Arlo Weiner, sartorial scion of 'Mad Men' creator, serves up style advice
During my interview with pint-sized stylephile Arlo Weiner – 8-year-old son of "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner (see the full profile in Sunday’s Image section), I asked the sartorial sage of second grade to serve up some of his fashion advice.
Q: What fashion advice would you give to other kids your age about how to dress?
A: Don’t wear ripped pants, don’t wear shirts that are all worn out and don’t wear a [suit] jacket over a shortsleeve shirt -- and I don’t like tank tops so much.
Q: That’s a lot of things not to do. What are some simple things people can do to kick their own style up a notch?
A: Well, wear a lot of different colors, for one, and wear different patterns. I like to mix plaids.
Q: You say that, but I can see that you have a preference for red and black. Why?
A: Red and black are my favorite colors, When I’m in red I’m feeling bubbly. When I’m happy I wear yellow. When I put on black I’m not happy or sad.
Q: You told me "SpongeBob SquarePants" is one of your favorite TV shows. What kind of fashion makeover might you give Mr. SquarePants?
A: I would make him have black pants and a brown belt instead of the brown pants and black belt he has. And instead of the red tie, I’d make it a blue tie.
Q: What about say … a monocle?
A: No monocle.
Q: Hopefully this won’t get you in any trouble, but what about Don Draper on your dad’s show “Mad Men”? Any style advice for him?
A: I’ve watched probably three episodes. I like the fashion, but I think Don should wear different jackets – not just the gray and black ones.
Q: Speaking of your dad, I’ve seen him at parties rocking an ascot, so I know he has style, but does he ever seek advice from you?
A: When he goes to work he’ll wear like jeans and a black belt and maybe a black turtleneck. But sometimes he’ll come and say: ‘Arlo, I need your help. ‘Do you like this?’ about something he’s wearing. Sometimes it’ll be brown socks with brown shoes, which I don’t like very much.
Q: The way you dress sets you apart from other kids your age. How would you like it if everyone your age dressed that way?
A: There’s a kid in sixth grade who tries to dress the way I do sometimes, and once, at the Purim carnival, [a friend] came dressed as me. I wouldn’t mind, but I think it’s cool that only me dresses like me.”
Arlo Weiner, 8-year-old fashion plate
Photo Gallery: The Curious Closet of Arlo Weiner
"Mad Boy", GQ's online style profile of Arlo Weiner
'Mad Men's' Christina Hendricks is a vintage soul
Follow the Image section on Twitter
Photo: Arlo Weiner climbing the kitchen archway of his parents home on March 27. Credit: Nancy Pastor for The Times.
As though anyone other than the trend-du-jour set would give a flying whoopee about what an 8 year old thinks about fashions.
One is left wondering just what sort of values his family is teaching him other than how to bilk a gullible public.
Posted by: Jim P. | April 06, 2009 at 12:56 PM
>As though anyone other than the trend-du-jour set
>would give a flying whoopee about what an 8 year
>old thinks about fashions.
Well, I care. I think he's adorable for starters, but beyond that he obviously has a natural eye for fashion and he's too young to be entirely jaded. So I think it's quite fascinating to get such an uninhibited opinion.
I also suspect we'll be seeing more of this kid in the future.
Posted by: John Drake | April 06, 2009 at 09:16 PM
JimP.
Only a truly cynical person can look at an EIGHT YEAR OLD BOY who is being himself and doing his own thing, without caring what others think, and see it as "Bilking the a gullible public". And I can tell you the values his family is teaching him; "Be yourself" "See the world the way you see it, not the way I want you to see it" This kid obviously has an aptitude for style, why should he act otherwise? I wish more parents were like the Weiner's, good enough to let their kids be who they are and celebrate and support it!
Posted by: meghan | April 12, 2009 at 07:42 AM