ALAN GOBE, CREATIVE PRODUCER + STYLIST

I met Alan during my very first year working on Chava. Immediately I started following him on Instagram (although he really shines on TikTok, an outlet I just haven't been able to adopt). I love his fashion commentary, his aesthetic and he overall energy. He's someone who has worked for years in Mexico City, producing photoshoots and events as well as styling actresses and models for everything from events to magazine shoots. For the launch of our men's line, I couldn't wait to introduce him to you as he has actually been wearing Chava since our first year in business.

Alan! I’ve wanted to have you on the blog for so long. Finally logremos :). Can you start by giving us a little background about where you’re from and how you started to work in fashion? Were you always interested in it?

I was born in Mexico City, a local from this huge city! I started working in fashion after preparatoria [high school], at a Mexican fashion magazine. I was in the right place at the right time because there were so few fashion magazines in Mexico then. It was lucky.

Describe to me how you dressed at age 11.

I knew nothing about fashion at that age, I was just dressing for function. But it was then that I started to notice the way my father dressed. He had such a particular style. He was much older than the fathers of my friends, so maybe his style was the result of a generational difference and also his time living abroad (he did his master’s in London). I remember he would wear very elegant shoes and lots of loafers, which I never saw on my friends’ dads. At the time I really didn’t like that look, but now I do. Looking back, at 11, he was probably one of my first fashion influences.

At age 16?

I was very into American fashion at this age: DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger and GAP. Also Lacoste… I desperately wanted Lacoste. There was this trend of layering it and I loved that. I was also trying to do the Adidas thing and wearing lots of baggy jeans.

Age 20?

At this point I was devouring fashion magazines and wanted to learn as much as I could about the industry: creative directors, photographers, models, everything. I was reading Cathy Horyn, Vanessa Friedman, Tim Blanks, I was obsessed with fashion journalism. I was influenced by the skinny jeans trend that was happening, and since I was skinny, I could pull it off. I had the skinniest jeans and would wear them with American Apparel. By 20 I was no longer living in Mexico, so I was also influenced by European fashion.

And finally today: How do you describe your style?

I dress very basic, but I try to have style. I’m actually trying to reinvent myself now, I want to use more statement pieces. Nowadays I’d say I’m kind of nonchalantly elegant. French street style is one of my favorite sources of inspiration, so that’s definitely an influence. But it’s hard for me to describe myself. What do you think?

[My thoughts on Alan’s style: I would say he’s classic but always adds a touch of something that makes the look feel styled and “his”, whether it’s through a shoe or even just his hair. I love that he plays with proportions and often wears oversized pieces, which he pulls off really well.]

You have always been so good at talking about the big fashion houses [follow Alan on Tik Tok!]…specifically how you communicate the influence and eye of rotating creative directors. Fashion feels like it’s gone through a major shift over the past years. In what way do you think luxury fashion houses are relevant today?

I think they will always be relevant and have a place in the industry of I think they will always be relevant and have a place in the industry, of course. But I don’t feel that, generally speaking, they let creative directors create worlds the way they used to. I feel there’s this juego de las sillas [musical chairs] every two years: the creative director changes, and it’s exhausting to keep up. That constant churn makes you turn to small businesses; they’re the ones really building communities. Luxury houses hold a major place because they’re commercially driven, they reflect market trends and what we’re consuming at large. Fashion is a business, so it’s important to keep an eye on what’s happening, though maybe in a different way than before. I particularly like designers like Duran Lantink, who’s now at Gaultier, a new talent who feels relevant today and keeps the conversation going, the look evolving.

What trends are you loving in the world of menswear?

I’m loving loafers, they remind me of my dad! It’s a trend I never thought I would participate in, but I will soon. I love the oversized fits in pants right now, but what I love most about menswear is that men are more interested in fashion than before. They’re trying to understand what suits them. I love the conversations around this on TikTok, and it’s great that men want to get into this industry, statistically it’ll grow the way the beauty industry has for men.

What gets you excited about fashion today?

New talent, upcoming talent, how they’re experimenting with fabrics. I love what’s happening here in Mexico: Sentimiento, Roberto Sanchez, Sabrina Ol.. People are paying attention to Mexico now because there’s such an interesting scene here. But what excites me most, from my personal experience in Mexico, is that I can connect with people like you or other designers. It doesn’t feel like fashion is a cult industry here. It feels accessible, generous, and supportive. I’m also excited about how the conversation around fashion on TikTok is developing.

Do you think men and women shop differently?

Definitely. Even me, I love fashion but I don’t like to shop. I tend to overthink it: I need to feel the fabric, think about whether it fits my style, and wonder if I’ll actually wear it often. If I buy designer, it’s usually just a few pieces I really love and know I’ll use. Overall, I go for what’s functional, things that are easy and that I’ll wear a lot, but at this stage of my life I want to change that and experiment more.

How would you describe the way men shop? And if too hard to define men at large, how do you shop?

I think it’s about looking around and seeing what inspires you. If there’s someone whose style you love, copy parts of it. Maybe you already have that jacket and similar jeans, and maybe your source of inspiration did something interesting with a ring, for example. I copy what I like and then I see what speaks to me and what doesn’t. That’s how I think you develop a personal style. It’s all about experimenting and making mistakes.

Any advice to men who are looking to develop more personal style but feel intimidated by the process?