NICK CARVELL

FREELANCE FASHION EDITOR

Nick Carvell is a long-time Friend of Aubin. He has had an illustrious career in the world of men’s style, notching up five years as GQ’s Associate Style Editor, but also a regular contributor for many years to all the main men’s style titles.

We were thrilled when he agreed to turn the camera on himself for a change and put our new Aubin Autumn range through its paces.

Could you tell us how you got into the world of men's style and fragrance?
I think my first real experience of men's style was through men's magazines like Esquire and GQ. Having grown up in a small county town and not having a huge variety of options for cool clothes on our high street, these magazines really fired my imagination about the fashion scene in London and got me excited about how to wear clothes – ultimately it's what drove my desire to move to London as soon as I could. Arguably, fragrance I discovered at a far earlier age. My dad used to travel a lot for work and used to bring me home those little boxes of miniature scent from the plane. I would proudly wear CK Eternity, Acqua di Gio, and Cerruti 1881 for my first school discos. To this day, my dad wears more fragrance (and more fragrances) than any man I know – and he's very much passed that obsession on to me! I wasn't really aware when I was much younger that I could turn my love for either into a career, but here I am.

Favourite style icon?
Much as I've tried various vibes over the years, I always gravitate back to prep and tailoring. When it comes to forever style icons, I am forever inspired by Paul Newman, David Hockney and Miles Davis in the Sixties, Harrison Ford in the Seventies, JFK Junior and Ralph Lauren in the Nineties, and every guy on the pages of Take Ivy by Shosuke Ishizu and Toshiyuki Kurosu.

Can you tell us in a few sentences what you think defines great style?
There is always an ease to great style. By that, I don't mean the clothes are necessarily easy to wear, but that the wearer knows it fits them properly, it doesn't restrict their movement unnecessarily and they feel confident in it for the situation at hand. That could be just as true for a tracksuit as it could be for a tailored suit and, I think, is a good marker of true style when you look back at photos of men historically, whatever the era or dress code. On top of that, there are also those personal touches – a slightly frayed shirt collar, an artfully darned hole in a jumper, the scratched glass on a watch face, leather shoes with deep grooves on the toecap – that show the man wearing it cherishes those items. True style ultimately comes from a place of joy.

What are your go to pieces in your wardrobe at this time of year and why?
For autumn here in the UK, the right layers are essential. While there's still the threat of warm-ish rain storms and afternoon sun on the same day, cotton is the way to go – I live on T-shirts under cotton flannel or chambray shirts, which give insulation without the roasting humidity of a sweater. Ditto with cotton trousers which give a bit more breathability than jeans in this transitional season. On top of that, I'd wear a wool blazer or lighter cotton jacket, which could be removed if it heats up or thrown on if the heavens open. Also, this is the time of year I swap out the summer fragrances I've been wearing for something more comforting and autumnal – still fresh and green, but with a few more woody or leather notes there for seasonal warmth (Rodeo by Byredo is a real autumn favourite for me).

What are you working on at the minute?
I'm excited to be working on my first book, exploring the stories behind what goes into your favourite fragrance. I can't say too much right now, but watch this space!