Living & Arts

Swat Style Snapshot

Swat-style-snapshot

Camila Ryder | for The Phoenix

Kevin Kim

In print | December 3, 2009

Name: Kevin Kim
Class Year: 2011
From: Los Angeles, CA
Current Residence: Parrish

What He’s Wearing:
“A vintage golf cardigan, a shirt from Façonnable, and S-001 jeans from Uniqlo,” Kim said. He is also wearing Jack Purcell sneakers.

Kim’s outfit picks up on the 1950s man’s casual look of the formal cardigan paired with slacks. Though the outfit is simple, the cardigan is reminiscent of the traditional collegiate jackets worn in the 40s and 50s. Ralph Lauren, the epitome of the classic American styles, started the Rugby collection in 1994. According to the website, Rugby is where “casual campus style meets downtown prep,” and its selection of men’s letterman sweaters and rugby shirts with personalized patches and embroidery have the same collegiate aesthetic that Kim’s outfit does. His look incorporates the 50s men’s style with the up-to-date aspects of the grey jeans and sneakers.

How He Describes His Style:
“Modern with hints of contemporary,” Kim said, clarifying that his interpretation of modern is in reference to “the period in design and fashion that favored clean lines and minimalist aesthetics.” Kim mixes simple pieces that combine the American look with chic European style. This includes creating outfits from American designers like Ralph Lauren or Brooks Brothers with the European designs of Burberry, Lacoste and Hugo Boss.

Kim also describes his style as “nouveau fifties collegiate” and adds that he likes to incorporate a new piece to each outfit. “It may be paring an American Apparel v-neck with one of my father’s old college cardigans or my turquoise Timex watch with a navy blazer.”

Fashion Influences and Inspirations:
“A lot of my stylistic influences have stemmed from my research into masculinity of the 1950s,” Kim said, citing magazines, books and period movies as providing him with “a sense of the mid-century modern aesthetic.”

Though his focus on the 50s businessman look may draw comparisons to “Mad Men,” Kim is more interested in pop culture and incorporating “aspects of dress attached to certain celebrities.” He cites Rock Hudson’s way of wearing his cardigan or Cary Grant’s folding of his pocket squares as inspiring him to “take a little bit from every leading man of the 50s stage and compile them into one.”

Where He Shops:
With a flair for mixing the old with the new, Kim enjoys shopping at consignment stores in Philadelphia for vintage designer clothing. “One of my favorites is Greene Street Consignments on South Street,” he said. “It’s not vintage specific, but if you look hard enough you can find some great period pieces.” For basics, Kim hits up Uniqlo and American Apparel. “For the small, but necessary luxuries … I go to Barneys or Neiman-Marcus.”

Wardrobe Staples:
“A navy blazer and black loafers are timeless and can be dressed up or down,” Kim said. With a penchant for vintage cardigans, he also likes the combination of his “perfect, crisp white dress shirt from Calvin Klein” and his many sweaters.

While clothes are one aspect of his style, Kim enjoys colognes and describes himself as being picky, yet eclectic in his scents. “I try to carefully source my scents to include those that are unusual … that you can’t just pick up anywhere,” Kim said. His old-meets-new style permeates into his cologne choices that include Number Six by Caswell-Massey, a favorite of George Washington and the contemporary 2 Man by Comme des Garcons.