André Larnyoh has enviably easy style. 

It’s tempting to put this down to his work as an actor, but that would be too simplistic. That training certainly creates “natural physical awareness”, as he puts it, but there’s also fascination with aesthetics in general, and the influence of working in menswear. André used to work at Trunk in London, and recently started at Drake’s. 

It’s also easy to think that there are photos of André everywhere. After all, he appears in Trunk’s feed, has modelled for Scott Fraser Collection, for Adret and for Polo Ralph Lauren (see bottom of article). 

But as he says, none of those were his clothes, reflecting what he actually wears every day. And as with Gianluca Migliarotti – whom we covered most recently in this series – André posts very few selfies.

So I think he’s a great subject for this latest ‘How to dress like’ feature. 

 

 

Outfit 1: Finding the right denim

OK André, let’s talk through the first look. Where’s everything from?

This is a lightweight Mackintosh that I got at Trunk about two years ago, with a Levi’s shirt. I have a lot of Western shirts, I pretty much live in them. 

Where have you had them from?

It’s been a bit of a learning curve. My first one was from Levi’s and a size medium, and as you can see I’m pretty tiny. It fit in the shoulders, but was just too blousy in the body. 

It was also too light – I think the secret to a good Western shirt is nice snaps and a mid-weight. It can’t be as light as a normal shirt, but you don’t want a original heavyweight either. Just something so it can soften nicely over time, all that good stuff. 

I have a Polo one, which is OK, and then this heavier Levi’s which is my favourite. Maybe one day I’ll be able to get a Bryceland’s one. 

 

 

The trousers are Kit Blake, the Aleksander cut, with double pleats – a high-twist wool in a mottled grey/brown colour. It’s a bit more casual than normal flannels, and I love the rise. 

I always wear high rise. I think it makes me taller: I hope it makes me taller. But either way I like it because it’s so comfortable. 

A good example of being aware of menswear principles without necessarily following them. 

True. The shoes are Crockett & Jones, my absolute favourite shoe, period. They go with everything. The jacket underneath is from Lardini, and the glasses are from the Japanese brand that Trunk sells, Ayame. They don’t sell this model though – the Around (which is a terrible name!) 

The glasses are big, bug-eyed, with a 50% blue tint, and I love them. I’m wearing them right now actually. I don’t know, maybe I look ridiculous and nobody’s told me yet, but the tint makes everything seem calm, and I love the size – there’s almost a Jackie O thing about them, where the size hides your face. 

 

 

Outfit 2: Wearing colour

Number two, the green shirt. Now I know we’ve talked about this before, but not on PS: do you think your skin colouring makes it easier for you to wear colour?

I think it does, yes, but actually I don’t wear that much colour. I’m scared of big blocks of it. Partly from teenage years I think – all the mistakes you make, going round in a violet shirt with a paisley tie and thinking you’re the shit. 

So I wear neutrals mostly – white, grey, black, dark brown, navy. But I really like the colour of this shirt.

I laughed when I first saw the drop from Drake’s, along with a yellow one and a pink. But then I went to this exhibition at Tate Britain, by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. It was mostly portraits of black men and they were often in dusty-pink, black or green shirts. That inspired me to try the pink and the green Drake’s ones, and I love them. 

That often seems to be the way with colour, or perhaps with any clothing you don’t usually wear – you need to see it on someone else before you feel confident to wear it yourself. 

Yes, true. And in those portraits it made their skin seem more vibrant. 

 

 

Maybe I can wear more colour than other people, and if that’s true I’ll take it. But it’s still always easier to wear neutrals, and so I do it more. I mean I already have a big wardrobe for someone my age – it’s hard enough to choose what to wear from among dark colours. I don’t want to have to think about colour coordinating in the morning as well.

I feel self-conscious in strong colour, and perhaps that’s because I’m wearing big sunglasses and other unusual things too. You need some self-restraint. 

I see the trousers are the same as the previous outfit. How about the shoes – that’s a fairly light colour with the trousers, and with dark socks. 

Yes, I think the shoes (from Adret) look a little paler than they are in real life. Or maybe they’ve lightened over time. And the socks – yes I think was actually planning to wear no socks with this outfit, but I forgot to change! 

I don’t think dark socks are that bad though, to be honest. There’s the whole thing about matching socks to trousers, and that lengthening you etc. And that is probably true, but the fact is I’m wearing pale khaki shoes, so they’re going to stand out against the trousers no matter what. 

