Style Strategies
⇾ Nico Lazaro, Stylist & Brand Consultant
Talking style, splurges and saving with Nico Lazaro
If you don’t know Nico Lazaro, you for sure know his work. He was a founding member of the resale platform Grailed and is currently an in-demand stylist, brand consultant for some of your favorite brands and the writer behind The Bengal Stripe. I've known him for years and along with being one of the most well-mannered guys in menswear, he's also known for his incredible taste. The man makes one helluva moodboard and knows how to mix and match aesthetics—blending high and low, modern and vintage—always toeing the line between a nostalgic vibe and something unexpected and fresh. Between styling and writing, Lazaro says he loves working with smaller brands to help them hone their identity and brand voice. “It's a mix of creative direction, copy and editorial work,” he says. “Basically, helping people tell their own stories in a way that feels personal yet relatable.” I was curious to peak into his shopping bag and see what he's currently into these days—he didn't disappoint.
Describe your personal style
in five words or less.
Traditional, irreverent, contradictory and personal.
V60 plastic coffee dripper,
$13 by Hario
The best thing
you’ve bought under
$20 recently ...
A plastic V60 coffee dripper. It's nothing new, but the plastic version retains heat more easily, and it's made my mornings noticeably easier.
986 Leisure handsewn penny loafer,
$947 by Alden
What was an item that you thought about the longest before buying?
A pair of Alden LHS penny loafers in shell cordovan. I'm still debating honestly—between the sizing, the stiffness, and whether I'd actually enjoy wearing them sockless—it's been nearly two decades of overthinking. It's between those and some J.M. Weston 180s as an investment piece.
Speaking of shoes, what’s your footwear rotation look like lately?
Loafers—a lot of loafers in every possible shape, size and style. A couple of canvas sneakers for the most casual occasions, and a couple of suede boots (La Botte Gardiane and Tecovas) for those rougher occasions.
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Crosscut flannel,
$240 by 3sixteen
An item you’re looking to buy at the moment?
A great heavyweight flannel shirt. Ideally vintage, but I've always loved 3sixteen's crosscut flannels, too.
Three favorite brands, currently?
August Special, Rivay and 3sixteen.
Do you shop more online or in person?
Online for the hunt, but in person for the feel. Fit, fabric and energy are things you can't really get through a screen.
What city has the best shopping?
Tokyo, without question. The attention to detail, the obsession with niche, and the way every shop feels like its own world—it's unmatched. When I travel, I gravitate toward vintage or local crafts. Anything you couldn't just grab online later.
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Necessary extravagance?
Tailoring, for sure. Whether it's dialing in vintage pieces or investing in something custom, the right fit is what makes everything else click.
The one thing you refuse
to spend money on ...
Probably gym clothes. I'll run old tees and shorts into the ground before I think about upgrading. Although I did just get some solid gear from Ten Thousand.
Ecru Big Fox Tag T-shirt,
$30.75 by Unbleached Apparel
Something you buy multiples of (either by design or by default)?
White tees. They're a rotating cast—some crisp, some blown out, all in heavy use.
What’s one shopping tip or hack that you can let everyone know about?
Set email alerts or notifications for highly specific searches (you can do this on Google and most marketplace apps these days). The best stuff pops up randomly, and half my favorite pieces came from being fast on the trigger or knowing when to send an offer on something that's been sitting.
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