Most stylish New Yorkers: Manning Leonard Krull
The Web designer has an uncanny knack for making cheap look chic; we show you how to spin his style.
Fri Apr 22 2011
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
"I had owned all of these black and white items for a while and never thought...
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
Krull's shades cost just $5 at H&M, which his French girlfriend and her pals...
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
"I used to be really into piercings in my twenties, and I keep these last few...
"I used to be really into piercings in my twenties, and I keep these last few almost out of sentimental attachment rather than a conscious stylistic choice," says Krull. Most of them were done at Infinite Body Piercing (infinitebody.com) in Philadelphia. "I used to have 17 piercings, but now I'm down to eight."
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
Krull bought this polka-dot scarf at Monoprix (monoprix.fr), "a big chain store...
Krull bought this polka-dot scarf at Monoprix (monoprix.fr), "a big chain store along the lines of Target," in Paris. "I never shopped for clothes there normally---Monoprix was my go-to store for hairspray and bleach kits---but this scarf just caught my eye."
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
Krull's half-sleeve dragon tattoo was inked by Troy Timpel at Philadelphia...
Krull's half-sleeve dragon tattoo was inked by Troy Timpel at Philadelphia Eddie's Tattoo Haven (philadelphiaeddiestattoo.com). "I always want to get more tattoos, but I never seem to get around to it," he says.
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
Another Paris purchase, this messenger bag came from a store called Celio...
Another Paris purchase, this messenger bag came from a store called Celio (celio.com), which Krull describes as "a bit like H&M." The downside is the magnet closure, "which erases subway cards, as I've learned the hard way."
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
Krull's natty two-tone shoes may look trs chic, but they were actually dirt...
Krull's natty two-tone shoes may look trs chic, but they were actually dirt cheap. "My girlfriend bought these for me in a crappy store in Pigalle, Paris's red-light district," he says. "They were about 30 euros, and I think they're plastic!"
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
Krull defines this look as "dandy rocker." He pairs a green velvet jacket,...
Krull defines this look as "dandy rocker." He pairs a green velvet jacket, bought from a store in Paris called Delaveine (delaveine.com), with a Diesel shirt and belt, and pants from H&M---"boys' pants for once."
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
"I never leave the house without sunglasses on," says Krull. "I always have...
"I never leave the house without sunglasses on," says Krull. "I always have about a dozen pairs, which are constantly being replenished as I lose or break them." He unearthed these striking orange shades at Daffy's for a ten-spot.
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
Krull's lightweight, silvery scarf was another five-buck find at H&M
Krull's lightweight, silvery scarf was another five-buck find at H&M.
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
These tiger-print pony-hair shoes came from a "really cheap store on South...
These tiger-print pony-hair shoes came from a "really cheap store on South Street in Philly."
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
"This is probably my quintessential look," says Krull of his H&M women's pants...
"This is probably my quintessential look," says Krull of his H&M women's pants paired with a jacket from Chateau Denim (chateaudenim.com) in Paris. "I have a ton of black jackets and black pants, and I like finding interesting combinations of shirts, ties, shoes and sunglasses to go with them."
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
The pink shirt was a gift from Krull's sister---"H&M, again!"---and the silver...
The pink shirt was a gift from Krull's sister---"H&M, again!"---and the silver paisley DKNY tie was a $15 bargain from Daffy's.
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
An H&M vest and Diesel jacket chain lend a Victorian edge
An H&M vest and Diesel jacket chain lend a Victorian edge.
-
Photograph: Zenith Richards
Krull bought these AllSaints Spitalfields shoes a couple of years ago, but he...
Krull bought these AllSaints Spitalfields shoes a couple of years ago, but he doesn't like the store's current stock. "Now, everything they have looks too intentionally dusty, faded, worn, etc." he says. "I like crisp and shiny."
-
SPIN HIS STYLEash&dans Nik striped scarf, $56 (normally $70), at...
SPIN HIS STYLE
ash&dans Nik striped scarf, $56 (normally $70), at ashanddans.com. Use the code "TONY" at checkout to receive this discount through May 10.
