Daniel Padilla is a fashion guy. You'll know it the very microsecond he strides into a room, all attitude, mile-long, impeccably-tailored trouser-clad legs and dark sunglasses slung low on his handsome face—in short, he's cool, chic, and juuust a tad bad.
And by bad, we mean achingly stylish to the tune of a George Thorogood & The Destroyers album: A total rulebreaking, James Dean daydream who doesn't bat an eyelash at the prospect of strutting in heeled Saint Laurent cowboy boots or donning a bespoke three-piece suit on any given day.
That, and you won't believe how eager he is to talk about style. We adore him for it and so will you! Here, read Daniel dissect his dapper-yet-offbeat personal look, and find out which pick on his shopping wish list girlfriend Kathryn Bernardo hilariously vetoed.
Personal Style
In a few words, how would you describe your personal style?
"Pina-practice sa'kin ni Kathryn 'yan. [Laughs.] I call it vintage grunge."
When and how did you realize that this is your personal aesthetic?
"Well, I think nandun na yung DNA ko, kasi yung genetics ko nung bata ako was super emo. [Laughs.] Alam mo yung mga checkered shirts, the Converse, the bangs. Everything. Lahat 'yun. Nag-evolve nalang 'yun through the years. I think ganun din yung personality ng fashion. Yung evolution niya sa'yo.'"
Would you say your style has changed a lot over the years?
"Yeah. Malaking pagbabago. Dati, yung pants ko, halos leggings na sa sobrang skinny. Pero ngayon, hindi na. Habang tumatanda, medyo awkward na rin tignan sa'kin. [Laughs.] I think nag-ma-mature din kasi. Siyempre, kailangan pasok parin sa personality mo, sa kung ano ka ngayon. Nung nahanap ko na yun, ang sarap ng pakiramdam. Darating siya. Wag mong ipipilit masyado. Experiment, but always look for yourself. Hindi pwede yung hinahanap mo masyado sa iba kasi kung gumagaya ka masyado, hindi naman ikaw yun, eh. So hindi siya swak sayo. Mahahalata ng tao yun, na nakikiuso ka lang."
What's a menswear trend you'd like to see local guys try?
I think, ako, gusto ko lang na bumalik yung pagka-swabe ng Filipino look before. Dapper. Ayun. Kasi now, fashion is all—no hate, kasi binabagayan naman yun, may mga tao talaga na bagay sa kanila—loose, [athletic]. Pero para sa'kin, wag tayo sumunod din masyado sa trend. And yun yung masaya, eh, yung bine-break mo yun, according to your own style. Halo-halo. Maganda pag dala mo at ikaw. Diba? Kasya yung pinipilit mo. Kasi kahit gaano ka-baduy yung suot mo sa iba, pero pag dala mo, gumaganda siya."
Your favorite menswear style icons?
"It’s more of combined influences. Bands and music."
Name five items in your closet that you absolutely can't live without.
"My shades. I cannot live without my shades. Ever, ever. I cannot. I have a big collection of shades. And now I’m with I2I, and we collaborate on designs and everything, so sobrang saya! Walang katapusan! Kahit nasa bahay lang ako naka-shades ako all the time para magamit ko! [Laughs.]
My blazer. Kailangan ko ng blazer lagi. I love blazers. My leather jackets. My white shirt. And my boots. I need my boots. Mahilig ako sa Doc Martens, but mahilig din ako sa matutulis na boots. I have this one pair na Saint Laurent, and I love that pair. Ang ganda niya—pointed na may takong. Iba yung feel niya pag suot mo!"
How would you describe your "uniform" outfit?
"My white shirt, necklaces ko, jeans. That’s it. Rock n’roll na ako."
Shopping Habits
Where do you usually shop for clothes, bags, shoes, accessories?
"My favorite place for shopping is Japan. Lalo na yung mga ukay-ukay doon, yung mga thrift shops sa may Shinjuku. Kasi hindi magagaya yung vintage na luma talaga. Iba yung bagsak, iba yung itsura. So pag may nakikita akong jacket na ka-edad ko, it’s 24 years old, na super nice, bibilhin ko na agad. Tapos, ikaw lang yung meron nun."
Are you an impulse buyer or more of an I'll-think-about-it-first kind of shopper? Why?
"Impulse lang. I don’t plan on shopping talaga. Si Kathryn, sinasamahan ko, pero minsan I end up na mas marami pa akong nabili kaysa sa kanya. Ganun! Pag nakita ko, na-imagine ko na agad kung paano ko susuotin."
Fashion Picks
What's at the top of your fashion wish list right now?
"Parang gusto ko pa ng isang [pair of Saint Laurent] boots. I saw these ones sa Japan, di na pinabili ni Kathryn sa akin, sobra na daw. [Laughs.] Kasi parang siyang suede na pang-cowboy! Uso naman yun ngayon ah! Astig kaya! [Laughs.] Well, bibilhin ko parin. Magtatrabaho muna ako."
What's your fashion obsession nowadays? Why?
"Levi’s 501s. 'Di na ako nagpapalit ng pants. [Laughs.]"
Complete the sentence: Fashion makes me feel ___.
"Comfortable. Pag ok ka sa suot mo, you feel good, diba? Well, sa atin lang siguro yun na mahilig magdamit. Ako kasi, pag maayos yung damit ko, I feel better. I feel good about myself. At ikaw kasi yun eh, hindi ka pa nagsasalita, alam na ng tao. Ako kasi, ganun ako. Pag nakakita ako ng isang tao, nakita ko yung suot niya, alam ko na kung anong trip ng taong yun. Ganun ako tumingin ng tao."
Produced by Steph Sison
Photographed by Shaira Luna
Art Direction by Bacs Arcebal
Set Design by Aren Dale Santos of ADSET Production
Video Produced by Maura Rodriguez
Video Directed by Karlo Torio
Assistant Video Director JF Calimag
Videography by Sernne Dominia
Video Production Assistant Gerol Candelaria
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