VR: Your age and occupation?

Products from Pukimo Raivio

Kiton, grey sports jacket, size 50EU
Ralph Lauren, Black Label suit, size 52EU

AB: 34 years old, software engineer (believe it or not!)
VR: Your educational background?

AB: I studied software engineering at a university; then got a PhD on software engineering (and not elegance!) Although sometimes software systems may be quite elegant.

VR: Have you any children or spouse (and how do they relate to your style enthusiasm)?

AB: Married, no children. My wife is OK with my enthusiasm — as long as I spend as much on her clothes as I do on mine.

VR: …and your parent’s and siblings’ reactions back in the days?

AB: I grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, which were not a very elegant time in Russia. Like almost everyone, back then I was mostly concerned with what to eat and how to protect myself from the elements — not with style.

VR: What other hobbies or passions do you have besides apparel?

AB: Mostly procrastinating and enjoying the “little trifles of life,” as Will Self put it.
VR: How did you first become interested in clothes, and when did you turn your eyes towards the classics? Why these instead of fashion?

AB: When I finally started to look for something else besides low prices on clothes, I decided to read a book on the subject. I was fortunate to find Gentleman: A Timeless Fashion by Bernhard Roetzel — the book that got me hooked. I’ve never really looked at fashion since then (or ever).

VR: How have you gathered your knowledge of clothing – from books, in-house training, workshops or somewhere else?

AB: Books, forums, old Hollywood movies — just like everyone else. Apart from Roetzel’s book, Michael Alden’s (the founder of thelondonlounge.net) writings have had a profound impact on my understanding of style.

Suiting up

VR: When was Gents’ Club founded and what was goals did the founders have in mind? Have you organised any events for the members?

AB: It started back in January 2010. As for the goals, I guess we (the three founders) simply wanted to create a quality Russian-language forum about classic men’s style. Probably a combination of what is, or was, good in The London Lounge and styleforum.net. We used to have monthly meetings every last Thursday of the month, but not anymore. Style forums are slowly dying, being replaced by the Facebooks and Instagrams of the world, and I’m afraid our forum is not an exception. These regular “last Thursday” meetings are already gone.

VR: How would you describe the style of Russian men and businessmen in general?

AB: It is very different depending on where you look. Civil servants prefer one thing, like jackets that are too big and trousers that are too long, businessmen prefer another, such as your usual Italian stuff that is OK, but frankly makes them indistinguishable from one another, and most people simply don’t care. Of course, there are men who dress very, very well. And I like to think that there are more and more of them with each passing day. Maybe due to the big influence of our little forum? But you really have to know one thing: the ladies in Russia not only look beautiful, they dress beautiful as well! The male population is way behind.

VR: How would you describe your own dress? Which RTW makers or tailors do you favour?

AB: “Country in a city” or “A weekend in the middle of a work week”. As I said, I’m a software engineer, so I really can wear whatever I like as long as it is not too formal. Yet I like classic, which mostly means formal in our day and age, clothes! This leads to a collision of opposite things.

My tailors and shirt makers are Kent, Haste & Lachter in London, I get shoes from the usual stable of English makers (from Cheaney to Green with no favourite brands so far) and, of course, I frequent English county outfitters like Cordings. As for knitwear, Westaway&Westaway’s online shop is my absolute favourite.

VR: Who or what inspires you?

AB: Fred Astaire, if you mean “style hero”. Too many people to list here if we start to speak on other aspects of life.

VR: What is your definition of style?

AB: It is a projection of who you are — to the outside world and to yourself.

Tweed Run 2014

VR: Is there something you wish more men would know about shopping for classic clothes in Russia?

AB: One tip: do your shopping somewhere else! :-)

Photos: Andrey Bokhanko

http://www.gentsclub.ru

http://bespokeetc.blogspot.ru/