17 Questions to a well-dressed man: Amide Stevens
Photo credit: Nataliya Mureau
Amidé Stevens is one of the more colourful Instagram Dandy’s around. With a fine feeling for colours, materials and craftsmanship he’s always dressing sharp and in a very own sense of style. Beside the sharp dresser that Amidé is, he’s also a designer of handmade accessories that are made in Italy and England. Ties, pocket squares, braces, umbrellas and even gloves are to find under the brand names Amidé Hadelin and Amidé Hadelin Orange Label. One of the most famous pieces are probably the Dutch Masters pocket squares which are fine silk pocket squares printed with Dutch Master Paintings such as The Milkmaid from Johannes Vermeer. Because Amidé has a very refined taste and sense of style I’m extremely honoured he wanted to answer the 17 questions to a well-dressed man.
What are you wearing today?
Grey worsted mid waisted trousers with double forward pleats, solid light blue shirt, tobacco worsted braces, navy loden tie, navy PoW check jacket, Vermeer’s ‘View of Delft’ pocket square, snuff suede tassel loafers.
If you had to choose to spend money either on a suit or on a watch, what would you choose?
Right now that would be a watch, ask me in a few weeks and it might be a suit..
What jewellery could a man wear?
As little and unobtrusive as possible.
Tie or a bowtie?
For daily use, tie.
Do you remember your first jacket?
Yes, it came from charity.. I bought it to use at my fraternity back in the day. Since it was a bit of a sport to demolish each other’s jackets, you either needed a new one every week, or you reinforced your jacket. Mine was of the reinforced kind.. all pockets closed, as well as additional stitching done with heavy fishing line, side vents closed and reinforced with pieces of seatbelt, one single piece of seatbelt running from one cuff inside both arms and via the shoulders to the other cuff. After a couple of years you could put it up straight on the floor, that´s how stiff it had become. I still have it somewhere.
What is your favourite watch?
I have a vintage Vilor Watch chrono that I like very much. What I´d still like to own some day is an Omega Speedmaster, since to me it is easy to combine with many outfits and it´s not an overly ostentatious watch. A bit more elegant would be something like the Jaeger leCoultre Master Control Date, or a Reverso.
Fountain pen or ballpoint?
Depends on my mood and the setting, I love to write with a fountain pen, but I do regularly use my Montblanc ballpoint.
Have you found the perfect garment yet?
No, not yet, but I´m enjoying the journey this pursuit takes me on.
Explain your biggest passion in one sentence?
Coming up with new combinations of products/materials/styles etc. others haven´t tried before (or have tried but failed) and make it work..
What is your guilty pleasure?
Putting on my vintage leather racing gear and taking my MV Agusta 350 club racer out for some fast laps on track.
Who is the best dressed man in the world for you?
I don´t have any style icons if that is what you mean. But there are quite a few well-dressed gentlemen out there, a few that come to mind are Prince Charles, G. Bruce Boyer, Douglas Cordeaux, Erik Mannby, Henrik Hjerl, and my friend Franco Mazzetti.
The best book you ever read?
Can´t remember, it´s been too long since I´ve taken the time to actually read a complete book.
Which city should one go shopping?
I do a lot of my shopping online to be honest, but I have been very impressed with Vienna last time I visited.
Tweed or flannel?
That should read tweed AND flannel!
The most elegant restaurant in the world for you?
First of all I don´t eat out much, having a busy schedule and young kids often prevents me from visiting restaurants, but the most elegant to me are perhaps the various dining options at Hotel Sacher in Vienna.
Describe your style in three words?
Don´t overthink things.
Best purchase you did in the last 6 months?
After today´s rain showers, that must be my new Barbour Ashby wax coat..