Is Joe another scruffy skater boy or pure understated style? It’s a question that has divided SOURCE Towers this issue, but Elizabeth is fighting his corner.
“What I love with this outfit is the complimentary muted autumnal colours,” she writes. “He’s autumn on wheels. Plus he has made the standard American Apparel hoodie look Brooklyn rad by the merit of layering it underneath his oversize plaid Ralph Lauren shirt. It’s a perfect illustration of timeless urban cool.”
OK, we’re sold. His style is inspired by the 90s skateboarding and alt-music cultures he grew up immersed in. He believes that the skateboarding scene deserves more recognition for the many fashion trends it produces, and we think he’s probably right. So, understated cool? The bottom line is that he actually needs to be able to skate – not for him are ball-achingly tight jeans that stop him from even walking up stairs, let alone kickfliping down them. And fair play for that fashion choice.
Shirt: Ralph Lauren, £3 from a charity shop
Hoody: American Apparel, “Yes, the generic navy hoodie”
Corduroy jeans: Dickies
Trainers: Vans Skate-Hi, “I receive a bundle of shoes a month, as sponsorship from Vans”
Hat: “I believe I pinched this from my dad at some point”
Belt “I always use a shoelace as a belt – cheap, easy and plenty of colours to choose from”
Lilies (in standing photo): “Spotted these by a bin at the back of a posh restaurant, seemed a shame to leave them to waste”
Words & Photo Elizabeth Johnson & James Kendall