RAYMOND CROFT: SILHOUETTE SUPERSTAR
Raymond Croft is first generation in the US. His mother immigrated from South America and his father immigrated from the West Indies to the US. He used to live in Los Angeles but now resides in New York City. He values when people dress for their body type as he feels fashion is defined more by silhouettes rather than trends. Raymond prefers to mix the highs and lows with fashion by pairing something simple like casual baggy sweatpants with a vintage jacket. Currently, Raymond is the Senior Art Director at Tommy Hilfiger in Manhattan where he focuses on brand identity through art, culture, fashion, and beauty. He finds fashion inspiring because it’s unique to each individual – fashion allows everyone to have their own distinct style. Raymond recommends that shoppers never buy full price because everything goes on sale eventually. He has a naturally cool, calm, and collective personality yet sports outfits that are more minimalistic which allow him to be his authentic self!
Special thank you to the incredible photographer, Amelia Hammond, who made this closet
portrait come to life.
How did you develop personal style & how did it evolve?
“I've always try to pick pieces that I think fit my actual size well, silhouette-wise. A big part of my style is how things fit, so I am very particular on if something is super boxy or super oversized or even super tailored…Even if it's not meant to be worn that way, I'll sometimes wear a shirt or hoodie that's a 2 XL just because that’s the way I want it to fit, so that's a big part of my personal style that just evolved over time.”
You said you get your style inspiration from American & European fashion. Is there a certain style icon that you think inspires you the most for your fashion looks?
“From a European aspect, I’m inspired by some of the ways they style things and tailor clothing. I kind of mix all of them. So not one particular person, but I would say definitely a regional kind of inspiration.”
What symbolizes American style the most to you?
“Workwear, definitely. The American kind of workwear. Like worn in kind of vintage pieces…that kind of vibe.”
Do you prefer to wear a minimalist or minimalistic style?
“I would say minimalistic probably on a day-to-day.”
What is your favorite closet staple item you own?
“So I have very particular sneakers that I can't live without that are like my go-to’s. I would say for me, if I had to pick like a couple of go-to’s, it would be a good kind of Coach jacket or a good vintage tee, and a pair of baggy sweatpants…If I had to live in just one outfit forever it would be that.”
Do you remember a time in your life when getting dressed gave you a boost of confidence?
“The first time was probably in college. I would say the first time where I really felt that boost, was in college.”
What do you wear when you feel most confident?
“Probably my Coach Jacket, vintage tee, baseball cap, and then some oversized Nike sweats are just like my go-to. I like to pair very casual wide leg sweatpants with a leather jacket or a Coach jacket, something that feels a little more like put together. So I like to always mix and match the tailored and casual.”
What do you think about when creating a certain outfit?
“When I create an outfit I want to create a point of minimalism with a bit of interest. It's kind of how I like my outfits…All around simple and then either the jacket really is the pop or the sneakers.”
How important are silhouettes to an outfit to you and how do you find the right one?
“So I feel like the most important thing about style is the silhouette, so I think it's the most important thing to me. Whether it's Hanes or Rick Owens it doesn't matter if the silhouette fits you well and it's styled well… How does it fit? How does it drape on you? It’s the most important thing…Really being mindful where your t-shirt falls or the tape on your jeans, or is it baggy, is it wide leg, is your undershirt too long or too short for your jacket…those types of things. Which really goes back to the silhouette. I think it's probably the most important part about fashion to me more than anything else.”
Favorite way to find new brands?
“Right now I think just on the internet is probably my favorite way because I'm very particular in what I wear and what I don't wear. So it really takes something very specific to catch my eye.”
Your anti-gatekeeping advice for fashion?
“My main advice for anyone in fashion is don’t buy full price. I tell everyone when you work in the industry. You realize that brands are the seasonal kind of calendar. Everything is set up that they're gonna go on sale eventually. That's just part of the business model. It's gonna go on sale, so don't buy full price. Everything will move on sale eventually because nothing ever sells out fully.”
If you could swap closets with one person, who would it be and why?
“If I was swapping closets with one person, Pharrell or ASAP Rocky I would say those two. If I had to pick a closet, it'd be one of those guys.”
What's a major fashion red flag and green flag?
“A red flag is someone who's in designer head to toe for me. The head to toe designer… everytime I see that on Instagram and TikTok I'm like please get off my feed. A green flag is the opposite. I think someone who mixes well the highs and the lows.”
Tell us about the four fits we shot and the occasions, styles, & vibes you associate with each!
Look #1:” I'm definitely a big fall kind of guy. I’m always in a jacket even when it's hot as hell outside. I'm still in a jacket…The black leather jacket one to me, that would be a day kind of a fashion week look. Or I would wear something out with my fiancée hitting the town… that type of vibe.”
Look #2: “The suede jacket one I wore with the Levi's that's something I would do like brunch or lunch in the city.”
Look #3: “The vintage tee and the moto jeans, that's something I would do if I was just going shopping around the city like in Soho, something chill for the day.”
Look #4: “The outfit where I was wearing the darker denim jacket. I would do like a dinner with that look…I had that jacket on with these wax cody jeans, so a nice kind of dinner date or to a museum or art show for the night.”
Final words of advice:
#1: “Dressing for your body type is the most important thing I think in fashion and styling. Recognize, are you taller, shorter, heavier, skinny or whatever it might be just like dress for that, and I don't think good style necessarily has to be one body type or anything like that…And just don't be afraid to mix and match certain things. It doesn't have to be all vintage or all thrifted or all designer. Feel free play around mixing things.”
#2: “No one is like you in any way so you can really make everything super unique to you and someone can wear the same outfit and look nothing like you, so to me, that's the beauty of fashion. We all have the opportunity to put our unique spin and kind of vibe on it. Everyone looks different, everyone has a different story or vibe to themselves, and that translates in their style.”
