Gabba Denim

My friends! I’ve recently struck up a partnership with this brilliant brand Gabba Denim out of Denmark and it’s been so lit! These guys have a really rad style that fits right in here at Stay Ragged! So all the clothing I’m wearing in the photos with the exception of the footwear is made by Gabba and as you can see, the gear goes hard! They have pieces that can be dressed up for a formal, slick, high-end aesthetic or dressed down for a low key, street style which as you all know, is me in spades. I LIVE for clothes that i can feel comfortable in hanging with my friends, hanging at an art show or heading to a nice restaurant. Regardless of my setting, Gabba has me covered! The denim all has a bit of stretch to it that makes it comfortable to fit in these slender styles. As a slim and slender guy who’s only 5′8″ it’s tough to find clothes that fit right lengthwise but these guys seem to be perfect. Everything has a slim fitted fit that runs a bit on the smaller side so plan accordingly if you plan to cop!

Being Aromantic Hey all! I’ve recently had a lot of inquiries about being aromantic. namely “What the heck is aromantic?” so i took some time to talk about it and answer a few questions! i tried to keep it brief but i’m a blabbermouth and despite my speed, this video still ended up being 20 mins (OOPS!). so anyways, feel free to watch as much of it as you care to. Feel free to send me some more questions if you have any! you can also subscribe if you feel like it! i havn’t decided if i’m going to keep more videos coming or not or what the heck future videos would be about, but if you do, and i do, you’ll be the first to know about it! <3

Greats

Hello friends!

I’d like to start of by saying thank you so much for following my adventures recommendations and reviews through this blog. I know your time and trust is valuable and the fact that you invest both with me is really incredibly humbling. It’s not something I treat lightly. It’s truly a great honor. Now, speaking of GREAT I’d like to talk about this brand I’ve recently partnered with!

Based out of Brooklyn, NY, Greats has an incredibly dope line of shoes and sneakers that can easily suit any style. Many of the silhouettes are slight twists on staple looks, others are more unique and specific to their brand. All of them show creativity and enhance any look you pair them with through their clean construction and luxury materials. Constructed in Italy, the care and attention to detail is incredible! The Wooster is the yellow slip-on featured above and is incredibly comfortable and stylish. The yellow is vibrant and makes any outfit pop! The italian leather used inside is impossibly comfortable and the suede for the outside adds a gorgeous texture that really gives the shoe character. These are definitely a few steps up from the Vans I know y’all are used to. GREATS are definitely in a league of their own with these slip-ons.

The Royale in triple black is the blacked out shoe featured above and has a fitting name. The leather is of the highest quality and feels as luxurious as it looks. Inside provides a truly elegant and comfortable fit with a more supple leather. The waxed laces are a nice touch as well. All in all these are definitely an easy daily wearer to go with any look you could want em for! The leather for these shoes is the type that looks better as it ages. I’m truly excited to break these shoes in (in true Stay Ragged fashion!) I highly recommend having a look on their site for these and other fantastic options! Thanks for reading guys! www.greats.com

TW STEEL

Stay Ragged fam! Ya boy was recently approached by TW Steel for a little collab and i’m so hype! I know there’s a million and one different watch brands out there but there’s something to be said for the understated yet bold design of the Canteen watch here. 

The leather strap is thicker than most watches i’ve worn but it fits the bold theme of the watch well. the 316L steel face has a thick bezel that also matches the hefty hands and tic marks in the face. the watch feels substantial. it makes a statement without being gaudy or excessive. the one nice flourish is the screw-on cap attached to a little swing arm with “TW” engraved on it giving the impression of a canteen. The concept of the watch is very well executed and I can’t stop wearing it!

All in all the Canteen Leather watch fits the Stay Ragged brand exceptionally well. It has a ruggedness and durability to it that i feel could withstand anything you could throw at it. It’s simple design can easily apply to and elevate any number of looks from dressed up in a suit to ripped up jeans and some vans. Treat yo’ self!

