Victor Glemaud’s A Charming Designer

AB: Do you have siblings?

VG: Yes, I have an older sister who’s 32 and a younger brother who’s 20.

AB: And you guys all get along?

VG: Yeah. My sister lives in Atlanta and my brother lives on 14th street. Where are you from?

AB: I’m from Cincinnati, Ohio, originally. Back to you: do you ever go back to Haiti.

VG: I went once and I didn’t feel safe. There were guys with guns everywhere, the whole thing.

AB: With regard to fashion, what are some guidelines every guy should follow?

VG: Fit.

AB: Clothes must fit.

VG: Not just clothes, but shoes, as well. Men need respectable shoes.

AB: No sneakers?

VG: I’m wearing sneakers, but they’re respectable – men need respectable shoes, not like “dress shoes,” but elegant shoes. They don’t need to be expensive, just elegant.

AB: Are you wearing to sacrifice comfort for fashion?

VG: Oh, yeah! But I work in it, so I go that extra mile. When I was younger, I didn’t eat and put on jeans that were too small – I would do all of that, but now – I’ve gained a bit of weight since I moved back to New York, but it’s a bit easier. I’ve still got the look. I wear a lot of of Dickies and sweaters. I’m comfortable with my look, but I wasn’t always.

AB: When you’re sitting down and designing your line – do you envision yourself or somebody else?

VG: No, I see it on a model, not myself. I always think of the end of result, so I see it the models lined up in my head, on different guys in different cities. I think of how it looks and what people need in their wardrobe.

AB: Do you have a muse?

VG: I just like guys.

Those of you who want to rock Glemaud’s collection this spring should contact him through his website.