 

 

Outfit 3: Shawls and cable knits

Is that RRL, your lovely cardigan in the next outfit?

Oh yes, I love that thing so much, and it’s the one piece of RRL I’m lucky enough to own. It’s not the hand-knitted ones, but it’s still lovely. It’s wool but with some silk too; the colour variation is lovely; and the concho buttons have this satisfying ping whenever I take it off. 

I’ve had it almost two years and while it looked a little aged at the start, it’s really nice and worn in now. I shove things in the pockets – not just my hands, but books, anything. If it’s not cold enough to wear a coat, then I just wear this, so everything goes in those pockets. 

Is it hard to get the right size in slouchy things, given you’re smaller?

Yes – any bigger in this cardigan and it would have drowned me. But it’s just right. It fits on the shoulders, which is the main thing, and then it doesn’t matter if it’s a little long. 

Shawl-collar cardigans are great too, I’d love more. They frame my face, they feel cosy, you can wear them over shirts, T-shirts, knitwear, anything. 

 

 

Do you often layer knitwear like you’re doing here?

Yes a fair bit, and this combination of a cable-knit jumper, trousers and loafers is my absolute go-to in the morning. You know everyone has something they just turn to when they have no other particular ideas? This is mine. 

I wear the cable knit with a bandana if it’s cold, but otherwise not. And I wear a jacket, coat or cardigan over the top. It’s a base outfit that takes me anywhere, and is good for anything. 

I notice you rarely wear shirts under jumpers like this one. Is there a reason?

I just don’t like myself like that. I think maybe because it looks a bit old, and a bit clean-cut? It looks great on other people, but it makes me look like someone I’m not. 

I’m only 26, and I feel a button-down under a crewneck ages me 10 or 20 years. So I wear the cable knit on its own or with a bandana instead. 

The trousers are Edward Sexton, in a camel Fox flannel, and the shoes are Crockett & Jones, the Boston model. 

 

 

Outfit 4: Mismatched navy

Talking about dark colours earlier on, here you are in all navy. 

Yes I like slightly mismatched navy combinations like this. The jacket is from Vetra, bought at John Simons, and I think it looks good because of how much it’s been worn and washed. It’s the first thing I get out in the Summer – when I get those lightweight things out from under my bed (they’re kept in a suitcase). 

The shoes we’ve chatted about before as well – it’s the jazz/dance shoe right, from Crown?

Right, the Regent model. I got them only a year-and-a-half ago, but they’re pretty bashed up already. It’s a dancing shoe really, it’s not designed for being worn out and about. Similar to Repetto shoes, the French brand. 

They suit your style a lot I think, as they look so soft and relaxed. But I can imagine other people feeling they look a bit too much like a ballet shoe. 

Yeah, and I get teased about them all the time for that. It helps that I actually did a little ballet, so that’s some kind of comeback. 

 

 

I’m sure some readers will be able to relate to being teased a bit for their clothes. Does that ever stop you wearing things? 

Sometimes, but when it’s things that are fundamental to how I dress it’s fine, because it feels so part of me. If you feel awkward in the clothes already, or a little stiff, it’s then that you can start to feel bad. 

You wear vests a lot under shirts and knits as well. That’s something else that I think people can be nervous about, thinking it makes them look like some kind of lothario. 

It’s weird, I’ve gone through stages with vests. When I was a kid, I wore them all the time. My background is Ghanaian, and everyone in that community wears them. Then when I was in my teens, I didn’t want to wear them anymore, because they made me feel like my uncles. 

Then about three or four years ago, I put one on instead of another undershirt, and it really worked. To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about it in the UK – how do you feel? I know you wear them sometimes.

I guess I like it just peeking out of a shirt, so one more button done up than you have. But I think that’s about recognising who you are and your style too – if they had that heritage for me, as they do for you, I might feel differently. 

To be honest, most people where I come from would cover them up, but I think you’re right that that makes a difference. Plus, I do think it has a little sex appeal, hard as it is for a guy to say that. 

 

 

Outfit 5: Navy and black

So many great themes coming up. OK, so last outfit. We have mismatched navy again, and the undershirt. The same black loafers as outfit one as well – do you ever wear brown shoes?

Not really. So many people seem to think black leather shoes are formal, but they don’t feel like that to me, at least as a loafer. And I used to think that they couldn’t go with everything, but they do.

