Darnell believes there's a power in walking your traditional route and impacting others in ways that go unseen. He describes himself and his fashion…
What I've held in high regard after decades of gathering articles for my closet is how I feel in what I choose to wear for the day. There is a feeling of expression, uniqueness, and style that extends outward from the garments that adorn me.
My first inspiration for fashion was my father. I must have been five when I fully opened my eyes to how impressive he dressed. He always showed up impeccable and would dress me in tuxedos for his shows. I accompanied him at every DJ/social event - a reflection of his level of detail, styled from head to toe. My father was a very detail-oriented and intentional dresser influencing me to have a higher consciousness regarding how I eventually expressed myself.
Back then I was honored to show up for my dad, but today this is how I genuinely show up for myself: authentically consistent and stylishly relevant.
Out of all the honors I've been graced with, and all have been exciting, I've been most humbled by those on my daily walk. The unexpected feedback from strangers who want to know “What is the man in the hat wearing today?” When all along I was simply finding my joy in expressing myself, unaware how I dressed was bringing joy to others.
So as I created the handle @themanwiththehat, my platform became an invitation for others to consider: “What hat are you wearing today?” (Physically and metaphorically). Inspiring others comes in many forms, mine just happens to be through self-expression. God has positioned me to be seen in many ways and it is a blessing. This overwhelming passion opened the door to develop my company Elevate Image Consulting, as a service for others. I provide advisement on image and presentation while refining or enhancing an individual’s current personal style. This improves client confidence on how they perceive themselves and uplevels them to a new form of self-expression.
I am continually inspired by those who also express themselves fashionably in creative ways. I stretch myself to areas of newness within the fashion world as much as I possibly can.
I am always inclined to take nostalgic pieces and develop them into new modern looks. This keeps my eyes sharp because it challenges me to see classic pieces in bold ways. Nothing is more unexpected than breathing life into items most would overlook.
“When a man dresses bad, people remember the clothes, but when a man dresses well, people remember the man.”