‘Style is like football,’ says Efe Efeturi, a digital creator and leading exponent of social media sartorialism. THE RAKE talks tactics with the boss.
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Efe Efeturi has been in the men’s style game for a long time. He is part of the cadre of stylish men who have discovered the joy of tailoring, and how character can be demonstrated with one’s outfits. His social media output is a fanfare of colour and eras; he can pull off the interwar proportions just as well as Italian tailoring and dressed-down knitwear. His use of accessories is terrific, with wonderful scarves, hats and jewellery. We caught up with him at Birley Bakery in Chelsea — to break bread as well as break down his style.
“For me, style is like football,” he says. “Across the world, for every culture, you see minute details that come about based on where you are from, be it Asia, Africa or Europe, just that extra detail that brings some form of expression, and I love that.”
Here, he is wearing Solaro, which is the sartorialist’s fabric du jour, and he has had the suit for about two years but has worn it only three times because “everyone has that suit that you only wear for something special”. There is an iridescence to it that takes some pulling off. It was made by Proper Cloth, a New York-based outfitters who have gone generous with the turn-ups and the wide lapels with a high gorge. It is lovely, but it would be next to nothing without the help of the full ensemble, so let’s take a closer look.
Efe is a self-confessed Marvel fanatic. This lapel pin is simple and falls into that category of silent style. In the same vein of logo-less clothing, the joy is in the knowledge and confidence you are wearing something personal.
This signet ring from Thomas Sabo (bottom) was a Christmas gift from his wife three years ago, and he never leaves the house without it on his finger. He also likes to wear the gothic Serge DeNimes ring (top).
A lovely Rotary watch. This was the first watch that yours truly ever bought, so it is nice to see it again, and in such an elevated format.
This is a fedora from Lock & Co., and goes beautifully with the suit. The decline in the number of men wearing hats means that whenever anyone takes the plunge and makes it part of their regular ensemble, it stands out and reflects a rakish soul.
The knot that Efe uses on his tie is one that he made up: effectively a four-in-hand, because he finds the blades are not the length he wants them to be. He has created this overlapping effect, as though the tie spirals up to the shirt collar.
Every man needs a tote. Not a bag for life, just a solid tote that you can take as readily to the gym as on a plane. Efe agrees with this sentiment, which is why he has this beautiful leather example from Ettinger.
These Chelsea boots are themodel 170 from Wildsmith, the brand that is better known for creating the first loafer for King George VI, then the Duke of York, who wanted to create a house shoe that he could get on and off easily. Chelsea Green-approved.
