SNYLIFE
In the new normal where businesses are being challenged more than ever, e-commerce has shone as one of the few stars.
Companies like SSENSE, Farfetch, and luxury online retailer Moda Operandi have experienced a major boom in sales due to one of the most popular forms of self care: retail therapy. Talk about all dressed up with nowhere to go...
New York based Tyler Sparling is the Men’s Content Editor at Moda Operandi, and he joins us at a particularly pivotal moment in his career to talk the intersection of fashion and self-care, his daily skin rituals, and what it takes to usher fashion into a new era of modernity and inclusivity.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT MODA OPERANDI?
I am the Men's Content Editor at Moda, meaning I manage and execute all of our editorial content–from weekly email newsletters to Instagram posts to in-depth designer interviews with our partner brands. I also work closely with our Style Editor to concept large-scale editorial shoots that capture our seasonal buys and unique perspective on menswear.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE FASHION WORLD INTERSECTS WITH SELF CARE?
I think fashion and self-care go hand in hand. Fashion is ultimately about the pursuit of beauty, and an authentic sense of beauty is unattainable if you aren't taking care of yourself–inside and out.
WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO PRODUCTS? ANY PRODUCT YOU’LL BE USING FOR LIFE?
Due to quarantine and the total impossibility of a haircut, I've recently been embracing my longer, and curlier hair. Taking care of my curls has essentially become a full-time job, and I've been loving the Shea Moisture Curl Smoothie to keep them moisturized and frizz-free. For my face, I keep things really simple so that I can maintain a routine, because I know if I overcomplicate things I'll get lazy. I can't live without my Josh Rosebrook Nutrient Day Cream in the morning and Neutrogena Retinol Moisturizer at night. And always always, Jack Black lip balm in the black tea and blackberry scent.
HAVE YOU NOTICED A SHIFT IN SELF CARE AND WELLNESS WITHIN THE MEN’S FASHION WORLD WITHIN RECENT YEARS?
The shift I've seen is that men are now finally coming around to the idea that it's okay to take care of yourself; from skincare to mental health, it's incredibly encouraging to see men the world over start to realize that tenderness and vulnerability are strengths rather than weaknesses.
WHAT IS YOUR SCENT?
Byredo Super Cedar.
HOW HAVE PERCEPTIONS OF MASCULINITY CHANGED WITHIN THE FASHION WORLD?
I think it goes back to the idea that men are starting to view their softer side as something that's really powerful rather than something to be ashamed of or hide from. Every season the lines between gender become increasingly blurred–and I couldn't be happier. Some of my favorite pieces are things I found in the "women's" section–because at the end of the day, it's all just clothing.
WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF THE “MODA MAN”?
In my eyes, the Moda Man is a guy who really appreciates the artistry of fashion and has an appetite for curiosity. He's not afraid to get a little weird with his style and relishes in discovery: of a new designer, a new fabric or a new take on a piece he's already familiar with. That's what we've always aimed to do at Moda Men's–take our passion for the industry and share that with our community.
Photo: George Etheredge