The street-fashion scene outdoors the Spring 2020 menswear shows in Paris became a dinner party for the senses. Men took to the streets in formidable sports clothing and kilts. But there was one particular concern, captured by way of Vogue’s photographer Phil Oh, who stole the display: That’s Quin Lewis. Dressed in Thom Browne’s gingham shorts fit, he allowed the shortened silhouette to showcase his prosthetic leg, using style as a method for both body self-belief and empowerment. By day, Lewis—who’s 39 and resides in Washington, D.C.—is an overseas affairs official with the U.S. Department of State; by using nighttime, however, he calls himself a true “style enthusiast.
Last month, he headed to Paris to take in the Spring 2020 collections, something he does every season (in Milan as nicely). “Men’s Fashion Week in Paris is considered one of my favored instances of the 12 months, when I have the opportunity to put on my excellent appears of the season, view the trendy collections, and decide which tendencies I can include into my dresser for the 12 months in advance,” he says. His highlights from the Spring runways? “Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton continues to amaze me along with his contemporary take on suiting, presenting built-in harnesses and sculptural jackets, some with elegantly finished info at the again,” he says. “I’m going to have a field day with Thom Browne’s colorful seersucker fits the subsequent season.” He also cherished Dries Van Noten’s floral and leopard prints, and the indicates at Alexander McQueen, GmbH, and Alyx.
For Lewis, even though the street-style scene doors the suggests served as more significant than a casual photo op, it became a possibility to supply a message about fashion and body positivity. After losing his proper leg in a coincidence in 2005, Lewis observed energy heightening his fashion sense. “I’ve always had a passion for style….It became important for me to preserve pursuing these passions to the fullest quantity possible after the accident,” he says. “In this vein, becoming an amputee didn’t alternate my outlook on fashion; it made my paintings tougher to put together looks, which can be undeniably cool, despite the prosthetic.”
These days, Lewis describes his non-public fashion as “rooted in tailored menswear, with an exacting interest to element,” adding that his favorite, maximum-worn labels are Thom Browne, Louis Vuitton, and Dries Van Noten (all of which he wore in the course of Fashion Week). He keeps, “I, in particular, like ultra-luxe layered looks, which combine textures and formidable prints, paired with something surprising. I live for monochromatic ensembles and boldly revealed, suiting fabrics.
A top instance of his use of style for specific self-assurance is the Thom Browne suit he wore in Paris (the road-fashion photographers went wild for it). “I have constantly loved Thom Browne’s quick fits, and as soon as I attempted one on, I felt like I changed into imparting my most proper self,” he says. “It turned into the first time in 14 years that I wore shorts in public, and it became a high-quality enjoyment. The prosthetic leg tells a compelling tale of how blessed I am to be alive and capable of walking around with a smile.” From now on, Lewis hopes to include even new shorts into his dresser, adding, “I’m already taking into account wearing a kilt to the next Thom Browne display.