XL’s Featured Tribe Men Of The Week David Anderson

David is a 28-year-old male of Caribbean descent. He is a black male social worker and mixologist. His style is very much so a blazer one day and Jordan’s the next. He believes that a man isn’t fully dressed unless he has on his favorite fragrance and a haircut.

What are your biggest fashion obstacles?

My biggest fashion obstacles is myself and not getting to the store early enough. For me I have to constantly fight with myself in that I will allow that voice to creep in and tell me you’re not “fly enough or good enough” I am the HARDEST on myself. That has caused me not to go to events or not feel my best and we all know when you look good, you feel good but for me feeling good should be first. Once I feel great the whole getting to the store early enough to find my size won’t drive me insane (laughing)… all jokes aside, with me, not being that tall and my waistline being a certain size, I have to just take some time to look for things and I also don’t like looking like everyone else. So it becomes an obstacle and challenges not finding my size or seeing that my size was just sold out!

2.Where are you from and what are biggest fashion trends in your city?

My family is from Jamaica both dad and mom, I was born and raised in NYC. I currently live in suburbs but went to school in Charlotte and lived there for 5 years. I also worked in the city for quite some time, so the trends are always changing in NYC. I wear many hats so my style is always influenced by many different trends and I kind of try to just join them all together like a big pot of gumbo. But my beard has become my new favorite accessory (May Have to Thank Philly for that trend) but it’s like my complete outfit. For me, the whole “WHITE OUT” is a trend for me as I love white. I love that a bigger man in terms of size can wear white and feel confident. Dad hats and headbands are in trend right now in my city. In Harlem culture it is trendy, so garments that are influenced by African culture or Caribbean culture can often be seen worn in NYC.

Tell us about your biggest fashion nightmare and if it came true do explain. (attach a picture if you can)

Yikes!!! I didn’t take a pic because I was so embarrassed lol. So I was in college and I had this blazer from the thrift store that I paid like $2.00 for but it was such a beautiful piece and let’s just say that I never noticed that I was dancing so hard that the whole back of the blazer ripped. So my friend comes over and says you must be hot and I’m like no I am good. She is like well your whole blazer ripped from in the back how did you not feel it! Mind you the whole time I’m prancing and dancing around talk about embarrassing!

What are some of your biggest style inspirations?

Again, another hard question I really have always loved Kanye West and his whole “look” he has really inspired me for years. I am also a fan of Jay-Z’s style and how his style has evolved over the years. Kelvin Davis @notoriouslydapper has been KILLING the game his tailored look is for sure an inspiration for me. I am sincerely inspired by Michael-Anthony Spearman @thebigfashionguy and his style is classic and GQ, he feels like a friend in my head his struggles are my struggles.

5.Where do you see yourself in five years and how do you see yourself accomplishing it?

In five years! I just recently graduated from Fordham University with my Masters in Social Work. In the next five years, I see myself working with young men of color exclusively. I plan to start my own organization called MALE 360 that will inspire and mentor young men of color.

I also see my business @davesgourmetcocktails growing into a major personal bartending company! I would like to do parties for celebrities and become a major force in the bartending mixologist world.

What do you feel is missing in fashion for the men of size?

OPTIONS!!!!! To be included and not forgotten about the plus size style is just as important. I feel like the ladies have so many options and THICK men matter! We are here

We also need more body positivity among us stop the shaming. It’s enough room for all of us! I also think that more prints would be nice to see and I want the designers to take the same risk for us plus size males.