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Stylish Men

Ten years ago I told my wife I would never move to Fort Worth. My career in fashion illustration was only a few years old and Fort Worth was not on anyone’s list of best-dressed cities. Plus there was only one third-wave coffee shop - Avoca - and even though their espresso was great I needed more.

Five years ago we moved to Fort Worth. More coffee shops had opened, but I still wasn’t convinced there was much in the way of fashion for me in the city. During our years of travel and exploration, my personal sense of style had begun to blossom. I had picked up pieces and inspiration in Paris, London, and Milan and had a solid, fairly traditional wardrobe. I knew I still had room to grow. That’s when I met Frank.

Franklin Moss designs his looks for his company, Franklin & Anthony, right here in Fort Worth, and he was my first guide into the world of Fort Worth fashion. Together we began a journey to discover, grow, and share the unique style that is developing in Fort Worth. Over the last five years, we’ve discovered a group of local friends who are interested in the same journey, and we decided it was time to put Fort Worth style on the international fashion map.

Twice a year we descend on the Fortezza de Basso in Florence, Italy for the trade show Pitti Immagine Uomo. Picture ten thousand well-dressed gentlemen in the heart of the Renaissance and you’ll start to get an idea of what Pitti is like. Everyone feels like a rock star as they arrive at the show. The entrance is lined with photographers looking for the coolest style to report back to Vogue or The Rake. Peacocking - the act of dressing to be seen and admired - is both encouraged and frowned upon. Everyone walks a fine line between dressing to impress and not looking like they tried too hard. This is where Fort Worth fashion gets a chance to shine.

Each year we make the long trek to Florence. Frank and I were joined by four others: Austin Roberson shares his love of traditional men’s fashion from his home in Fort Worth, TX. Blake LaBella owns TRND Music and brings a punk-rock aesthetic to the group. Our very own Opera singer, Nate Krieger, is rarely seen without his cowboy hat. Jordan Smith rounded out our group with contemporary streetwear and a beautiful camera. Each of us has a unique style, and each of us carries a bit of Fort Worth with us.

A true Fort Worth style is still emerging and the first influence, as you might expect, is Western wear. Cowtown means boots, hats, and fringe, all found in an outfit that most of us pull out once a year for rodeo season. But many subtle details are easy to overlook among those of us who don’t wrangle cattle for a living. It’s the Western yoke that brings depth and interest to an otherwise boring button-up. A touch of contrasting thread on a seam, or a bit of pocket embroidery can take a piece from mass-appeal to one-of-a-kind. Pearl snap buttons are socially acceptable jewelry for men. The vaquero tradition brings colors and patterns that can’t be ignored. These small additions to your closet can be a nod to Fort Worth's heritage without feeling like a costume.

Speaking of Fort Worth heritage, fashion can’t ignore the beautiful art museums that grace our city. Both the art and the architecture are inspirations for the color and structure of an ensemble. I love finishing a look with an Amon Carter Museum’s tie or a pocket square with a painting inspired by the Kimbell’s collection. The influence of Jenny Holzer’s Kind of Blue contrasted with the Fort Worth sunset might be seen in the subtle pink and blues of the fabric of my favorite suit jacket. These museums bring the best art from around the globe, and that influence is bound to overflow into what our city wears.

No examination of Fort Worth fashion is complete without considering the streetwear scene. My first true step into the streetwear side of fashion was a pair of sneakers from Patrick Junya’s TRVP Art line. I love seeing this Fort Worth fashion designer’s work in the wild when I’m walking around the city. Taking it to Florence feels like taking a hidden gem that the world just hasn’t discovered yet.

This is what we wanted to take to Pitti Uomo. An emerging style that combines international trends with local heritage.

As one would expect, Frank represented Franklin & Anthony’s custom tailoring with aplomb. His second-day outfit got him featured on the official Pitti Uomo Instagram account where he repped his brand, some Fort Worth Locals gear, and a pair of killer glasses you can pick up at the newly opened Black Optical in Clearfork.

Blake has this sense of nonchalance that a good model should have (as well as a rigid jaw-line) which is why he may have been the best dressed among us with a leather biker jacket and a black open road hat from Chieffalo Americana.

Austin pushed his boundaries of traditional menswear by pairing a leather jacket with a hat from Chieffalo Americana. His looks always feature pieces he designs and has produced through The Man’s Shop, where he works helping men dress their best, in Arlington.

Nate brought along his cowboy style, honed from years working at the Stockyards. Nate’s style includes an element beyond the visual and if you’re lucky you’ll get a Fort Worth Opera serenade along with the hat and boots. As we walked through the city we could hear Nate clicking his tongue to sound out the best acoustics for a Cowboy to sing opera in Florence.

Jordan has an appreciation for contemporary streetwear that shows in most of his style. He often sources solid blacks and browns with a focus on shape and form from Fort Worth’s myriad vintage shops. He certainly draws a crowd when he starts shooting with his medium format Mamiya RB67 film camera.

My outfits for this trip fell apart when I touched down in Florence and my baggage was still in London. The opening night Masquerade was the perfect opportunity to show off with a Coleccion Mexicana mask if it had not been stuck in another country. I was still able to represent with a gray chalk-stripe suit by Franklin & Anthony, and with my notebook and pen. Those two simple tools represent my Fort Worth studio even on the go - and they never get left in my luggage!

We want the World to know that Fort Worth style and fashion can’t be ignored. In my dreams, Fort Worth descends upon Florence during the Pitti Uomo season and shows the world the many talents and offerings of our great city. Until that day I suggest visiting to enjoy the beauty of a city that birthed the Renaissance, that still holds a million beautiful secrets around its corners and in its walls.

All photos taken by Jordan Smith

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