Our Favorite Instagrammers – @newenglandmenswear

Our Favorite Instagrammers – @newenglandmenswear

Name: John Stingle
Instagram Name: @newenglandmenswear
Amount of followers: 7197
Age: 23
Residence: Southeast Connecticut, USA
Occupation: Graduate Student/Teaching Intern

My name’s John, and I’m currently a graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Education, as well as teaching certifications in Secondary Biology and Earth Sciences. I’m expecting to graduate in a year and (hopefully) become a full-time high school teacher starting in the Fall of 2018.

Living in Connecticut, there isn’t really a “hotspot” in my immediate area- but I’m about 2 hours away from Boston and New York City, so I try to make trips in every now and then, especially to NYC.

Favorite food… that’s a tough one. I like a lot of food.  I guess I’d have to say well-made spaghetti in a white sauce with seafood. I don’t go out to eat at too many restaurants, but there are a few local bars in the area that I enjoy going to with some friends.

I really enjoy hiking and photography. Again, Connecticut isn’t really known for breath-taking mountain views and hikes, but I do have some great nature preserves and waterfront views that I think are pretty beautiful.

1. Why do you share your outfits? And why Instagram?

Originally, I started taking photos and sharing them because it was a good way for me to practice and develop my photography and editing. The response I got in the beginning was definitely encouragement to keep going.

I think Instagram is a great platform for sharing my photos. It’s easy to connect with like-minded people and brands; I think I wear some of the brands I do because I found them on Instagram. I think a lot of people would use the word “community” to talk about who they interact with on Instagram, which I don’t think you get from many other social media sites.

2. What makes your Instagram feed so special?

I don’t know about special, but I try to keep my feed honest. I post the things that I like and that I like to wear. Additionally, I think that my style and photography skills have developed immensely since I started posting. I don’t necessarily think every shot is perfect, but I definitely find myself uploading photos and looks that I really like more consistently.

3. Where does your inspiration come from?

First and foremost, I definitely draw some inspiration from some of the accounts I follow. Seeing some of the shots that other people share has been a great way to develop my aesthetic. Additionally, I think I draw inspiration from where I grew up – autumn in New England is by far my favorite time of year. My wardrobe consists of almost entirely earth and muted tones; color-wise, I basically dress for Fall year-round. I think that the whole boots-jeans-flannel fad that got huge a few years ago is dying down, but for me, that’s just kind of the uniform that you see in rural New England.

4. Where does your love for denim come from? When did it start?

I’ve always worn jeans, mostly Levis from the mall. I started wearing raws a couple years ago when I picked up a pair of ONIs from Blue in Green in New York. I had my eye on them for a while, and finally pulling the trigger on them just catapulted me into the world of raw denim. Now, I enjoy seeing all the details on different pairs of denim; differences in warps and wefts, slubs, neps, and the little things that separates one brand from another.

5. Your top 3 favorite (denim)brands?

3Sixteen – I own a lot of pieces from 3Sixteen. I think that they put out some of my favorite clothing pieces in general, not just jeans. Denim-wise, I have their Type 3s and a pair of their 17oz STs, both in shadow selvedge. I think that the character each has developed over time is incredible. Additionally, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Andrew a few times and I can honestly say that I support the brand not only because of what they make, but also because of who runs it.

Rogue Territory – I also own a few non-denim pieces from RGT and recently picked up a pair of the SKs, which I think fit fantastically. They also seem to put out some absolutely great pieces season after season.

Apolis- I’m not sure if it’ll count for denim, but I do have their raw indigo chore coat so I’m going to count it. I don’t think I can say enough good things about Apolis. Their clothes and accessories are well made, and they’re extremely transparent about their manufacturing processes. I think that the clothes they make are completely in-line with my personal style and aesthetic.

6.    What is your favorite accessory?

I don’t wear a lot of accessories, but I’ve really enjoyed seeing the patina that’s developed on my natural leather keyclip from Brock Road. He’s a cool one-man operation making some pretty neat leather accessories.  Other than that, I have a Timex Weekender that’s been ticking for a couple years now. I’m always a little tempted to go out and get nicer watches, but I can’t argue with the fact that this one takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’.

7.    Which items do you wear most at the moment?

Right now, for the summer, I’d say I’ve been wearing the SKs, a pocket tee from 3Sixteen, and a pair of 1970s Chucks or my camp mocs the most. The SKs have a perfect taper for wearing hi-top shoes, and the pocket tees that 3Sixteen makes are probably my favorite tees I’ve ever owned.  The other 3 seasons of the year, I like wearing boots and jackets. I have a few Chore Coats from Apolis, and I wear my trench boots from Oak Street Bootmakers a bunch.

8. What is your favorite shop? And what is your favorite webstore?

My favorite physical store is probably Self Edge in New York. It’s just… cool. The guys that work there are cool, the brands are cool, the vibe is cool. I got to visit the LA store when I was out there and it’s the same way. I’ll also say the Apolis stores in NYC and LA. They just have a great space and feel to them. I’d love to check out a store like Independence – I think that they have a similar vibe to what I try to wear.

As for webstores, I wish I could say I was more loyal to one. I like shopping around to get deals on things I want to buy. I also pick up stuff off of Grailed pretty frequently.

9. Do you care about the production process?

I think that an interest in raw denim and ethical production go hand-in-hand.  Once you start taking more of an interest in the details of your clothing, I think that the production process is one of those details you look at. I definitely try to make an effort to buy from brands that are made ethically and that put a lot of care into the production of their clothes.

10. What are your dreams for the future?

Well, a year from now I’d like to be graduated and employed as a teacher! I’ve been really toying with the idea of moving away from Connecticut and relocating to the West Coast, so I think after graduating a lot of things are going to get put in motion if that’s going to happen. If I relocate out of New England I’m not entirely sure what would happen with my handle, but I guess that’s a bridge I’ll have to cross when I come to it.

Other than that, I’m just planning to continue cultivating and establishing my personal style. Where I’m at now vs. a year ago is a big difference – I think it’s becoming more well-rounded, and I’m placing more of a focus now on clothing that I could wear to work during the week and out on weekends. I’m really excited to see how it continues to develop.

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