Gregory Jerez

Today we're sitting down with fashion maven Gregory Jerez. From working with  Wilhelmina Models to freelancing in the industry, Gregory is no stranger to navigating the do's and don'ts of the business. With one look at his Instagram you can tell that style is no issue here and today he's here to fill us in on his personal style. 

Me: Describe yourself.
Gregory: I always found this question to be so awkward for me… (Laughter). I’m a really easy-going, chill kind of guy. I believe it takes way more energy being a negative person, so I always try to be upbeat, welcoming, and open. I don’t think I find anyone uninteresting upon meeting them – I think everyone has a story and I am always open to hearing them out. I’m also goofy as hell, I love to laugh and have a good time… I have no qualms about making a fool out of myself in front of anyone. Life’s too short to take yourself seriously all the time. 

Me: Were you born and raised in NYC?
Gregory: I was born in Woodside, Queens and moved to the suburbs of New Jersey when I was young. I spent my summers every year in the projects of the Bronx with my aunts and cousins. My parents have always worked in the city so any chance I could get I was here, especially when I was a little goth kid around 12-14 years old…St Marks Place was my spot. I started going out to downtown clubs around the age of 16 and never really considered anywhere else home since.

Me: Now describe your personal style.Tell me about the evolution of your style. 
Gregory: (Adjusts seat) Sooo I was an extreme goth kid from 12-14 years old. I was the kid with the black eyeliner, bondage pants and arm warmers with his hair done up in liberty spikes that would lurk outside of Hot Topic and scowl at everyone who passed. I was obsessed with brands like Lip Service and would hang out at Trash & Vaudeville.

I went to catholic school my entire life up until college, so dressing up was my outlet of expression at this time and probably made me so open to different, eclectic styles. I was the weirdo of my school – but somehow attracted all the preppy cheerleader girls. My best friend at the time was the idyllic preppy girl – dressed in Abercrombie or J.Crew head-to-toe. One day, her mother had enough and took me shopping… my new wardrobe consisted of A&F, Banana Republic, Club Monaco, etc… but at this time I was really getting into the “emo” music scene… so I was kind of a mess. I would wear band t-shirts and baggy ripped Abercrombie jeans… then I discovered girl jeans! (Laughter). 

The fashion world always remained as a constant for me even at an early age. As a goth, I was obsessed with models such as Devon Aoki and Shalom Harlow because their looks were so eerie. When Gemma Ward came on the scene, I fell in love. I didn’t start to take fashion that seriously until my junior year of high school. I’m pretty sure it began with vintage first (NJ has the best kept secret warehouse of thrift finds! Shhh!). I began shopping in NYC vintage stores, Screaming Mimi’s was a regular haunt when I was 16. I am still friends with some of the employees from that store to this day. I think my first favorite (& accessible) designer back then was  Marc Jacobs because his designs were hip, a little strange and worked well when mixed with vintage pieces. 

College is when I started to get serious. My graduation present was a pair of Gucci roman sandals (which I’ve worn down to the ground at least 4 times already). I was the boy in the dorms with high fashion male editorials plastered on my walls from the one or two issues of Arena Homme + and L’Officiel Hommes they would sell at the local Barnes & Noble. I began experimenting a lot with dandy styles of dress. I loved Missoni button down shirts, wing-tipped Prada shoes and tailored pants. I went to an undergrad business school in Boston and my style stuck out like a sore thumb amidst the Longchamp bags and docksiders…It was great!  I started posting my looks onlookbook.nu and eventually created a blog, which received a bunch of attention overseas, especially in London. I still don’t think my style is very ‘American’ to this day, but inspirations of Americana do slip in here and there. During my junior year of college I began working for a European magazine called MYKROMAG under the Editor-in-Chief and stylist, Sonny Groo. He really taught me to appreciate the color black and focusing on shapes, textures, and fabrics. He definitely brought my 14-year-old goth sensibility back, but with an elevated sense of style.

