I Like Your Style: The Tech Worker Obsessed with Jil, Junya, and 99¢ Store Socks
"There’s so much to explore with fashion, and I feel like buying the same piece again limits the potential for new looks."
One of the more enjoyable—if occasionally tedious—parts of my job is the research: digging through the chaos of social media to find concrete examples of the trends I’m noticing. Most of the time, this means tracking down stylish people to use as sources, and I make it a point to seek out fresh faces. So I have a semi-valid excuse for spending a lot (I mean, a lot) of time online looking for someone wearing, say, an Arc’teryx toque or a guy in head-to-toe Miu Miu.
In the process, I often come across tons of people whose look I admire. Naturally, my algorithm picks up on this and starts feeding me more—and the cycle continues.
In an effort to stay more connected to these folks (and, of course, to create more content for Substack), I’m starting a new column: I Like Your Style. It’s a quick Q&A with people whose taste in clothes I find compelling.
First up is a great get: Ken Guzman, known on Instagram as @newyorken_, a New York-based tech worker. His taste in clothes lean toward stark, architectural pieces from designers like Jil Sander, Dries Van Noten, Miu Miu and Japanese labels such as Comme des Garçons and Junya Watanabe. He also happens to own the Prada jacket that I would kill for! We spoke about his approach to dressing, shopping habits, and some of his best looks.
Here’s our conversation, edited for clarity and length.
Were you always interested in fashion? Do you have any early memories of it?
I wouldn’t say I was aware of fashion until high school. Back then, I just wanted to wear what everyone else was wearing. Jordans had a chokehold on me, my God. But I didn’t think of it as fashion at the time. It was just called “swag.” I was really into brands like The Hundreds, Pink Dolphin, TI$A, Karmaloop… I don’t even know if those still exist. But that was my first real memory of being into clothes.
When did you first notice designer fashion?
In college. I worked at my campus library as an administrative assistant. The job was slow, so I spent a lot of time on my coursework, and then also some YouTube, and Tumblr, back when Tumblr was huge. During my last semester, I saw a photo of Pharrell wearing this pink Céline coat—old Céline, Phoebe Philo-era. I don’t even remember the name of the coat, but the image hit me hard. It totally rewired my brain.
I grew up in a very traditional environment where men are expected to act and dress a certain way, and pink was not part of that picture. So seeing this older man in a pink coat made me stop and think: Wait, he’s doing this… why can’t I?
Who are your favorite designers and why are you drawn to them?
Japanese designers: Comme des Garçons, Sacai, Junya Watanabe. Their clothes are weird and different. I’m a big nerd and I love anime. Their clothes look like something out of anime, which I love. I want to look cool, but also different, and those brands let me do that.
I’m also really into Jil Sander, specifically the work of Luke and Lucie Meier. That’s 90% of my wardrobe right now. Not what came before, and not what’s coming after, just the Meier era.
What do you like about Jil Sander under the Meiers?
At the time I discovered it, I was in a more elegant phase. I wanted to dress in a refined way, and their designs felt elevated but still had interesting details. Not just your typical gown or suit, there was always something extra. Once I got to touch the pieces and feel the fabrics, I was hooked. The quality is incredible. I feel good in their clothes—cool and different. What they did at Jil Sander will always have a special place in my heart.
Do you have a favorite piece of theirs?
Yes, an olive jacket from one of their fall collections. I wear it all the time in the fall. And there’s also a pair of satin, knee-high boots from a summer collection. I don’t wear them much, but I look at them and think, God this is gorge. This is art. I should wear this more.
How do you shop? Online or in person? Do you follow fashion shows?
I keep up with the shows from the brands I care about, plus some others. If I love a specific look, I’ll figure out how to get that piece. But I hate shopping in person, especially at luxury department stores. The customer service is usually awful. And in general, I don’t like in-person shopping. I shop almost entirely online, and I’ll go with whoever offers the best price.
When you shop, do you think about how a piece fits into your wardrobe, or do you just buy what you love?
It’s a mix. If I really love a piece, I’ll buy it. But I won’t get it if the color washes me out; some things just don’t work on me, even if I like them.
What’s the most you’ve ever spent on something?
I’ll never do this again, but I once bought a Celine coat from Phoebe Philo’s Summer 2018 collection. It was look two. It was the most expensive piece I’ve ever bought. I’ve since sold it, but I still can’t believe I owned it at one point.
What’s your most-worn piece?
A pair of Oree Morgan Infantry lace-up derbies. I wore them to death—had to buy a second pair. They’re the perfect shoe for me.
This is personal, but I’m curious—do you wear designer underwear or socks?
Oh my God. No way. When it comes to wallets, belts, underwear, and socks, I go cheap. I mean dollar-store socks. I’ve gotten a few Uniqlo ones here and there. And for underwear, it’s just Hanes. I feel silly spending more than $5 on stuff like that.
Funny enough, I just replaced my wallet and belt. Until recently, I was using the same ones I had since high school. The new wallet is from the same brand as my shoes (Oree), and the belt is from Uniqlo.
Do you have a lot of clothes? How big is your closet?
There’s no such thing as “a lot” of clothes, in my opinion. But I don’t buy multiples of the same thing. I want variety. There’s so much to explore with fashion, and I feel like buying the same piece again limits the potential for new looks.
How is your closet organized?
It’s not. I tried organizing by color once, but it didn’t stick. Everything’s just kind of in there. No system.
How do you get dressed in the morning?
I start with the shirt because that’s what I have the most of. I’ll pick a shirt I want to wear, and then I build the rest of the outfit around it. Shorts or pants, what kind of silhouette… that kind of thing.
Are you a bag person?
Not at all. Clothes are my thing, 100%. I don’t wear jewelry or care about bags. My everyday bag is from Zara. Before that, I used a tote from the Harry Potter store… and honestly, that tote gets more compliments than my actual outfits sometimes.
What was the first designer piece you bought that really excited you?
A Sacai sweater. It’s a hybrid—half turtleneck, half crewneck.
What was your most recent purchase?
A pair of layered jeans from Junya Watanabe’s current season.
What’s the next thing you want to buy?
There’s this Sacai top I’m obsessed with. From the front, it looks like a regular T-shirt, but from the back, it looks like a bridal gown. I’m in love. I need it.
You have a lot of pieces with interesting back details—things that are simple in front but dramatic from behind. Is that intentional?
That’s actually a recent thing. I used to be really insecure about my body, so I always wore long sleeves and full trousers year-round. But recently, I stopped caring. I felt like I was missing out. And really, who gives a fuck? Now, I want the back to have a moment too. You see the front, sure, but I also want to surprise you from behind.
Where is Ken and why is he no longer on Ig?!
I love this interview. Ken’s style is really inspiring.