Friends! Starting on October 1st I'll begin updating a new type of work to a patreon account. I've had a lot of great responses and requests for more raw, uncensored images and I'm very excited to get to do more of this type of modeling and share it with you all. Not that I'm not proud of the more commercial work I do and the curation of my Instagram but these photo sets will be created with the sole purpose of art and expression! If you're interested, drop me a line and I will add you to my list of people to contact once it's live. Once it's live, i'll message everyone individually to tell you all it's up and running! Thanks for your continued support!

nik hampshire

Sociale Revolution This last trip to LA was full of a lot of great moments but my connecting with Sociale Revolution was an absolute highlight! This brand truly lives at the crossroads of art and fashion. The brand prides themselves on being a medium for artists to express themselves through and this truly shines across their collections quite brilliantly! Some pieces featuring all over print designs while others feature wild and impressively colorful front graphics. What i really love about their aesthetic is none of these designs seem over the top or attention seeking. they aren’t loud for the sake of being loud, they actually feature great artists work on an assortment of different silhouettes. The artwork of PHOBIK is truly a stand out design with the brand! All the pieces are incredibly comfortable and many of them feature little aspects that elevate the garments to feel a bit higher end. These details range from raw edging in the collar to relaxed necklines and even some that feature scoop bottoms. I’ve been privy to see some of the upcoming collection featuring some amazing button ups, hoodies and jackets that all continue the uniqueness of the current pieces available. You’ll definitely want to keep an eye out for whats to come! All in all, Sociale Revolution are really creating a space for artists, fashion and consumers to come together and cultivate a new type of culture. The art all seems to emanate a certain sense of positivity and appreciation for life and art that really can be hard to get across in fashion without coming off as corny but these guys pull it off with aplomb! (I love getting to use that word!) As I said, I feel most fortunate to have connected with them in LA and am excited to work together some more! Join in the movement and pick up some pieces!

www.socialerevolution.com

Askingforeyes Recently got to work with this rad brand out of Baltimore called Askingforeyes. I can be pretty picky about my graphic t-shirts but these guys have some really unique designs in their collection! I was stoked to get a few pieces and fit them into outfits! The Guts shirts are massive graphics that cover half of one shirt and all of the other. As I said, i can be pretty picky about the graphics i like to wear but these illustrations and how they’re positioned on the shirt are pretty on point! They are definitely a welcome look here at stay ragged! The tank top here has a mandala print with vibrant colors juxtaposed to a skull in the middle to give it a little edge. These three shirts are all made of 100% polyester and are hella comfortable. They do run a bit large (these are mediums) so plan accordingly! The two other shirts featured are printed on 100% cotton and feature a cool dark space themed skull on one and their interesting logo tee on the other. Both have a graphic that seemingly add a bit of texture to the shirts which definitely make them stand out more than the typical graphic tee. Overall the brand seems well suited for anyone into metal or hardcore or just that hard edge aesthetic! You don’t need to be metal kid to dig some of that grit in your style so all are welcome to cop! Askingforeyes is a dope brand for anyone looking for that darker, louder more ragged look so grab a few pieces to add some aggression to your wardrobe! Head over to my instagram to enter the contest to win a free t-shirt asap!

Uncommon Thrds so i’ve just returned from LA and i had the extreme pleasure of working with Uncommon Thrds! We connected through the wonderful world of instagram and just knew we were a match made in heaven! Uncommon Thrds has a lot to admire. They have unique silhouettes that catch the eye without seeming unwearable or distracting. They give off a sense of effortlessly cool. an approachable, wearable style with a high fashion flare. the fits are extremely comfortable and airy but still project a masculinity that any man, woman or other would feel comfortable in.

The elegance of how these clothes drape is due to the impeccable design work but also the light weight materials used. A majority of the pieces are made with a comfortable, high end cotton with a few pieces like the mesh using rayon as well. these shirts feel more more rugged than luxurious but it plays into the style and feels like it’ll endure plenty of wears.  With these unique shapes the brand balances everything with a very minimal aesthetic. No gaudy logos or excessive straps, buckles zippers or anything really overly ostentatious. with Uncommon Thrds less is more. Literally in some cases with mesh features and entire tops that show off the skin underneath. This works especially well with someone with particularly decorative skin such as myself. The black and white or otherwise neutral colors play into the brand very well and make for an all around understated impact. All in all, this brand is perfect for myself or really anyone to be honest. They’re for anyone who wants to be a little fashionable without being extra. to feel edgy but still comfortable. to be fashionable but still true to yourself, regardless of your style. Uncommon Thrds has crafted a unique style that takes some of the best elements of today’s top trends and distills it into an approachable, cool yet believable aesthetic for anyone smart enough to pick up a few pieces! check them out here!

