Andrew Garfield's Stylist On What It Takes to Dress Like a Leading Man
A Q&A with Warren Alfie Baker, the man behind Andrew Garfield's incredibly stylish 2022.
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Hollywood’s worst kept secret is that when your favorite A-listers show up to a press junket or red carpet looking like they’ve studied the fine arts of menswear for years, there’s usually someone in the background who helped them ascend to a new style plane.
One of the best recent examples of an actor who has blossomed into one of the most consistently best-dressed is Andrew Garfield, the British actor who to some may be Peter Parker but to me will always at least partially exist in my mind as someone yelling at me to “lawyer up, asshole.” In this case, the man behind the man is celebrity stylist—and incredibly handsome fella in his own right—Warren Alfie Baker.
With the help (and keen eye) of Baker, Andrew recently took home my personal crown as the best dressed man at the Emmys, showing out in a textured white tuxedo worn sans tie in a way that felt natural, not like a guy trying to make headlines through risky pick me-esque tailoring choices.
I’d actually say regardless of the client he’s working with—Glen Powell, Patrick Dempsey—the ability to make his clients look in-the-know yet decidedly casual about the whole dressing up thing is what makes Baker one of the best in the business.
Anyway, he was nice enough to answer a few questions I had about what it takes to become someone who does what he does, and also selfishly asked him to style me via email. (I absolutely am going to do what he told me to do and will report back soon.)
How does one become a stylist? Was it something you always wanted to do, or did you start your career elsewhere and ended up doing it?
I actually worked as a model through my late teens and early twenties and also worked at the Gap dressing the store windows around central London. So always had been interested in fashion from a young age and it just progressed to the next level transitioning into a stylist.
How do you assess a client and determine what clothes will suit them (no pun intended) best?
Well, I think the best thing to do is to see what they have worn before and what their comfortability limits. The part of being a stylist is listening to the clients needs but also bring pieces that they may never have thought they would wear and love it. Always do a call before any fitting to nail the likes and Dislikes.
Who are some of the clients you're currently working with?
I have the pleasure of working with some wonderful people. Andrew Garfield, Finn Wolfhard, Glen Powell, Patrick Dempsey and KJ Apa to name a few :)
You've worked a lot with Andrew Garfield over the last couple of years...how did you two meet?
We actually did a photo shoot together in Los Angeles and really got on well. It developed from there.
What's it been like working with him?
Andrew is a joy, being able to collaborate with him on creating some awesome looks has been a highlight for me.
People are obsessed with his look at Wimbledon...can you talk about the specifics of that Ralph Lauren getup and how it came to be?
We loved that look too! I think a lot of people who tend to Wimbledon want toPeacock or do a full tailored shirt and tie look. We’re both British so we wanted something with beautiful tailoring but keeping it light and fresh as possible. The light colors with grandad (band) collar shirt just made it feel chic and effortless.
If guys at home wanna recreate that look for themselves, what advice would you give them?
I think the easiest way to do that is play with the color palettes. So many stores are working with some beautiful browns and cream pieces. Double breasted jackets are back and you can find some great options from places like Reiss and Paul Smith.
What's the most common question the average guy asks you when they find out you're a celebrity stylist, and how do you answer it?
Honestly I tend to keep it on the DL ha ha. I think to alot of people think It’s quite a strange job to have. The normal questions are….where do all the clothes come from, Do they keep them and who pays you…Can be intense.
You put a lot of your clients in suits...what do you make of the state of tailoring in menswear right now?
I love tailoring, there are so many variations of great suits. You can’t beat a great looking tailored suit. Depending on who the client is whether it’s a fitted suit or an oversized look that’s on trend you have to make sure your client is wearing the outfit and not the other way around.
What are some of the brands you work with the most and why do you keep going back to them?
Some of the brands I love to use are Zegna, Brunello Cuccinelli, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren.I’m lucky to have a great mix of clients that suit different styles and brands so allows me to keep it fresh.
Okay, now I'm going to be selfish. You've met me, you know I'm a short-ish king. If I had to go to a red carpet and make headlines the next day, what would you put me in?
Ooooh, ok. I think you have a great flair for a well Tailored look. You’d suit a great vintage feel suit from Ralph Lauren. They have some great colors so something that would Pop in a close up shot and also look great for a full look. Some cool loafers and an Omega Novelty colored face watch and we’re good to go.
The below is exactly how I will look—according to highly advanced Artificial Intelligence—after Warren puts me in a Ralph suit.