When I interviewed Chelsea Styrk for NFF, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I talked to her equally stylish better half Dustin Genereux (@dustingenereux). Photography is both his job and his number one interest. He runs his own photography business, Dustin Genereux Photography, and shoots anything from fashion to commercial. Most comfortable in suspenders and a bow tie, Genereux has some great style advice to give to the gentlemen out there.
How would you describe your style?
I think lots of men are going back to the classic style from the 1940s and ’50s.
Many guys these days have the gentlemen comb over, think Mad Men, and are now into bow ties and suspenders. That’s basically my style.
A few years ago, I had long hair that covered my face and basically wore skinny jeans and band t-shirts every day.
I think a lot of guys my age have matured in our appearances and styles over the last few years and it’s noticeable when going out.
What/who most inspires you?
I get a lot of inspiration from Instagram, Tumblr, and sites like HypeBeast and Complex.
Nick Wooster is probably my biggest men’s fashion inspiration.
He’s always on point with his outfits and how he styles them. I also follow a ton of fashion photographers from NYC to London who post amazing fashion ideas for men.
Where do you like to shop?
I love to shop at Urban Outfitters, H&M, Nordstrom, ASOS, Jack Threads,
and anywhere I can find good bow ties.
Thrifting is always fun to find older styles that are coming back, too. I find a lot of blazers and funky shirts that way. Even if the blazers don’t fit right, I know a great tailor in Providence who can fix anything.
What’s on your reading list right now?
I’ve read lots of great books this summer.
Recently I got into the The Passage by Justin Cronin. It’s a pretty interesting take on vampires and the end of the world.
I also read the entire Strain trilogy by Gullermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan this summer. Another creepy and disturbing take on vampires.
What’s your favorite outfit you’ve ever worn?
My latest favorite outfit is a bright green blazer from H&M with a classic white linen shirt, a red white and blue-checkered bow tie, and a pair of dark navy dress shorts. To complete the outfit, I wear wingtip shoes with green soles I got at Berks in Providence.
It’s a fun summer look that is extremely comfortable to wear even in the heat.
Any tips for guys trying to dress more stylish?
Don’t be afraid what others are going to think about you when you show up at the bar dressed up and they’re still wearing some grubby band t-shirt and ripped skinny jeans.
To me, that style is long gone and dead. Men in 2013 are starting to come out of their shells and dress up even if it’s just for a beer with some friends. Dressing up and being stylish doesn’t mean you need to break your bank either. A lot of guys think a nice put together outfit costs hundreds when there are so many options to shop on a budget. They just don’t know about them.
My motto is to “act as if.” As in, act as if the outfit you’re wearing costs more and you’ll be confident wearing it.
Describe a perfect day.
A perfect day is waking up to my dog drooling on my face because she’s a huge ham and anyone with a Boston Terrier knows what I’m talking about. If Chelsea’s not working, we usually go shopping and hit up our favorite thrifting spots.
I typically have a photo shoot sometime in the late afternoon and we’ll work on that together for a few hours. Then we’ll either go out with some friends or Chelsea cooks a fantastic home cooked meal.
My days are pretty typical but they are perfect to me.
What’s something you’re looking forward to Instagraming right now?
I have a pretty big shoot next week with some amazing models that will hopefully get picked up for an editorial. I Instagram a lot of photos of my dog because she’s pretty comical and makes weird faces, so I’m always waiting for her to do something funny that I can post. People seem to enjoy those and get a kick out of her.
