The late Hardy Amies said it best when he declared: “A man should look as if he has bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care and then forgotten all about them.” Beyond this guiding principle, the formula for a stylish man is harder to pinpoint. So for 2017’s selection of the Esquire’s Best Dressed Men in the Gulf, we’ve looked at men who wear their clothes with a sense of individuality, confidence and consideration.
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The stylish franchise manager has mastered the unusual art of smart/casual down to a tee, but always on the smarter end of that spectrum. His style is best described as classic with a twist. “Fashion exemplifies your inner self, and it allows your personality to show from across the room, without you ever uttering a word.”
Hardie pays tribute to his long-time friend, Derek Todero, for inspiring this approach, which began a decade ago. “He went by the philosophy that if you aren’t at least a little uncomfortable in how you look then you are not doing it right.” He continues to explain this alternative approach to classic tailoring. “This drove me to push boundaries and get comfortable standing out from the crowd instead of blending in.”
Hardie often turns to social media, particularly Instagram, for inspiration on contemporary trends and styles. He says he appreciates lesser known masculine brands, with his favourite piece being his Sebastian Cruz couture pocket square.
When asked what he would wear if he could only wear one thing for the rest of his life, he responds with his usual laid-back, good-humoured attitude. “If it was socially acceptable, I would just go au naturel with a necktie.” Now that’s about as under-stated and brave as one can get.
