Jeffery Wilkins, visual merchandiser for Louis Vuitton at CityCenterDC, talks fall staples and the key to building a timeless wardrobe.
The late Oscar de la Renta once told Vanity Fair that “fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.” This philosophy is what makes Jeffery Wilkins, the visual merchandiser for Louis Vuitton at CityCenterDC, such an interesting study in personal style. At just 25, the Arlington resident has developed a distinct outlook on getting dressed, opting to only wear monochromatic looks in neutral color palettes because prints and patterns can “age” a wardrobe. “You almost can see the timeline of all of the times you have worn it—especially with social media. Avoiding bold patterns and colors is what makes a wardrobe timeless,” Wilkins says.
Many may wonder how someone so young can be so resolute in his fashion philosophy, but it is clear from one conversation with Wilkins, who counts Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci and Kanye West as his fashion influencers, that he is a true student and ardent lover of fashion. Surprisingly, his biggest piece of advice for those who desire a career in the industry is to get out of fashion capitals like New York. “My job while I was at Marymount was as an East Coast rep for a local designer named Aida. When I worked with her I didn’t run and get coffees; I was sewing, doing casting calls with models and getting her into boutiques. I thought, ‘Wow, I wouldn’t be able to get this experience [while living] in other areas,’” he says.
While Wilkins has a preference for pieces from stores like Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria and Burberry Prorsum, he also believes that to truly be a part of the fashion scene in the area, one must recognize and support local designers. Syreeta C, Native Danger and Sophie Blake are a few of the local designers he believes will elevate the fashion scene in the coming years.
1. “The leather jacket is by Sandro, and it is my go-to for the fall. I think the biker jacket came back; it’s an awesome piece, and you can wear it from daytime casual to dressing it up at night.”
2. “The wide-brim fedora hat [Obey] is very popular, and I think that it’s a nice staple piece that you can wear throughout your entire collection [of clothes]. Every gentleman should have a nice hat.”
3. “Riccardo Tisci from Givenchy had been doing collaborations [with Nike] for sneakers, and I missed all of them except this one. I think sneakers are coming back into everyday wear; people are dressing them up with a suit or with jeans and a T-shirt.”
4. “Fall season is boot season, and I can’t wait. For guys, we usually get the low boot or the Chelsea boot, but I love that these [Louis Vuitton Tibet boots] are a mid-calf style. You can tuck some nice jeans into them, and while they are Louis Vuitton you don’t see the Damier Graphite print until you roll them down.”
5. “Sunglasses are year-round. The sun doesn’t go away, so why should your sunglasses? I think sunglasses are the new statement piece. Dior came up with a really great style that’s edgy and on-trend. Mirrored is always great because it adds a second dimension to your outfit.”
(Septebmer 2015)