There’s probably some light shade of brown that they wouldn’t work with, but I honestly can’t think of anything else.

Is it a little bit a function of what else you wear?

Yes perhaps. I also wear them with military tan, but there might be a stronger khaki shade there that wouldn’t work. But I just think black looks so much more sexy and elegant than brown ever did. That might also be associated with drama school. 

 

 

How so?

It’s weird. We were just always told to wear black. Because it’s neutral, because you’re there to learn and to perform, not to be noticed for your fashion choices. And I was getting into menswear at the time anyway, so I had black and brown shoes (and hats, and lots of other silly things I won’t get into). 

Over time that kind of bled into what I liked, and I’d wear for example a black rollneck, because it would mean I wouldn’t have to change when I got there. It was New York too, so it was probably part of the feel of the place. 

When I moved here and started working in menswear, it was all about brown. But I just don’t like brown shoes – sorry, but it’s true. I’ve got the exact same shoe in brown calf, and they’re killing me, because I haven’t worn them enough for them to wear in. 

Where is everything else from?

It’s the Lardini jacket that you could just see in the first outfit, a baby-cord shirt from Camoshita, and vintage navy trousers. 

Cheers André. 

Photography: Alex Natt @adnatt, except images below, Ralph Lauren and Adret

 

 

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Josh

Thank you for the introduction to André; I love his perspective and these looks, which are all perfect examples of casual chic. I do find myself falling for certain items when modelled by men of colour, only to slowly realise that the tone or pattern would just never look as good on me. Part of a broader realisation that it’s easy to idealise the models more than the garments themselves. (The Hight Street enters, stage left.)

Despite having previously questioned the similar-in-principal white bucks, the Crown jazz shoes are looking strangely appealing here! Maybe it’s the price, and something about the lack of structure… Though I also owned actual jazz shoes growing up so that could be it.

Noel

Interesting use of black shoes. They appear more versatile based on André’s outfits.

Peter Hall

Firstly, I love the green shirt.

Andre nails why texture, depth and layering is so important and adds interest to a look. It’s great for the older man.
Stimulating to see how Andre often avoids the light/dark contrast in top and bottoms. More evidence of the black shoe Renaissance .

Thank you both.

Gabriele

Very refreshing to hear from a younger guy, and discover how they find a balance between classic menswear and dressing for their age.

John Doe

Some nice outfits, will definitely look to incorporate some of the looks into the way I dress. Small point, you have two “Outfit 3”.

zo

fantastic ideas here. some observations:

-Great ways to combine super casual tops with smart bottoms. Outfits 1 and 2.

-Outfit 1 and 2 uses high waist pleated trousers with straight hems (no turn up), presumably to make the wearer look taller. In my head, pleats and turn ups go together ..which is obviously wrong.

-Outfit 3 then uses Sexton flannels with super thick turn ups! Which makes me doubt the theory about turn ups accentuating short height.

-Outfit 3 uses knitwear on knitwear – amazing!

-Outfit 4 very unusual (for PS) and interesting combination of items – henley, vest, slouchy jacket and trousers and white dancing shoes (gosh i hate those!)

-Outfit 5 – again very unusual and interesting items – granddad collar, vest, mismatched navy on navy (very difficult to pull off imo..helped here by the belt)

-Socks dont match trousers in any of the photos.

André

Can’t really be bothered to match my socks. So I stick to dark colours. Works in my books. Maybe a white here and there.

Rupesh Bhindi

Hi Andre, where are the denim/navy flannel trousers from? Which fabric mill?

André

They’re Vintage, supposedly old US Navy trousers. Think they’re made out of overcoating cloth, heavy as hell and itchy to boot. Still love ‘em.

zo

sorry, i meant to say the mismatch socks look pretty cool in every single look. another ‘rule’ successfully disregarded

Jeremy

Lovely stuff, thank you: self-aware in terms of attitude and what fits his own personality, as well as an imaginative and instinctive approach to mixing and matching various looks. Undervests and shirts under a crewneck both give him negative connotations of older men (the ‘fuddy’ fear) – he’s decided to take on the first despite that, but still doesn’t fancy the second look. I think both would look good on him – yet it’s not only about that, but also comfort and general feel for one’s own style. Also the elements of surprise and juxtaposition: the undervest probably would feel like more of a Lothario look if he were a larger chap, but those and the somewhat macho connotations are subverted by his being slender and what he’s paired it with.

