“You have to live your style. You have to live what you’re wearing,” says Phil. “If you’re a guy that just wears jeans and a t-shirt, do it, but do it well – go buy a couple of nice t-shirts and a dark denim that actually fits you.” And so begins our Q&A, our meet-and-greet, with Phillip Williams, Director of Sales at Haberdash.

name  Phillip James Williams position  Director of Sales hometown  Chicago. “My favorite thing about Chicago would be the fact that I can live in a ‘big city’ but still have a small town vibe. People are friendlier here. I love my city. I would never trade it for anything. I’ve moved, but I always end up back here.” personal style  Casual/classic. “It’s the hidden sort of boastfulness of being understated, I’ll never wear loud patterns to draw attention to myself. I’ll never do or buy anything that screams, ‘There’s Phil.’ Even when I’m wearing something casual, I’m always pretty put together. I hate looking like a slob.” best piece of advice for guys?  “You can never buy your entire wardrobe at once. You can always add to it. And if you can’t afford everything at once, get what makes sense. Get a plaid shirt, get an oxford—you want to build your wardrobe. Which means you don’t need a million plaids. You need your staples.” phil’s code  “I’ve never sold anything to anyone that (1) I didn’t personally like or (2) didn’t look good on them. It’s who I am—and it’s a better way to work.” favorite brands  Woolrich—”I love the fit/style. It’s very updated woodsman. Woolrich takes their rugged side and modernizes it, brings in the fit.” Grown & Sewn, Alden, Grenson, Gitman, LBM. favorite item in the store  LBM 1911 Moleskin Blazer in navy (right). celebrity style icons Miles Davis (right). “He used to wear these chunky fisherman sweaters—just awesome. He was the complete embodiment of cool. He’d wear things like a tweed jacket with a polka dot scarf, but it was never over the top. He was just being himself.” Also Nat King Cole, John Coltrane. how he got here  Went to school for graphic art, ended up in retail. “Who knew that all those classes on color theory would transfer over to me actually be able to put stuff together?” the crazy twist  After two years at Armani, he was taking a break from retail when his sister called to let him know the bookstore he used to manage in Old Town was being turned into a men’s clothing store. Within a year he was the manager there as well. if he wasn’t doing this  He’d be a fireman. Or a musician. “I’ve been involved in music since I was 14, taken lessons since I was 5—the piano, violin, guitar, I’ve DJ-ed… I’m also a producer, and still an active member of my hip hop group, the Peanut Gallery. Every week I try to go buy two or three 45s—they’re the groups that never really made it to hit albums, but are always so good.” eat + drink  Longman & Eagle, The Whistler (right), Salud Tequila Lounge, Pops for Champagne. watch  Susperia, Nosferatu, House of 1000 Corpses, The Descent, The Shining. read  Haruki Mirakami, Paolo Coehlo, Dave Eggers, Jose Sedamago, R.K. Narayan, Will Self, David Foster Wallace, John Kennedy Toole.

“Always dress like you have somewhere to go. You never know what’s going to happen throughout the day.” —Phil’s mom LBM 1911 Moleskin Blazer in Navy Miles Davis (Photo Credit) Phil’s favorite record stores: Dusty Groove or Second Hand Tunes, above. The Whistler

shirt   “A shirt that fits, something from Gitman Bros. Probably a white oxford, although I don’t own one. Polish up the top with a tie or a pocket square. I prefer pocket square over a tie—I can only wear ties for so long. The tie would also be Gitman Bros.—something patterned or with a check, in dark blues, browns, blacks.”

layer  “A well-fitting blazer, probably something from LBM 1911.”

pants   “I always try to put a guy in a pair of pants, dress denim or casual chino, that actually fit him. The seat shouldn’t be dumpy. I’d probably recommend some selvage denim. I’m a denim fanatic. I love the 3Sixteen—the SL100s fit me perfectly… And if you’re wearing a fitted shirt, you have to wear a belt and tuck in your shirt.”

shoes   “My favorite part of the outfit: the shoes. Shoes andsocks, actually. That’s where it wins me over. Grenson Stanley brogues in chocolate brown. Wingtips, brogues, chukkas, moccasins are all okay. Avoid anything with a square toe. Also avoid Crocs and flip flops.”

“You can be comfortable and still look put together. In that outfit, a guy can take his jacket off and still look good.”