Photograph by Ben Rollins
New York transplant Chris Classic is something of a creative renaissance man. His claims to fame include an American Music Award (for best soundtrack for the 2007 Alvin and the Chipmunks) and a viral internet moment in which he transformed an H&M lookbook image of a young Black child wearing a controversial hoodie to an image of him as a king. Now, Classic has a new fragrance line, Savoir Faire. (Its logo also features a crown.)
Neighborhood Cascade
Style The new Black dad. Staples include multifunctional blazers, white tee, jeans, and comfortable lace-ups.
Scents I like to walk into a room and have fragrance pique interest without saying a word. We currently carry three fragrances, blended and bottled by hand—Soul Café, Beau Noir, and a signature scent with notes of sandalwood and leather—and have two more in the works.
Celebrity style crushes Professional basketball player Chris Paul, fashion consultant Nick Wooster
Atlanta shopping Men’s vintage shop the Tough Boot
Go-to accessory Colorful pocket squares by Atlanta brand Igrushi
Photograph by Ben Rollins
On breaking the internet I was thinking about that [H&M model] child years from now and what he would see when he Googled himself. I wanted to give him the opportunity to see himself with a crown instead of the words on the hoodie. We have the choice to create things that allow others to see us differently.
Advice for Black brands Move in a spirit of camaraderie and collective excellence instead of competition. Be original, authentic, and unapologetic while maintaining elevated standards. We do not have to bend to Eurocentric ideals about the meaning of beauty and luxury. Black-owned does not necessarily mean Black-only.
This article appears in our August 2020 issue.
