20 Questions: Brooks Brothers’ Michael Bastian

3. Where are you at the moment?

I’m sitting in my office in Times Square at the Brooks Brothers New York City HQ.

4. What's the first thing you do every morning?

I turn on the coffee maker!

5. Who do you think are the three most stylish men in history?

I have always admired Steve McQueen, Gianni Agnelli and John F Kennedy Jr. I always thought JFK Jr had the most personal style — he truly embraced the sexy American style.

6. How would you recommend styling Brooks Brothers’ new cashmere tracksuit?

I think you could certainly wear it together, but it's more interesting if you break the cashmere tracksuit apart. Maybe wear the hoodie with a jacket, chinos and sneakers. I’d pair the bottom with a flannel shirt, loafers and a parka if I'm running out the door in the morning. It’s also perfect if you just want to lounge at home.

7. You've been wildly successful in the menswear industry and have a CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award under your belt. What does it take to be a successful menswear designer?

I think you need to infuse yourself into the customer’s head. It’s usually easy to design menswear if you’re a guy because you can put yourself in the customer’s shoes and make a product that you yourself are looking for. But that might not always be the reality, sometimes you might work for a brand that's a little out of your comfort zone, and you must create this mythical customer that will get you through the job. I consider myself very lucky as I’m the Brooks Brothers customer, so I'm designing everything I love.

8. What defines a perfect Oxford shirt?

The number one thing is the weight of the fabric. It should be 100 per cent cotton, very dense and heavy — also, the roll of the collar, which was a famous Brooks Brothers invention and is very recognisable.

9. What’s the most understated accessory for men? 

A wedding ring.

10. Do you have any interior design influences? 

The decorator Billy Baldwin. All the apartments he designed were quintessential New York, in my opinion. They’re still modern and very well put together.

11. What's your favourite object in your home and why?

There's a painting in my living room that my mother gave me when I was a freshman in college. I dragged it around with me for years until I finally found a place in my home.

12. What Brooks Brothers pieces are you wearing on high rotation now?

I’m wearing a couple of things — the long-sleeve slim-fit polo, which is a little dressier than a regular polo shirt. Also, the Madras shirt and the ladybug embroidered shorts — they were some of the first things I designed at Brooks Brothers.

13. How has getting dressed for you changed in the past year?

I think after a year of lockdown, all I want to do is dress up again. I keep thinking of items that I wasn’t craving while chilling at home that I want to buy now. A grey flannel pant and a new parka are definitely on the list.

14. What do you love most about New York?

I love the diversity. People always say that New York is only for the rich, but I think that’s not true. I came to New York with big ambitions and no money, but I feel like the city took care of me. You can do a lot of things without money here like visiting museums and parks, and beaches during the summer.

15. What are the three pieces every man should have in his wardrobe?

Navy cashmere crew-neck sweater, red and white Bengal striped shirt, and a pair of five-pocket corduroys.

16. What else is influencing your design?

This Fall, there’s a heavy equestrian theme. There are two main influences — the very preppy East Coast and New England spirit and a great story of one of the Brooks Brothers’ grandsons who owned a horse ranch in Wyoming.

17. Who would you most like to see wearing Brooks Brothers?

I would love to dress President Biden. He does already wear Brooks Brothers, but it would be amazing to create a custom suit for him someday.

18. What do you wish you knew about style when you were 16?

I wish I knew that you didn’t have to change your look to go with a trend. I've always been very preppy, but I would try to morph into a different style to fit in when I was younger. The older I became, the more I realised that I shouldn't have to change my whole persona just to blend in.

19. What would you most like to change about the way men get dressed?

I don't want to change anyone, honestly. I think everyone should be able to express themselves. I just want to make sure the Brooks Brothers customers get what they need.

20. What about your career makes you the proudest?

It’s not so much about pride and more about astonishment! My career took so many turns, yet I ended up in the place that I always wanted to be. I still can't believe that I’m at Brooks Brothers — it’s something that I’d always dreamt about.