I especially love the oversized blue-tinted glasses – they give him a look reminiscent of a young Miles Davis!

Almost nothing here would suit my personality or look and I wouldn’t feel comfortable, but he’s got a great style and there’s lots to chew on here.

Bob

I personally still cannot get on with the high waisted trousers/tucked in shirt look… yes it makes the legs look longer but makes the upper body look comically small. I’m surprised by the comment of a shirt under a jumper being avoided due to it ageing him, I dont think any of the outfits particularly help him look his age and many put him in the retro but not vintage/dandyesque category (unless being so non-conformist is supposed to be the age identifier?)

That all said, there are several individual pieces of clothing that look great and some parts of the combinations I’d even go for but he’s clearly aiming at a style, and he’s comfortable in it, so thats fine.

André

I mean I’m a 26 year old wearing gold button blazers and flannel trousers, so I’m never really going to look my age no matter what I do. I’m just trying not to make it worse!

Daniel Schmergel

One of my favorite profiles thus far, Simon. Considered without being overly fussy and so rooted in his own background–the vests, the ballet shoes, the use of black–that there’s a real authenticity and idiosyncrasy, which enhances the charm of the clothes themselves.

George

Bravo! I’ve been looking forward to this article. I love Andre’s style. A breath of fresh air on the site in contrast to the usual lawyer/ financier fodder. More Please!

Chris

Andre is an outrageously good dresser. Hands down the best in this series. Everything he wears looks natural, classic and unique.
Also, having chatted to him at drakes and bought a tie from my wedding from him, he is a supremely lovely guy.
Thanks for covering him and giving him the props he deserves .

Rob

Another great article. Andre seems great company and it is really good to have nailed a stylish look which really works for him at a relatively young age.

Vinnie

I see the title of this article has now been amended and rightly so. I have to say that i agree with some of the sentiments being expressed on Instagram and that the original title was insensitive to say the least. Why would ‘skin colour’ need to be stated in bold in the title?

Vinnie

Hi Simon, thanks for the message. I feel that your reply seems to ignore why this may have been insensitive and doesn’t address the fact you missed this when titling the article. It also assumes that Andre is the only person involved in this issue. Regardless of how Andre may feel about it, it can also be felt by other readers and the broader community. As i am sure Andre will agree he does not speak for us all.

zo

i am dark skinned and i didn’t think the title was insensitive at all. and I dont understand why it would have been… to each their own i guess…

André

Well, personally, I felt it drew attention to a part of who I am that didn’t really need it and it made me uncomfortable. So I appreciate the change. Like you said, to each their own. “We are not a monolith” etc etc

OJ

This response seems a bit ‘I’m sorry that YOU find this insensitive’ rather than being ‘I’m sorry that It was insensitive’

OJ

Do you acknowledge that the original title was perhaps misjudged? I think one of the key message that has come out of the recent discussions about racism in todays society is that there is an inbuilt blind-spot on issues like this whereby people fail to put understand why this may be insensitive i.e one of only a few black men featured on the site has to have the phrase ‘skin colour’ featured prominently in the title when the equivalent article featuring any number of the white Europeans or Americans would not feature this so prominently if at all. It still seems that the dark skinned are somehow singled out as being unusual and this is the very thing that should be addressed. Why should one of the defining features of an article about a black man be his skin colour? It speaks of an inbuilt prejudice.

BB

Simon, you’ve proved me right again … ‘sorry’ can be the hardest word, yet you’ve delivered it so gracefully. I don’t know what has happened earlier, but remember when I said I found the colour white really striking against my black skin. I had avoided that colour for trousers for so long, but it is now one of my favourite colours to experiment with. Andre’s choices prove that colour does indeed complement black skin and I can’t wait to experiment even more in future. Great feature too and Andre just sounds like a real gentleman.

Nicholas Kyriacou

Hi Simon, have you changed the title of the article? If so, why?

Craig

Great article.

I think the theories behind some clothes looking better with some skin tones, and other clothes looking better with others, are just that – theories. There are dozens of things that are more important to looking good, to the extent that it becomes irrelevant. Color combinations, patterns, material combinations, mixing levels of formality, being in good shape… these are what make people look good. People may be more comfortable with some colors over others, but that probably comes down to personal preference and desire to avoid or embrace connotations, i.e. I don’t wear electric pink or loud plaid patterns because I don’t want to be THAT noticeable, but other people do and it looks great on them.

