17 Questions to a well-dressed man: Peter Moelans
Photo credit: Peter Moelans
Peter Moelans is the man who gives the streets in Antwerp even more aesthetic character with his way of dressing. On weekdays he is working hard in an office job but beside that he serves the well-dressed of Flanders with made-to-measure suits from the company he shares with another Peter; Petrus Suits. Beside clothing Peter is passionate about fine watches, writing instruments, cigars, gourmet food, art, shoes and the city Vienna! It’s worth to follow Peter on Instagram and get inspired by his outfits and as you all can imagine he is a great candidate to answer the ‘’17 questions a well-dressed man’’. The answers you will find below.
What are you wearing today?
Loafers, lightweight blue windowpane trousers, white shirt and a cardigan. My present home office attire, although I was still motivated to wear suit and tie during the first weeks of lockdown. In a few week’s time I’ll probably be strolling round the house in a parachute fabric track suit.
If you had to choose to spend money either on a suit or on a watch, what would you choose?
The oldest watch I still wear is a mid 1960-ies Speedmaster, while I can only hope I’ll still be able to sport my present-day suits in a few decades time. After all, bracelets are easier adjusted than suits are altered. And a scratch on a watch might well serve as a souvenir of a great wild night years afterwards, a ripped suit is a regrettable token of indecent behaviour to be removed from the wardrobe as soon as possible. I’d choose the watch for sure.
What jewellery could a man wear?
A wedding ring. I don’t consider cufflinks or shirt studs jewellery, because they serve a function. Tie clips don’t have such a purpose - apart from expressing the intention of wearing a tie without a jacket - and should therefore be discarded. On top of that, with a tie clip, people will actually be surprised that you’re not wearing a short sleeved shirt.
Tie or a bowtie?
That would be a tie for me. I really like bowties, but just don’t seem to get away with them if not on dinner jacket. In my opinion, they look better on portly men – so I’ll reconsider this answer in a few years.
Do you remember your first jacket?
It ticked all the boxes of bad taste. A 50% polyester jacket from a jet black suit I tried to combine with every pair of trousers I owned in my first year at the university. 15 Years later, I think I managed to carefully delete all pictures of me wearing it. I hope the jacket is living a happy second life as car seat stuffing.
What is your favourite watch?
The hand-wound Omega Speedmaster, AKA the Moonwatch. Not only an excuse for bothering your company with an unsolicited history lesson about how it was selected by NASA, it is for me the perfect combination between a sporty toolwatch and a neutral looking daily wearer.
Fountain pen or ballpoint?
Ballpoints are perfect for composing grocery lists. Everything that matters requires a fountain pen and, vice versa, everything written with a fountain pen, shows at least the ambition to matter. As soon as I developed a passion for pens, I started caring about my handwriting again and my notes have become a personal pleasure to look at instead of an object of shame. Slanderers might state that my scribbling just switched from ink, though.
Have you found the perfect garment yet?
Nothing beats a well-cut navy blazer in nice worsted wool. Suitable for just about every occasion. One of the few garments I can wear without feeling the urge of replacing it by an example in a bold pattern.
Explain your biggest passion in one sentence?
Gabriele d’Annunzio once had one of his novels’ protagonists say; “You must make your own life as you would any other work of art”. A rule to live by.
What is your guilty pleasure?
I tend to make detours in order to stroll through busy shopping streets in which I have not the least intention of buying things, just for the sake of watching people and their attires – and being watched of course. The full grown flaneur way of wasting time.
Who is the best dressed man in the world for you?
Too many famous style icons to choose from, both living and death. As for lesser known good dressers, I’m always impressed by Instagram user @pleatsandpatina. Perfect fits, nice combinations, great pairing of textures and master in the art of the maxim; ‘Nothing to excess’.
The best book you ever read?
‘Auf den Marmorklippen’ (‘On the Marble Cliffs’) of Ernst Jünger (1939). I consider it a manual for finding beauty in an age of barbarism.
Which city should one go shopping?
Vienna. Not many cities in the world have so many iconic shops located so close to each other. And equally close to quite a few beautiful cafés, restaurants and bars. Which is important, because nothing beats shopping when tipsy. It makes one forget credit card expenses actually have to be paid.
Tweed or flannel?
Tough choice! I like looking at both fabrics, but mainly on other people. I am too fond of smooth all-round fabrics myself.
The most elegant restaurant in the world for you?
The Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse (former ‘Montparnasse 1900’) in Paris. The early 1900’s lavish Art Nouveau interior takes you back to an age of fulltime flaneurism and heavy absinth drinking. The dishes are decent as well.
Describe your style in three words?
Conspicuous
Eclectic
Cheerful
Best purchase you did in the last 6 months?
Lizard leather tassel loafers by Magnanni. I never was a big fan of exotic skins, but this pair made me change my mind. Which will cost me money. Maybe it wasn’t that good a purchase after all.