Daily Fashion 221

‘As A Young Child My Father Always Instilled In Me That…’

Story submitted by Carly Jean-Lys
instagram @carlito_718

‘As a young child my father always instilled in me that the way you are dressed represents the type of man you are. To be distinguished you must dress the part.

Now as a young man my fashion embodies what a true “Dapper Dan” represents. Fashion is what you buy, style is what you wear. I’m 26 years old. I grew up in Brooklyn,N.Y. in an impoverished neighborhood. My father desperately sheltered me from that kind of environment while other kids attended school with oversized baggy clothes and overpriced sneakers. He sent me to school occasionally in a nice pressed suit and shine buffed shoes.'

'My father taught me to be successful one must dress the part. To be a leader one must create his own lane and diverge from the common one. As a leader you don’t only represent yourself but an organization, group or culture. ‘Dressing the part’ shouldn’t be an obligation but rather a duty. A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back to the crowd. Fashion promotes individuality and not conforming to society.

I know I’m fulfilling the role when I’m consciously aware that everyone around me is striving for excellence and wants to make a difference not for themselves but for others around them and their community. The gift of inspiring others is a reward within itself. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’