Nick

curious to know who made the brown loafers in outfit 3 as well !
Congrats on the article, great photos too !

Kev F

I think it says it’s the Boston from C&J. Thinking of a pair myself.

Jason

What a fantastic interpretation and personalisation of classicism.
Who makes the beige trench coat ?
It would be a fabulous colour for a PS 3.0 edition.

Ian Leslie

Wonderful post.

Corey Cavalieri

Really enjoyed this installment, love the fuller cut trousers and Andres overall style

TS

Long time reader, first time commenting.

This would have to be one of my favourite series and more specifically articles on PS. Due in part to being a fan and follower of Andre’s style, which I think is simply magical and suits him and his vibe incredibly well. It’s relaxed, playful, informed and most importantly not forced which for me is the maker of true style. And also because simply put I always find it informative if not inspiring to see pictures of interesting style along with words and ideas of how and why things are put together.

I also thoroughly enjoy the series as I believe it shows a progression in content for you Simon, not only with whom you choose to feature but the types of style you are featuring. Seems like there is a move towards a wider and more varied palate of styles being appreciated by you, which I wholeheartedly welcome as someone who has broad and varied tastes in regards to style and life in general.

May I suggest a few individuals I would like to see featured in the future. Even if some of these are perhaps outside the PS remit.

Gauthier Borsarello
Tony Sylvester
Leon Rehman
Jason Jules
Leon Cerrone

Martin

The Ichizawa bag in the third picture looks a little different to the one sold by trunk. Do you know which model it is?

André

It’s the Tool Bag model. They used to do it, but not anymore. Best bag ever.

Robert M

Awesome. Maybe they don’t do that specific one anymore, but there’s enough choice on their website. I was looking for a good quality tote without any leather for quite a while now, and this seems to fit the bill.

Lewis

I work near Marylebone and the area is certainly less characterful since André left Trunk. At first glance, his style doesn’t necessarily look as though it fits in to the Permanent Style remit but in real life he never looks showy; he just looks well-dressed. And I think he wears the slouchy look better than any small, slender guys I know of. Most of all, I couldn’t see many adopting some of the aspects of his style but everything he does works for him – and that is the essence of true style.

Philipp

“How to dress like…” is a great series and André’s feature was one of the best so far, I think.
I was wondering, whether that Vetra jacket was the linnen or the cotton model. I think it looks great the way it is washed out and worn in.

Tim

I love his style!

Charlie W

Interesting. I always thought the glasses were Cubbits.

Rups

Where the round tortoiseshell glasses are from please?

Simon K

I pick up a 50’s jazz vibe with the high trousers and leaning back:)
Speaking of musicians, perhaps a post on the late great Charlie Watts? Especially his way of casual. I havent been able to find a bad photo of him, likecomment image

Simon K

True, no depth really. Sadly no interviewers seems to have succeded in getting into a good dialogue. He had a good sense for what fitted him. And about fitting in. So I would have liked to hear much more.

Nanni Boggio

no , in effetti lo “stile” di Andrè non è il mio

Prince Florizel of Bohemia

Would you consider HOW TO DRESS LIKE article featuring Patrick Grant? I’d be curious to hear how he puts together his more conservative outfits (and why he chooses to dress that way) as well as the bolder ones. Also, if I’m not mistaken, sometimes, he wears navy trousers with odd jackets. Thank you.

Prince Florizel of Bohemia

Thank you, I think it would be rather interesting. Let me elaborate on why. I don’t know what perception of Patrick Grant in the UK now is, how much has he become a TV personality and celebrity (I believe that Hugo Jacomet once wrote that he is overexposed). He’s quite open about preferring British cloths, manufactures and drawing from them as opposed to many men in tailoring today, who prefer all things Italian. What I find particularly interesting is that even most sobers outfits he wears, rather traditional flannel suits and navy ties look modern and relevant on him, and he seems to be very relaxed in them. He also seems to ignore trends to his advantage, wearing suits with slimmer lapels and trousers for years, as opposed to wide lapel trend of today (for me there’s a 1960s vibe to it). In the other hand, he’s been wearing extremely wide legged cotton and denim trousers with crew necks and look equally good and relaxed in them. 

Gary

The best one was Chinatown . Great suits and jackets to emulate .