went to at least one once we have been in New York and it had such a pleasant vibe – the combination 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 do this right here. It will be like a spot for folks to all meet up. 

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

I don’t suppose so really, it simply all the time appears to really feel proper. A crewneck with out a shirt beneath simply all the time appears to be like flawed. It’s not what everybody does although, possibly it’s a little bit of a method signature. 

Is there anything like that?

I put on caps so much, and have so much! I used to be tempted to put on a baseball cap with each certainly one of 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 massive teetering piles of them on prime of lamps. 

Yeah I’ve that! I additionally put some nails within the wall so I can cling all of them up. They’re what we name dad caps, the low profile, and so they 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 feel. I speak to guys at church about this. The fits I’m carrying right here, they’re like 15 years previous. It’s value spending thrice as a lot on a go well with as it’s going to final thrice 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 preferred are proven beneath. The podcast together with his spouse Carlen is @carleneplusjaime and that is cool for each of their outfits too. Their pal Wesley is @cwesleyknight.