-
SPIN HIS STYLEG.H. Bass & Co. Enfield oxfords, $69, at Tani, 2020 Broadway...
SPIN HIS STYLE
G.H. Bass & Co. Enfield oxfords, $69, at Tani, 2020 Broadway between 69th and 70th Sts (212-873-4361)
-
SPIN HIS STYLE
Burgundy and Blue Balmoral sunglasses, $15, at uniquevintage.com
-
SPIN HIS STYLEStudy double-zipper cuff, $108, at Oak, 28 Bond St between Bowery...
SPIN HIS STYLE
Study double-zipper cuff, $108, at Oak, 28 Bond St between Bowery and Lafayette St (212-677-1293, oaknyc.com)
-
SPIN HIS STYLEKemitch long-sleeved button-down shirt, $30, at Daffy's,...
SPIN HIS STYLE
Kemitch long-sleeved button-down shirt, $30, at Daffy's, locations throughout the city; visit daffys.com
-
SPIN HIS STYLEA.J. Morgan aviator sunglasses, $16, at Pop, 310 Grand St between...
SPIN HIS STYLE
A.J. Morgan aviator sunglasses, $16, at Pop, 310 Grand St between Havemeyer and Havemeyer Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-486-6001, shoppop.com)
-
SPIN HIS STYLERobot & Brucling Chelsea denim bow tie, $35, at...
SPIN HIS STYLE
Robot & Brucling Chelsea denim bow tie, $35, at robotandbrucling.com
-
SPIN HIS STYLEThomas Pink Sailor plain linen shirt, $185, at Thomas Pink, 520...
SPIN HIS STYLE
Thomas Pink Sailor plain linen shirt, $185, at Thomas Pink, 520 Madison Ave between 53rd and 54th Sts (212-838-1928, us.thomaspink.com)
-
SPIN HIS STYLE
Toms Passport shoes, $54, at toms.com
-
SPIN HIS STYLENeuw Hell skinny jeans, $162, at Oak, 28 Bond St between Bowery...
SPIN HIS STYLE
Neuw Hell skinny jeans, $162, at Oak, 28 Bond St between Bowery and Lafayette St (212-677-1293, oaknyc.com)
Manning Leonard Krull, 35; freelance Web designer (manningkrull.com); Williamsburg, Brooklyn
His personal style: "I like to think of my style as sort of glam meets dandy. I moved to New York last year after living in Paris for five years, and while the French generally dress really conventionally, they do have lots of well-cut, inexpensive skinny-boy clothes, and I really took advantage of that. Most of my wardrobe was shipped over from France in a giant crate."
His inspirations: "As a graphic designer, my general aesthetic influences my taste in clothing; I'm always looking at what kind of 'design' this item will make with that item. I'm also inspired by glam rockers from the '60s and '70s, and new-wavers from the '80s."
Favorite stores: "Almost everything I own these days is from H&M (locations throughout the city; visit hm.com)—mostly tons of dress shirts, jackets and girls' pants. The trick is choosing the right things, so you don't look like you shop at H&M. I also like Daffy's (locations throughout the city; visit daffys.com) for ties and shoes. Some of my things come from Zara (locations throughout the city; visit zara.com) and AllSaints Spitalfields (locations throughout the city; visit us.allsaints.com). Basically, all the stores I like are a good combination of cheap and stylish."
His signature accessory: "I wear ties almost every day, for no reason other than I like them. I usually work from home, so clearly I don't need to be dressed up, but it feels good to look good."
Favorite designers: "I'm really not interested in brands or names or labels."
How his style has evolved through the years: "I've actually gotten much more conservative! As a kid, I didn't know anything about style or fashion and just went for shock [value], wearing the weirdest and ugliest things I could find in thrift stores, just to be unusual and piss people off. In my twenties, I went through lots of crazy hairstyles and colors, vinyl pants, platform shoes and thrift-store suits. In my thirties, I've gotten into wearing suits and ties almost every day, although I try to keep them weird and interesting."
