Way Perry is without a doubt one of the hottest menswear stylists on the London fashion block. Not only is he the Fashion Director of Man About Town magazine and Wonderland magazine but he also counts the likes of Nike, adidas and Bacardi among his brand clients. His intelligent and quirky styling is making him increasingly popular with A-list actors such as Hayden Christensen, Ryan Phillippe, Ewan McGregor and with seriously cool bands such as Kings of Leon. As he says himself, he enjoys breaking the rules with menswear and boy do we enjoy watching him do that. Welcome to Way‘s world, where his siganture look is „bonkers but chic“!

When did you first realize you wanted to do something in the fashion industry ?

I have always been interested in creating things from an early age whether it be painting, drawing or making things for my toys. I think at the age of around 10 I saw a program on fashion and started to do these really random kiddie fashion drawings and I headed in that in school and then in college.

You studied menswear at the famous Central Saint Martins in London, did you ever think about becoming a designer, or did you always see yourself as becoming a stylist ?

I really wanted to be a designer but it felt wrong, I like creating images and working with clothes but the creation process of them was a little boring for me in some respects. By the end of my degree I knew I wanted to be involved in styling and working with designers not as one.

What do you think is especially exciting about menswear right now ?
(Especially your perspective).

I think menswear has always been exciting, mainly because there are restrictions and rules, so it´s easy to break them. For me designers like Thom Browne really push tailoring and bring it to another level. I also really love Galliano as aside from being an amazing designer he is the ultimate stylist!
Menswear is getting bigger as a business and men are changing how they dress and the way they think about clothes, they feel more individual and less sheepish. The Comme Des Garçons show is always an occasion for me.

Male styling is your forte but on occasion you work with women. What attributes does a female client have to have for you to want to work with her ?

Womenswear is great, but there are so many amazing people in it already. I feel I need to reach the top of my field in menswear before moving on to that.
When I work with womenswear it has to be about a certain type of “girl” and not “women”, she‘s tough and a bit miserable but really stylish and chic.

What‘s different in working with actors/musicians and your clients like Nike, Rimmel, Bacardi etc. ?

Actors and musicians both have an opinion on how they should dress and look. They are effectively real people. So you present them an idea and work with them to achieve a specific image and story. Clients like Nike have an ideal look and feel about them, they have a brief and definite point to reach. You work with your client to achieve their brief through your style, opinion and direction.

What is inspiring you at the moment ? And how does inspiration come to you or do you seek it out ?

At the moment I am really inspired by the Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton and films around the 20s-30s. I also really love Vampire movies and directors like Guillermo del Toro and Jean Pierre Jeunet. At the moment I am loving Whoopi Goldberg ‘s wardrobe in Jumpin‘ Jack Flash.
I find inspiration everywhere. Films, art, comics, books, record covers and just sitting on the bus in the morning. Just someone‘s attitude can make me think of the way they should look and dress.

What was your first paid styling job and how were you feeling then ?

It was styling a girl band, called Cleopatra. It was fun and they had a massive budget, they used to send a limo to pick me up. If only every job was like that!