Darren Stach

DARREN STACH, 27

Hometown: NY, NY
Location: North Bergen, NJ

Coach hat, Alpha Industries Bomber in maroon, ELEVENPARIS G.I. Joe T-Shirt, Wrangler cutoff denim, Adidas by Raf Simons (Stan Smith). 

UD: What is your style vibe? 
DS: I would like to think my style is labeled as "Gay Bro"... I like to think I'm perfectly dressed for a football game and / or a drag show!

UD: Name a few places you can rely on for inspiration...
DS: Most of the time it comes from seeing someone on the subway dressed a certain way and trying to figure out how I can pull that off.

UD: Re: style, what sets you apart from the rest?
DS: I know how to balance a preppy look with nerdy characteristics.

UD: Do you put conceptual or visual thought into your outfits daily? How? 
DS: Not as much daily but more so for specific occasions. I like to feel like I’m playing into the situation I’m going into. I won’t dress for the zoo like I would for the met.

UD: What are some of your go to brands? 
DS: I really like to shop at American eagle for my outer layers! I scan the internet for comic book shirts that make it look like I’m begging for a time machine. 

UD: Do you tailor clothes often?
DS: Not as often as I should! My jeans wish I would (instead of dragging them under my feet). I've busted the seams on a few shirts give that quick faith stretch to get into some of them.

Alpha Industries Bomber in maroon, ELEVENPARIS G.I. Joe T-Shirt, Wrangler cutoff denim, Adidas by Raf Simons (Stan Smith).

UD: How do you feel about the current men’s style landscape? 
DS: I am enjoying the inclusion of more plus size dudes, but I find it’s a lot of the same looking white guys and that tends to get really boring. 

UD: Does your cultural background play into your style choices at all? If not, how do you differ from that? 
DS: It is by no means a shock when people discover that I’m a white boy from the suburbs! I think what sets me apart is not being afraid to embrace the influences of my childhood on my clothes.

Zanerobe T-Shirt, Hi-vis workwear from CAT Industrial. 

UD: What is the most obnoxious struggle when you're shopping for clothes? 
DS: I can never seem to find those jeans in stores that have the perfect waist to length ratio! It’s also a pain to be a different size in different stores.

UD: What are some exciting aspects of fashion to you right now? 
DS: I love that the beard is here to stay! 

UD: If you could say anything to men's clothing designers and manufacturers, what would you say?
DS: Chill with the amount of material you feel the need to use for the larger sizes. My arms don’t need to disappear under my sleeves just because I have a big belly.

UD: What gets you excited about your personal style? 
DS: I usually buy my clothes in waves, so every time I do I feel like it’s a new era and I’m in a different aspect of my character!

Denim jacket from TOPMAN, T-Shirt from Zanerobe. 

Photography by Lewis Meyer-Peddireddy