When Michael Williams, the man behind the men’s style site came in for a photo shoot at Saks, A Continuous Lean, we all had questions. What to wear? How to wear it? How are you just so cool? He answered (well, most of our questions).
Saks asks, Michael answers…
SaksPOV: How would you describe your style?
Michael Williams: Carefully disheveled.
SaksPOV: What has had the biggest impact on your style?
M.W.: I have to say that spending time in cities like New York, London and Milan are the biggest influences on my personal style. Inspiration for me is often drawn from walking around seeing stylish people going about their everyday lives.
SaksPOV: When should a man always wear a tie?
M.W.: When he wants to look and feel smart. I think wearing a tie makes you present a better you to the world. Wearing a tie also makes people treat you different way because—in most situations—ties demand respect.
SaksPOV: When should a man never wear a tie?
M.W.: When he is wearing sweat pants.
SaksPOV: What was the impetus for starting A Continuous Lean?
M.W.: A perceived lack of interesting web content in the winter of 2007 led me to start the site. I really just couldn’t find anything out there that combined my specific interests together in one place.
SaksPOV: These days a lot of people are using the word heritage. What does it mean to you?
M.W.: The idea of heritage is appealing to me because things that really have it possess a quality that has been proven over time. To know that something has been made the same way for a long period of time, and used by generations of people, is incredible to me. I hate change for the sake of change. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
SaksPOV: Whose work are you loving these day?
M.W.: Harland Miller — I wish I had one of his works. He’s badass.
SaksPOV: You’ve done several collaborations. What’s next for ACL?
M.W.: I’ve sort of gone on hiatus from doing products to focus on other projects, but eventually I will get back in the game. I really want to do something with Incotex at some point, and I would love to do a Barbour collaboration.
SaksPOV: Fifth Avenue is a long stretch that cuts across a wide range of neighborhoods in Manhattan. What’s your favorite part and why?
M.W.: I’m partial to lower Fifth Avenue when it meets Washington Square Park. Approaching the arch in the park always makes me love living in New York.
SaksPOV: What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
M.W.: That I am very knowledgeable on the subject of Rick Ross.
SaksPOV: Father’s Day is around the bend. Did you Dad teach you a thing or two about style?
M.W.: My father helped me move to New York on Father’s Day ten years ago. That was a very symbolic moment in my life, partially because I was embarking on a new adventure, but also because my father was right here helping me on my way. My dad taught me very little about how to dress, but he did teach me everything I know about being a man, and for that I am forever grateful to him. You can learn how to dress online, but the Internet isn’t ever going to show you the importance of living a life with integrity like a father can.
Photographed by KSW