An Interview with Hoang Tuan Anh
1November 7, 2024 by Ville Raivio
Products from Pukimo Raivio
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Cesare Attolini, light tweed jacket, size 50 EU
VR: Your age and occupation?
TA: I am a Vietnamese man who turned 35 in September 2024. I am currently an accountant and a part-time tailor. I don’t like to talk much about my work or education because I am a private person. I prefer to share my style, hobbies, joys, and passions in life rather than my work or personal life.
VR: Have you any children or spouse (and how do they relate to your clothing enthusiasm)?
TA: Actually, I’m still single.
VR:…and how did your family members react when you first started dressing differently?
TA: That’s an interesting question! In fact, many Vietnamese people think that classic menswear is something too formal; only for weddings, banking or political work. But my family has a quite comfortable lifestyle and always respects each member’s preferences and styles, though my style caused a bit of curiosity for my family members at first. But now they’re used to it.
VR: What hobbies or passions do you have besides clothing?
TA: I love history, video games (I’m a big Devil May Cry fan), drawing, reading, and admiring historical architecture.
VR: How did you first become interested in clothes? Why classic clothing instead of trendy fashion?
TA: As mentioned above, I love history and historical architecture. The first time I was impressed with classic menswear was when I was about 12-14 years old. At that time, I watched TV-series set in the early 20th century and was very impressed with classic suits. When I was a little older, I had a special interest in modern history. Through historical images of the first half of the 20th century, I was very interested in the way men dressed at that time.
After I went to high school and college and then to work, I felt that modern clothes were very inappropriate. It’s not comfortable and it doesn’t make the wearer look better and it’s not comfortable. Low-rise slim pants are the ones that make me feel the most uncomfortable. I bought my first pair of relaxed fit pants and it completely changed my life. From those first items, I gradually went from loving classic clothes to playing my own dress game.
VR: How have you gathered your knowledge of vintage apparel?
TA: I got my information from classic menswear websites and blogs on the internet. The first websites were Gentleman’s gazette, He Spoke Style…then a little bit of the rest: The Fedora Lounge and, of course, Keikari. I also consulted Esquire’s Golden Age illustrations and historical photos or classic Hollywood movies.
VR: How would you describe your personal style?
TA: Almost classic. I use the word almost because, although I really admire classic style, there are still some things that I am not really satisfied with in my own style. So I just call myself almost classic, not purely classic.
VR: What is your definition of style?
TA: Style is when you understand it, love it, and want to pursue it no matter what.
VR: Who, or what, inspires you?
TA: As in the answer above, I am a history buff and the first persons who inspired me were WW2 leaders like Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman. Personally, I was most impressed with Mr. Truman’s style. Then, when I learned more about classic menswear, the next person who inspired me was, of course, the Duke of Windsor, the idol of idols. My other inspirations are classic Hollywood actors like Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable…and, of course, Esquire illustrations, which, to me, are like the multiplication table of menswear.
VR: How do locals react when they see your tailored outfits?
TA: Actually, there was a bit of curiosity at first but now they are used to it (laughs). Tailored clothing is now developing in Vietnam, so wearing my outfits is no longer so special although there are still some local prejudices such as it is only for grooms, finance person, bankers.
VR: How do you keep cool in a suit in a very hot climate?
TA: In fact, summers in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi, are quite terrible. I rarely wear a suit in the summer even if it is linen or lightweight tropical wool, like a hopsack suit. In Hanoi, in the summer, besides the high temperature (which can reach 38-40 degrees Celsius/100-104 degrees Fahrenheit), there is the harsh sunlight and high humidity which will make your body always sweaty. If you do not have a place to avoid the sun or a room with air conditioning, wearing a suit outdoors in the summer in Hanoi is really horrific. In the summer, I mainly wear polo shirts or dress shirts with a lightweight jacket to keep myself comfortable, instead of reluctantly and uncomfortably trying to wear a suit and tie in the hot summer air.
VR: Finally, what do you think my blog readers should know about men’s style in Vietnam?
TA: Classic menswear in Vietnam is growing and becoming more socially acceptable as celebrities and KOLs on social media are switching to more tailored clothing. Personally, I also have some young tailored clients who have a very clear awareness and perspective of classic menswear, which is a good sign. Tailoring costs in Vietnam are now quite reasonable and the skills of Vietnamese tailors are getting better and better. There are many good tailors around me, besides ready-to-wear and vintage brands, making men’s style in Vietnam very exciting today.
Category Interviews, Men of style, Tailors, Vintage | Tags:
Nice addition! Also, this old man learned a new term, “KOL.”