What Blogger/Illustrator Richard Haines Saw Today

By Stephen Watson
September 29, 2010

Richard Haines

Street style blogs may be ubiquitous nowadays, but there are three reasons why What I Saw Today stands out from the crowd: First, whereas most of these blogs track the ladies, blogger Richard Haines, whose blog is subtitled "A Visual Record of Cool Stuff Guys Wear... And Other Things That Inspire Me," documents the guys. Second, instead of photographing his subjects, Haines keeps pen and paper at the ready, reducing his impressions to quick line sketches—drawings that often reveal more about the personality of the subject than even an instant photograph can capture. Third, this blog is really really good.

Having both designed a collection under his own name and worked at esteemed houses including Perry Ellis and Calvin Klein, Haines has a unique knowledge of fashion history and clothing construction. His resume, combined with his obvious artistic talent, give him an incredibly discerning eye.

The Inside Source: What is your artistic process? Do you sketch live and in person? Do you take pictures first and sketch later?

Richard Haines: It really depends on the situation. I see a lot of amazing people on the street—it usually happens so quickly, so i introduce myself, take a few shots with my iphone and sketch them when I get back to my studio. If the timing is right, i'll do a quick sketch on the street. Or the opposite of that—people will come to my studio for a "sitting," which I really love.

TIS: Do you always carry a sketchbook? a camera?

RH: Yeah, there's nothing more frustrating than seeing a great looking person and not having a sketchbook. As for photos, I usually just use my iPhone. I probably should carry a camera, but the idea of all that gear and taking out a camera seems to make it less spontaneous, and for me, it's really all about capturing the moment!

What I Saw Today: Outside of Rad Hourani, September 14, 2010

TIS: Do you have any favorite illustrators? Any favorite artists that have influenced you?

RH: There are so many amazing illustrators who influenced me. The first one that comes to mind is Antonio (Lopez). I remember seeing his work in the New York Times and just loving it. He captured that moment so brilliantly. Then there are the more classical illustrators of the '30s, '40s and '50s—Eric, Rene Bouche—such lovely, elegant lines...and of course Kenneth Paul Block—a genius!

Richard Haines Sketches

What I Saw Today...At The Armory, Waiting For Marc/Marc Jacobs, September 14, 2010

TIS: How do you decide on who you'd like to sketch? What elements catch your eye? Clothes? Posture?

RH: I'm glad you mentioned posture—that's a huge factor in sketching. Posture and attitude have everything to do with getting a good sketch. Clothes and 'fashion' are secondary. It's why I love Brooklyn. There are kids here with no money putting themselves together and doing amazing stuff. I'm inspired every day!

TIS: I've noticed on the blog that you've been sketching the female form more, especially during Fashion Week. What designers inspire you?

RH: When it comes to Fashion week, I'll say I was pretty much inspired 24/7. I was backstage at a show that got panned, but it was heaven for me. The models looked amazing; they were posing like crazy. I sketched Kanye West and Kelly Osborne, so any show is win/win! When it comes to designers, I would say that Lanvin is pretty amazing, I've also really loved the past few seasons of Mui Mui. For men's, I'd be very happy with anything from Thom Browne, and I saw the Rag & Bone spring show and loved a lot of the pieces there.

Richard Haines Sketches What I Saw Wednesday Night, September 17, 2010

TIS: You've done projects with many different fashion brands like J.Crew & Barneys New York. Have anything new in the works that you'd like to mention?

RH: Lot's of interesting things are happening. I'm working with a partner exploring a series of animated clips, with another person about a series of books. Lot's of things are unfolding. Also, just yesterday, I did a job at Calvin Klein, which means a lot because I love what Francisco Costa is doing, but I worked there as a designer many years ago, so I have a strong connection to the company.

TIS: You seem to always be out and about...scouting, parties, shows and you have terrific personal style. Do you have a uniform that takes you to all the different places you go?

RH: Thanks! One of my goals has always been to get dressing down to a uniform. My father was a commander in the navy. He went off to work everyday in these amazing uniforms of deep navy or black wool with brass buttons. To say that was a huge influence is putting it mildly.

I bought a military jacket at J.Crew a few months ago and I wear it almost every day. The fit is perfect. I treat is as a blazer with a shirt and tie, or as a casual jacket with t shirts. The premise is keep the colors simple (navy blue, khaki, white) and solid and you can't go wrong!

I buy my jeans at Uniqlo. They're the super skinny "000' for about $30. The cut is as good as the price. I have about four pair of denim, a pair of white, and black and that really simplifies things!

TIS: Have you seen any interesting fashion trends on the street lately that you think will catch on in a bigger way?

RH: This is pretty obvious, but i'm amazed at how 'preppy' has crossed across every part of menswear. When i'm on the train, I see everyone in cardigans, boat shoes, gingham shirts. It's pretty amazing.

One thing I notice—and no one every talks about—is how many guys roll up their jeans. Across the board in Brooklyn, it's like there was a flood (there was just a hurricane, but that's different!). And it's not like guys say to each other, "dude, how many times did you turn up your cuff?" but everyone does it. And it really changes the proportion of what a guy is wearing and how he carries himself. Welcome to the musings of a blogger/illustrator/fashion person!

Richard Haines's eBay Finds