The shorts featured in the shoot were provided by the higher end brother brand CLADE. You can find more of that collection here.

Los Angeles

Hey all! it’s been a minute and I’m sorry. Sometimes i get hella inspired to keep this thing constantly updated and others i just can’t be bothered. i promise to try harder. i’ve just spent the last month out here in LA and i gotta say, it’s pretty lit. i mean i’ve visited before of course but this trip I kind of feel like i could actually live out here. it’s still probably unlikely any time soon, but it’s definitely an option. just been laying out, catching some of this damn sun yall hoarding over here! chill’n at the beach. going out dancing and every other thing. i get why everybody rushes out here! i’ll definitely be back before too long.

this update is mostly just to let yall know i’m still active over here and to let you know what’s to come! i’ve now been freelance for over a year and i couldn’t be happier or more proud of the work. now that i’ve proven to myself i can do this, it’s time to elevate! it’s time to step up and put that work in to get to a more established level. moving forward i want to take this whole thing more seriously and i’m going to be doing this in a few ways. for starters, i want people to know i’m serious about this modeling, and not just commercially. i really enjoy the art of modeling and conveying emotion and moments through images rather than just selling clothing. to do this i’m going to be setting up a patreon which will have 2-3 sets a month of mature content. this won’t be pornographic by any means but you will see more of me than you likely have before both literally and figuratively. secondly, i want to keep this blog up to date more often! yall better hold me to it! thirdly, ive been wanting to get into acting for basically my entire life and it just hasn’t happened for a number of reason. i’m tired of excuses and by the end of the year i hope to have been cast in SOMETHING! at this point i almost don’t care what it is, just something! so those are the goals moving into the last 4 months of the year. god fucking damn this year’s going by fast! i’d really love more interaction from all of you guys so by all means if you have any comments or questions or suggestions by all means, send them my way! i love new friends!

Maestro’s Classic I know our social media is full of product placement and ads and shit now but I hold y'all very dear to me for supporting me and thus i only work with brands I'd really work with or recommend. Integrity means a lot to me as a person as well as a business and I hope y'all believe and appreciate it. The following I can assure you is not a paid ad.

NINObrand So it’s been a long time in the making but my collaboration with the esteemed NINObrand is finally here! NINObrand is an extremely avant-garde fashion forward brand characterized by unique silhouettes and a minimal aesthetic. The line is full of pieces that look almost futuristic but still functional and fitting within our current trends. The simple, elegant details of each piece are understated yet impactful in bringing an outfit to life. Needless to say, when they reached out to work together on a collaboration I was beyond flattered and eager to put something together for both of our followings!

Featured in our collaboration are two articles of clothing and three pieces of jewelry. NINObrand came through with a brilliant sterling silver wrapped wire ring set dubbed “Rotimi” and the larger “Rotimi V.2″. While you can wear one or the other, i suggest wearing them both together which gives the illusion of being one long warped ring. To finish off the set we’ve brought a sterling silver wrapped wire bead at the end of a black rope dubbed “Clash V.2″. This piece is as stylish as it is versatile as you can tie it as a necklace, tie or bracelet. The collection is bold yet airy and light. They’ve quickly worked their way into my daily outfit.

Moving onto the apparel, the T-shirt “LONDON” is a rad, loose fit, wide collared delight! It has a very comfy fit and raw cut bottom edge style gives it a chic vibe. the bottom features two tabs that add a little details that look cool on their own or great for layering. the graphic features the quote “trading the time for a hustle” which speaks to any entrepreneur out there striving to make their dreams work. The coup de grâce in the collaboration is the “OWEN” jacket. This piece is a knee length white canvas jacket that slays! the edges are left unfinished and ragged to appreciate the imperfection. You can see my logo featured on the right lapel. Here at Stay|Ragged I’m all about living my life without worrying about how clean or pristine my clothes are. Some rips, tears and stains show a life worth lived. We did this in white to really reflect where you’ve been with this jacket. Go forth and live it up! 

