Time To Grow Up

I remember it like it was yesterday. The moment I decided to save money, and get my first job. I wanted to be a Subway sandwich artist. Not because I needed, or even necessarily wanted the money, but I would save 10 Euros (approx. $11… wasn’t as cheap as it is in the US) every day that I ate there, so basically every day of the week. Now what does a boy, age 14, do with some extra 400 Euros a month?! Well, if you’re me, you buy a ton of DVDs and go shopping for clothes. From that money I bought my first real watch. My first step into what I thought was manhood: wearing a watch that wasn’t made from rubber, but rather from leather and metal, and it just so happened to be a Fossil watch. So you really see the close connection between the sandwich, and the watch. Thus the next two photos 😉

This was honestly a major moment in my life, making my own money, affording my own things at an early age, learning how to use my time towards my goal and growing professionally. Later on, I decided it was time to leave Subway, and move on to something more mature, something that was more connected to what I really appreciated in life, and I end up working retail at my home town’s premiere designer boutique. Working retail wasn’t always easy, but I found my pleasure in the clothes that surrounded me, the conversations I had with the customers, and the entire process of styling them, something that stuck with me to this day. What is a sales strategy for some, is an authentic style philosophy for me: an outfit isn’t complete without its accessories. Thinking back to the time where a Fossil watch was what made me feel complete, I helped people to not only find pieces they liked, but to round out their style and perfect their looks. I myself live by this, and the Fossil Q Grant I’m wearing in today’s post is a large part of bringing the entire outfit together, tying in the brown tones of the backpack and shoes, as well as the earthy tones of the clothes I’m wearing, and contrasts nicely against the layered navy jackets.

Today, I am where I am in life. Living in New York City, working in fashion, getting to travel and meeting awesome people. I’m not exaggerating when I’m saying that I’m living my dream. I have new dreams now, because if I didn’t I wouldn’t keep improving, but I definitely am living my past dreams. All the pieces came together to create something ideal, much like in the watch I’m wearing here. I am a huge tech geek — whether or not I look like one is besides the point, but the fact is that I probably do and don’t at the same time — and I quite obviously have a thing for aesthetics. What always bothered me about smart watches is that it lost the look of a nice, analog watch. It felt like a step back, another watch with a rubber band, beeping and playful. What about the leather? The elegant metals? The intricate clockwork on the inside? The Fossil Q Grant is the solution. Beautiful, classic aesthetic, with all the technological beauty of a smart watch, controlling music, taking photos, tracking my activity, all most essential things you might want from a smartwatch, and in a city as majestic and energetic as New York City.

Photography by Mary Leest in Partnership with Fossil

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IN FOCUS:

Watch by Fossil | Shop here

Jacket by Zara | Similar here

Jacket by Samsoe Samsoe | Shop here

Shirt by Topman | Shop here

Chinos by Dr. Denim | Shop here

Sneakers by Paul Andrew | Similar here

Backpack by Coach | Shop here

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