Would it be a cliche to say Oscar Udeshi is the “thinking man’s” menswear designer? A student of philosophy, experienced traveller with a savvy business brain, Udeshi is an impressive guy. His style is classic, bold and authorative. His travel experiences paint him as a risk-taking thrill seeker, but how does this inform his work? I spoke to Oscar recently to get a feel for what inspires him.
The Most Memorable Place I Ever Visited…
Venice. I thankfully went in the off season and felt I could move there tomorrow.
The Most Enjoyable Flight I Ever Took…
Daytime flight from Munich to Tokyo. Was a clear day and saw a large chunk of Russia, Mongolia and China. Just seeing the vast expanse of our planet, and the curvature of the globe, and how insignificant we as individuals really are in the grand scheme of things
The Best Night Out I Ever Had…
While in Hawaii surfing, befriended some old timers who were in the Hawaii 5-0 TV series. Just remember trying to surf on a moving pickup truck and waking up the next day 30 miles away on the beach. The rest is off the record.
The Best Thing I Ever Ate…
Under the railway tracks of Tokyo station, at one of these street hawkers that would not look out of place in the film Bladerunner. The cook kept peddling me various entrails and two locals took sympathy on me. One called up his English speaking girlfriend and we communicated by passing the mobile back and forth, translating from Japanese in to English, back in to Japanese. I have no recollection of what I had, but it was amazing.
The Best Hotel Room I Ever Slept In…
L’Hotel in Paris before the refurbishment, where Oscar Wilde spent his last days. Small intimate room, almost like being in a womb.
The Most Stylish City I Ever Visited….
Aside from London….. Possibly Tokyo.
The Coolest Lobby I Ever Checked In To….
The retro lobby of the Hotel Okura in Tokyo, where I can imagine Sean Connery in the 1960s ordering vodka martinis in the lobby bar.
My Most Treasured Travel Memory…
When I was traveling around the world, and told people of my journey. I was invited to their homes or driven hundreds of miles. These random acts of kindness I will take with me to my grave.
One Thing I Can’t Travel Without…
Our cocktail cuff shirts. The cuffs fold back like french cuffs, but there are no cufflinks to lose or to set off the metal detectors. Paired with our mother of pearl collar stays, traveling is easy and one is always smartly turned out, wearing a suit of a pair of jeans.
My Most Valuable Piece Of Travel Advice…
Taking nothing for granted.