Me: Are you the true definition of a New Yorker? - All black, or do you appreciate a brighter pallet?
Gregory: I really don’t think all black is the true definition of a New Yorker. A lot of the real New Yorkers who have lived here forever actually do enjoy a brighter palette and have this air of confidence that makes anything they are wearing pretty interesting (even when it’s regular). For me, it all really depends on my mood when I wake up in the morning… I can go from an all black, sheer, and drape look to denim overalls with a button down and a tie. I really like to enjoy the true accessibility of fashion in all forms… why not have fun with it?

Me: Are you inspired by NYC?
Gregory: Every single day. There’s no other city I would feel comfortable in (except maybe London). New York is home.

Me: What's your Most important style rule?
Gregory: You must be confident in what you are wearing or your clothes will end up wearing you.

Me: What's the first stylish thing that you ever bought?
Gregory: A black mesh Marc Jacobs tank top with the number 13 emblazoned on the front in black sequins. I still wear it to this day.

Me: What's the worst outfit you've ever worn?
Gregory: In college I was obsessed with cardigans (Laughter) now I rarely wear them.

"Depends on my mood. I think from going to catholic school my entire adolescent life, something about getting all dressed up really excites me."

Me: The most common style mistake men make?
Gregory: Not getting their pants tailored to fit their body. Waste a couple of bucks and make yourself look good, guys. 

Me: What's your favorite "fashion era|decade in fashion" style wise? 
Gregory: The 70s, hands down. The tailoring was perfect. The introduction of safari jackets and wide leg trousers. Totally my jam.

Me: Do you travel a lot? Do you find that the street wear in different places are similar or very different from each other?
Gregory: I’ve traveled around a bit and it’s always interesting to see what people are wearing in other cities. I remember my first trip to Milan, I went out shopping and wore a double breasted blazer and these bright, bright color-blocked Gucci loafers… all the Milanese people were gawking at me. Little did I know back then that bright colors on men are not acceptable to the general population and DB blazers usually means you work in finance. Whatever.

Me: Are you a big accessory guy? What are some of your favorites?
Gregory: Not really. I wore bracelets that I found in Home Depot and have like 3 pairs of sunglasses I rotate. I’m also obsessed with a good leather back pack and snapbacks.
I don’t even own a watch because I always end up breaking them or getting them scratched from wailing my long monkey arms around whilst dancing drunk or what have you.

Me:  Who, dead or alive would you call your style inspiration|icon?
Gregory: Francesco Cominelli, he was a Vogue Hommes International fashion editor before he passed and a street style king. 

Me: What's your favorite fall/winter accessory? Spring/summer?
Gregory: Fall/Winter – a warm fuzzy skullcap
Spring/Summer – a black mesh snapback

Me: What are some of your favorite stores? Do you shop online - if so, what's the most important thing for a guy to know when shopping online?
Gregory: Wait until it goes on sale, then purchase. Never buy anything full price unless you know it will be gone in seconds. I almost always shop online. I love ssense.com, thecorner.com, and other online retailers.

"In college I was obsessed with cardigans (Laughter) now I rarely wear them."

Me: Black tie or super casual, which do you prefer?
Gregory: Depends on my mood. I think from going to catholic school my entire adolescent life, something about getting all dressed up really excites me. I guess I am sucker for the constriction of it all.

Me: Any key pieces that you find yourself buying multiples of, or wearing a lot? 
Gregory: Usually happens with t-shirts. I have bought multiples of Theory t-shirts and Helmut Lang tees.

Me: Favorite designer and why?
Gregory: Raf Simons – his designs are always slightly off-kilter and I love that about him.

Me: Where's one place that you haven't been yet, but dying to go?
Gregory: Tokyo. The street style, the shopping, the overall attitude is just so appealing to me.

Me:  How would you describe NYC street fashion?
Gregory: Multi-faceted. It can be gritty and it can be super clean cut. It can be dark or bright as fuck. It’s whatever the hell you want it to be and no one can tell you any differently.