Each month our top-voted fashionista wins a local fashion shoot and a  fab big bundle of Happy Socks from Sweden.  October’s top-voted favourite was Daniel Stanning from Adelaide who won a shoot with MJ Bale in their Rundle Street East store.

We snapped Interior Designer Daniel Stanning power walking – because he was very late for a lunch date – through Adelaide on a Sunday. Daniel was surprised and delighted to be to be photographed.

“It’s very flattering. Part of the reason that I dress the way I do is because it energises me. I always remember that famous Valentino quote “Only wear clothes that make you feel alive” and I find it uplifting to try and live by that. I love wearing colour and it would be great to see men wear it more. I would like more men to feel all of the emotional benefits of dressing mindfully. An excellent outfit can change your whole perspective. Of course, women have understood this for years!”

Daniel’s always been interested in all things art and design, including fashion. Working for a large-scale design studio specialising in architecture, interior design and urban design, Daniel finds himself regularly traveling to Sydney for a large commercial fit out project. “My workplace is also where I muck around with different ideas about what to wear. You have to take a few risks. Corporate does not mean conservative!”

“I’ve always been captivated by the way that men dressed many decades ago, particularly during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Old Hollywood movies are an absolute passion of mine, along with the glamourous leading ladies who would slink across the silver screen. When I was little, while other Aussie boys were idolising their favourite footy player, I was looking at men like Rudolph Valentino, Clark Gable, Garry Cooper, Cary Grant and William Holden. I noticed what they would wear, how they would move and speak. It was men being glamourous – this inspired me.

So I always tend to throw together a bit of vintage, a bit of ‘resort wear’ a dash of ‘Mad Men’ era – and voila! As a designer, I’m very interested in vintage furniture and fabrics, so a lot of the suits that I wear are vintage finds that I get tailored to fit me perfectly. You just can’t find fabrics like that anymore, and there is no item more important in a man’s wardrobe than a beautifully tailored suit.”

Daniel found out he topped the vote via email. “It was quite a busy and stressful week at work, so what an absolute joy to get an email on a Friday saying that I have the top vote! Completely unexpected, and it totally made my day. I rang my partner and told him straight away, and I think he was even more excited than I was. I dress for myself, but its lovely to know that other people like the clothes as well. I received my Happy Socks and they’re fabulous. A big thank you to all!”

Here’s Daniel’s featured shoot, with the first four looks being selected and styled by Daniel -who LOVES MJ Bale – himself.

Clothing: MJ Bale   Location: Mj Bale Store Adelaide – 255 Rundle Street East, Union Street, Ebenezer Place