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[title]Robert “Max” Twitty—the stylist, Gents Among Men (gentsamongmen.com) blogger and winner of our most-stylish-reader Instagram contest—proves he is one of the most stylish New Yorkers by modeling his dapper looks. As evidenced by his pastel pants from Jachs and vibrant bags from Ernest Alexander, he isn’t afraid of color. Twitty likes to shop at NYC stores such as Epaulet and Club Monaco, and occasionally treats himself to facials at MenScience.
Robert “Max” Twitty, “mid-20s,” stylist and proprietor of lifestyle blog Gents Among Men (gentsamongmen.com), Harlem
His personal style: “It’s British-inspired with a Midwest twist. Being a menswear blogger and stylist adds a lot of pressure in the morning because I have to constantly be mindful of the outfits I wear and how they are styled together.”
His inspirations: “My father and uncle were always my style icons growing up. My father wore mostly suits and my uncle was more on the urban side of fashion, so I had a good balance of how to look stylish in both. As a young man, I always admired the fashion of the Harlem Renaissance era. The men always looked very clean and dapper, and I always wanted to emulate that once I got older.”
Favorite stores: “Epaulet (144 Orchard St between Rivington and Stanton Sts, 212-228-3626 • 231 Smith St between Butler and Douglass Sts, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn; 718-522-3800 • epauletnewyork.com) is a cool men’s and women’s clothing boutique with an American-meets-British vibe. I love the house-label candles, overseas clothing brands, but my favorite thing to pick up is Saphir shoe polish. The ingredients are all-natural and it really makes your shoes look great. Ernest Alexander (98 Thompson St between Prince and Spring Sts; 212-775-1199, ernestalexander.com) manufactures great bags in everything from leather to waxed cotton. I’m looking forward to his tailored-suiting collection that’s coming soon. I also like Club Monaco (locations throughout the city; visit clubmonaco.com), the mid-priced casual-clothing retailer owned by Polo Ralph Lauren. I own a few suits from there, and I particularly like the cut of the Grant suit. The fit is slightly slimmer than previous models, and works well with my frame with very little tailoring needed.”
Favorite local designer: “Armand Brito of independent luxury streetwear brand Warren Peace (warrenpeacenyc.com). His aesthetic is urban but it embodies the spirit of the Empire State.”
How he describes New York style: “It’s always interesting. I can’t pull off a lot of outfits I see throughout the city, but I give credit to the ones who can just put on what they love and wear it with confidence.”
How his style has evolved: “I made the transition from oversize jeans, polo shirts and Air Force 1 sneakers to slim-cut denim, blue blazers and wing tips.”
Favorite salons: “I have a personal barber I’ve known for more than four years: Eric Credle (347-880-3749, doweboy77@yahoo.com), who does great work. When he is out of town, I go to Levels (locations throughout the city; visit levelsbarbershop.com). It has a classic barbershop vibe—if you’ve ever seen the movie Barbershop, you know what I mean—and if you want a Spider-Man design cut into your head, that’s where you go. I like to visit MenScience (329 Lafayette St between Bleecker and E Houston Sts; 212-219-3525, menscience.com) to get a facial once or twice a month—it’s always good to kick back and have someone else do the work for you occasionally. I like the facial scrub and mask, but my favorite [product] would be its multivitamin. Not a lot of people know MenScience carries a health line. I am always running around doing interviews, so it gives me a good supply of energy to get me through my day.”
Follow Cristina Velocci on Twitter: @cvelocci