All these pieces can be purchased at www.ninobrand.com right now and we’ll be having a proper release party on Friday, June 16th! check back here or on my instagram for more details of the event!

CitizenM - Tower of London

This hotel is rad as hell, man! It has such a cool modern feel all through out! From the self check-in to the iPad controlled room, the whole experience feels futuristic!

This hotel doesn’t make you feel at home, it makes you feel like you’re on vacation! It’s exciting and unique! It’s full of provocative yet tasteful art, bold colors, beautiful lighting and an all around cool vibe!

The decor, colors and materials used throughout the lobby, lounge and bar area create a very warm and inviting environment. No matter where you go, you feel comfortable and welcome.

The rooms have a more minimalist vibe but with fun features to customize. The extra large bed is insanely comfortable and is right against the window for the best views right while you sleep in! The window has a cool shade for letting in soft light or a solid shade that basically blocks all invading light.

The TV has channels to watch or you can mirror videos/Netflix/music from your iPad/iphone right to the TV! The outlets here have the British outlets, European and American outlets which is hella helpful if this is your mainstay from outside of the U.K. and hadn’t picked up a converter for your plugs yet!

The shower has got to be one of the coolest things in these rooms. I couldn’t quite get a good shot of it’s effect but the light in it that radiates through the translucent glass can be changed to a wide myriad of colors that best suit your mood. The stark white walls and decor along with the mirror all help fill the room with whatever color your vibin too! It’s really rad! Plus the lights in the mirror are PERFECT for mirror selfies (as seen above).

The views from my window as you can see was fantastic and that was just floor 3. The view from the 7th floor bar was even better. A balcony that wrapped around half the building showed Londons epic skyline marvelously.

Atop all of this fantasticness was an extremely attentive and good spirited staff! Eager to please and even recognize my wants before I had even had a chance to look for someone to ask! They really sealed the deal on a wonderful stay!

10/10 would recommend to anyone from business professional to party seeking tourist! These guys can be found all over the world and if you find yourself considering a stay with them, do yourself a favor and become a Citizen!

Stoners Vintage Jeans Co.

The tattered nature of this brand reflects my own style well. It signifies an appreciation for life and experience over a prim and proper look. My partnership with this brand works well because we both put an emphasis on living a life worth living rather than just looking the part. We highlight our “flaws” as they give us character. We both are brands for the people.

Here I’m rocking the new BRICKZ biker denim with the gunmetal SIGNATURE TEE. Up top I’m rocking the corduroy dad hat for good measure. Rock with me.

Stoners Vintage Jeans Co’s aesthetic and spirit really align with my own and i’m proud to work so closely with them. Keep an eye on their blog as i updated it weekly and run their instagram. New Spring/Summer ‘17 collection will be available soon!

my friends!

Happy new year and all that jazz! we’re off on yet another lap around the sun and things are, as per usual, in motion. you may remember this brand STONERS VINTAGE JEANS CO from our collab last year well at the start of this year they’ve asked ya boy to work closer with them in spreading the word and honestly, i’m stoked on the opportunity!

as i stated when i started this blog, i’m a man of integrity and wouldn’t back things simply for a paycheck. i respect myself and all of you too much for that. thankfully stoners vintage jeans have quality product and style that suits my own perfectly! luxurious yet rugged is what we do here at stay|ragged and as you can see, these guys fit the description.

i’m currently running the blog over on their website and running their instagram as well! if you fucks with me here, please, go give them a follow and some likes and fux with me there! this year is gonna be big for stoners vintage jeans as well as myself and i’m stoked to be in business with them.

hope y’all are off to a good start for 2017!

Hey all!

long time no see! life has been crazy! i’m going to make a real conscious effort to keep a much better schedule for updating this moving forward! my sincerest apologies!

Here are a few shots from my last trip to London! I got to do a lil shoot with Thomas Farthing with the homie ryan davies-hall! as you can see we smashed it!

Shot by Dani Dovie-Dotse.

as always my beautiful friends,