ALPHA MALE: Music + Men’s Style

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Thursday, March 28, 2013

Rob Babigian, GoLocalWorcester Men's Style Expert

Music and fashion have always seemed to have a very symbiotic relationship. From bands like the Beatles, hitting America with their clean-cut suits and bowl-cut do’s to Kanye and his embrace (and genesis) of trends on a nearly mythical level, style and music have always gone hand in hand.

Because of this synergy and our own interest in how they influence each other, we are introducing you to a man who has been deep in the mix of both the fashion and music industries—Gabe Alonso, Senior Editor of GILT Man—the off-price menswear site—who is responsible for the excellently curated Gilt MANual blog. Gabe’s previous work with industry giants like MTV and now GILT make him the perfect choice to kickstart our up-close examination.

Take a look below for our Q&A with Gabe as we talk style, music and what song he cannot resist on Karaoke Night.

Q: You’ve worked in both the music and fashion industries during your career. What would you say is the most misconstrued perception of each?

GA: I think both have similarly misconceived notions of grandeur and glamor. You can’t expect to become a Scooter Braun (Justin Beiber’s manager) or major fashion editor overnight. It takes most people years of hard work and paying their dues before they’re given even a taste of what they dreamed it could be. Entitlement in either industry is a surefire way to make sure you never get ahead.

Q: Music and fashion have always had a synchronous relationship. What in your opinion is/are the prominent trend(s) that seem to be connecting the two in recent seasons, specifically in menswear?

GA: Well, it’s kind of a no-brainer; The way hip hop has embraced men’s Fashion (with a capital F) has been a huge boon to the industry. Guys like Kanye, A$AP Rocky and his crew… they’ve brought this darker palette, draping silhouettes, and a far edgier sense of style that is starting to get embraced by a lot of guys that maybe wouldn’t have normally been into brands like En Noir or Public School, Robert Geller, Alexander Wang, etc.

Q: What was your favorite part of working for MTV?

GA: Honestly, there were so many things. I can’t just pick one. It was a surreal experience at times; Riding elevators with Jay Z; Calling the car to pick up Kanye after he bum-rushed Taylor Swift on stage; Nearly running over Tom Cruise in the back lot of the Gibson Amphitheatre and for a second seeing my entire career flash before my eyes; Literally creating 4 walls out of pipe and drape to create a dressing room at the 11th hour for Bruno Mars; Seeing Mumford & Sons perform 10 feet in front of me before they were big, but most of all, being in the credits of the award shows I used to stay up to watch when I was younger- the VMAs and the Movie Awards.

I learned so much there, not even about TV, but about people and how to navigate politics. It was a huge learning experience for me.

Q: You recently had a chance to show off your modeling skills for the current Spring/Summer ’13 GANT Rugger ad campaign that was shot in and around the European fashion trade shows. Of what did your playlist consist for that trip?

GA: The guys were playing a lot of hip hop and we may have played Rick Ross once or ten times. My playlist was a little different (though I’ve got nothing against Mr. Ross). I had the new albums by Yuna, Michael Kiwanuka, The Mynabirds, Ladyhawke, Curren$y, Fiona Apple, Usher, and Diplo’s Express Yourself EP on rotation among others.

Q: Fill in the blank… “Karaoke Night for me does not end until I’ve sung ____________.”

GA: I’m going to amend this slightly… “Karaoke Night for me doesn’t start until I’ve sung ‘Senorita’ by Justin Timberlake.” It’s my go to.

Robert Babigian is owner of WHARF Clothing & Wares, a menswear retail boutique located at 212 Westminster Street in Providence, RI. A native Rhode Islander, Rob started WHARF after 2 decades in marketing and sales to fulfill his desire to combine his loves of consumer branding, small business and style that would fulfill a niche for desirable men's clothing in the Providence market. The apparel and accessories found at WHARF reflect Rob's own personal aesthetic—a combination of traditional New England staples mixed with modern fits, construction and fabrics blended together with a touch of European style. For more tips or to shop the store, stop in and see Rob and his staff or reach them online at shopwharf.com.

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