Opera-singing biker prefers fine clothes, leather
WHO: Ryan MacPherson, 42, of Wilmington, professional tenor (learn more on Instagram @tenorryan) and development associate at OperaDelaware.
WHY: He was nominated by Tucker Robbins, who says: “My wife and I recently met Ryan and we both remarked on what a sharp dresser he is. He is a stylish man who instinctively knows how to make a positive and lasting impression.”
HIS STYLE: “Eclectic and classic. As a performer, I get to play dress up a lot, wearing some of the best costumes in the world. I have a full set of leathers, and I often ride my motorcycle to work.”
WEARING, at OperaDelaware in Wilmington:
FIRST OUTFIT – Cobra Mark2 leather motorcycle jacket and Mark2 Sport Rider leather motorcycle pants from Vanson Leathers; 340 Protector Gauntlet leather motorcycle gloves from Olympia Gloves; combat touring boots from Aerostich; white French-cuffed shirt from Hugo Boss (“I was married to my beautiful wife Sharin in this shirt”); ’50s Italian vintage silk black tie; Essex-Glass equestrian cuff links and vintage tie bar in sterling silver; Gentry Sport timepiece by Movado; custom Makume gold wedding band.
SECOND OUTFIT – Hudson jeans, Byron cut; Merino wool turtleneck sweater by Nanibon; vintage gray wool sport coat from 1950s; leather belt from Guess; split-toe shoe from To Boot NY by Adam Derrick; Fiero tungsten carbide timepiece by Movado; skull and crossbones silk pocket square found in a boutique in Dublin; gentlemen's pocket knife by Col. Littleton.
THIRD OUTFIT – Blue three-piece wool suit by Joseph Abboud; shirt by Boggi; pocket silk by Emilio Pucci; ostrich-skin cowboy boots by Lucchese Boots; engraved Elgin Hunters pocket watch circa 1904 with 15-jewel, 20-year gold case, a gift from his grandmother for college graduation; solid gold fob, more than 200 years old; gold and diamond ring inherited from his father.
WHERE HE SHOPS: “I’ve been singing professionally for 20 years and have collected clothes from all over the world, from Madrid, Paris, Nice and other cities. I have an interesting pair of Roy Lichtenstein Pumas from Dublin. I also like shopping for unique pieces at vintage stores.”
HOW HE SHOPS: “I shop on my own. It’s a little adventure. I think of shopping as collecting.”
FASHION ICON: A blend of Steve McQueen and Ralph Lauren.
FAVORITE DESIGNERS: “Asking for a favorite designer is like asking which child is your favorite. I often find myself wearing Joseph Abboud, John Varvatos, Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss.”
MOST RECENT PURCHASE: A vintage blue-and-maroon silk scarf he found in the bottom of a box at an antique store.
OLDEST ITEM IN HIS CLOSET: Antique cowboy boots he found in Santa Fe. “I also have a Civil War-era watch fob my grandmother gave me to go with a gold pocket watch, her gift to me when I graduated from Yale.”
GROOMING TIPS: “Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. It helps everything. “
BEST FOOT FORWARD: “Do I have too many shoes? Talk to my wife. My favorites are my Tod’s driving shoes, which are currently being resoled, and my Ferragamo ankle boots, kind of a brogue shoe I picked up maybe 10 years that has been resoled twice. I’m also fond of my Allen Edmonds custom shoes, a one-off, gray with blue laces.”
FAVORITE COLOR: Blue. “When I wear blue my wife looks at me differently — and in a good way.”
FAVORITE FRAGRANCE: Terre d’Hermes. “It’s subtle and distinctive.”
BEST CELEBRITY HAIR: Cary Grant and Robert Redford.
WORTH THE SPLURGE: “A good tailor. Since I just moved here, I’m in the market for one. And a great shoe shine. The best $5-$15 you will ever spend.”
NOT WORTH THE SPLURGE: Luxury items with large logos.
TREND TO WATCH: “Jude Law has been sporting wide-legged, high-waisted trousers, à la Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.”
WISH I HADN’T BOUGHT IT: “A suit that didn’t fit properly that I bought when I first got into the opera world.”
GO-TO OUTFIT ON SATURDAY NIGHT: Hudson jeans, the slim Byron cut; with a crisp white shirt; a Valentino blazer he found at a consignment store; and vintage cowboy boots.
BEST BARGAIN: Tony Lama tan ostrich cowboy boots for $50. “I saw them in a Plato’s resale store, sitting in a corner. It was like that scene in 'Wayne’s World' where he says, ‘You shall be mine.’”
ORGANIZATION TIPS: He organizes clothes by color and type, and he takes special care with footwear. “My wife thinks it’s adorable that I put shoe trees in all my shoes.”
FASHION EVOLUTION: “I grew up in Missouri, and I still have the huge belt buckle that was presented when one of our horses won his yearling competition. I am an only child, and we dressed up for church and we were always presentable at dinner. I’ve gone from full-on Brooklyn hipster to white tie and tails. Then there’s my motorcycle gear.”
FASHION NO-NO: “When you see someone who hasn’t cut the basting stitch on the vent of his jacket, I want to run over and snip it for him.”
INDISPENSABLE WARDROBE ITEM: “Absolutely a three-piece blue suit with peak lapels I can do anything with.”
ACE ACCESSORY: A diamond signet ring he inherited from his father. “It’s with me every day.”
FAVORITE FASHION BLOG: The Sartorialist.
BOW TIE OR STRAIGHT TIE? Straight tie.
BELT OR SUSPENDERS? “Depends on the situation. If I’m wearing a tuxedo, it’s suspenders. Otherwise, it’s a belt that matches my shoes.”
DENIM, LEATHER OR TWEED? “May I have all three?”
WHY FASHION IS IMPORTANT: “Style has everything to do with attitude and confidence and little to do with labels or trends. I still wear a tuxedo shirt and a silk bow tie from J. Press that I have owned since college days, more than 20 years ago. There’s something to walking into a room and being a tad overdressed and not be the slightest bit bothered by it. Fashion is about taking yourself seriously and approaching the people around you with respect. Dressing well is like opening the door for someone.”
Style Files runs weekly in Sunday Life. To suggest someone stylish to feature — your co-worker, teacher, friend, relative or even yourself — please send information to stylefiles@delawareonline.com and include contact information. Pictures are super, too. Reach Eileen Smith Dallabrida at esmith@smithreports.com