A Bespectacled Peacock in Manhattan

Kwannam Chu is a gentleman peacock, originally from Hong Kong, that resides on the island of Manhattan. He's a creative director, photographer, and writes for magazines. His personality and style absolutely glow on his charming and beautiful blog—We Could Grow Up Together. Kwannam also makes the color green look so chic and modern—whether he's wearing green shoes, green shorts, or green shirts!

Mr. Peacock: How would you describe your own style?
Kwannam Chu: I’d say Prepster meets East Village.

MP: How old were you when you realized you were a peacock?
KC: The first time I went into a Japanese department story, when I was like 4 or 5—I knew I loved fancy.

MP: What's your favorite item in your wardrobe?
KC: My Glasses.

MP: Are you obsessed with a particular item of clothing?
KC: Glasses. Glasses. And Glasses. Just bought a new pair (above) before answering these questions. They are from Selima Optique.

MP: Do you wear vintage clothes or only "new" clothes?
KC: Both. I love the adventures I have at flea markets. Ebay too. Also, new stuff—simply from everywhere.

MP: Do you make any of your clothes?
KC: Nope. Never did.

MP: Who is your style icon?
KC: Sebastian Flyte from Brideshead Revisited. Gene Kelly. Ashely Olsen (above left), Stephen Tennant, Antony Baekeland (above right) in the movie Savage Grace.

Above: A paperweight weight from Michele Varian—rests on Kwannam's journal.

MP: Who or what has influenced your style?
KC: Real people on the streets. Characters from fiction or fairy tales. The cinema. Magazines. Old photographs and paintings...

MP: Has any song or movie influenced your style?
KC: Movies! My Own Private Idaho. Savage Grace. Brideshead Revisited (both the TV series and the movie), Son of Rambow. Is anybody there? Le Balloon Rouge.

MP: Do you have a favorite menswear designer or brand?
KC: Band of Outsiders. Engineered Garments. Freemans Sporting Club (above).

Above: Mr. Peacock loves Kwannam's shoe collection!

MP: Do you wear any jewelry?
KC: Lapel pins on my blazers.

MP: Tote bag, satchel or briefcase?
KC: Totes and MURSES! I am known for my murses.

MP: What would be your dream purchase right now?
KC: I wanna buy the whole Manhattan!

Above: Mr. Chu dashing in Mr. Peacock's old neighborhood—Soho, NY.

MP: Any sartorial disasters you can share?
KC: I do not think there would never be any sartorial mistakes or disasters, as long as you are confident with your decision and yourself, nothing is ever wrong.

Above: A stunning image from Esquire-Hong Kong, by Kwannam Chu.

MP: Any menswear trends you adore? or abhor?
KC: I am so over trends these days. But I really wanna to see every man out there to have more respect or spent more efforts and hearts on dressing decently. I always believe, if I couldn’t make this world a better place, I can at least make it a prettier by looking a bit nicer.

Above: A new pair of green driving shoes from Massimo Dutti.

MP: What city has the best-dressed men?
KC: It not a geographic location, more like a time issue, I think gentlemen in the past dressed way nicer.

MP: What are your favorite fashion magazines or blogs?
KC: I like the old INTERVIEW back in the Warhol days. Man About Town, Teen Vogue, and 10 Men...are my religious reads.

Above: Vintage Interview Magazine, and Le Balloon Rouge.

MP: Do you plan what you're wearing the evening before or spontaneously select something in the morning?
KC: A little bit of both.

MP: What do you do for a living?
KC: I strive to be better, at everything!

Mr. Peacock is completely enchanted with Kwannam Chu's panache and talent. Stop by his blog, and also take a look at his eloquent photography—you're in for a treat. Thanks Kwannam!