Few men are as effortlessly polished as designer Carlo Brandelli, but the London-born creative director at distinguished Savile Row tailor Kilgour seems to have been born with a sixth sense of style. And luckily for his A-list clientele, which has included well-dressed figures from Jude Law to fellow designers Helmut Lang and Alexander McQueen, this taste and gentility filters into all of his work.

Having a well-balanced aesthetic mixing modern style, influenced by the music and art of London youth culture, with traditional craftsmanship-– skills he developed with Italy and London's most skilled tailors-– it's no wonder that Brandelli has gone on to redefine a timeless look for the modern British gentleman. Besides founding his own label Squire in the 1990's, Brandelli has gone on to earn accolades from the British Fashion Awards, who presented him with Menswear Designer of the Year, and GQ, who deemed him “Most Stylish Man of the Year.” PsychoPEDIA asked about the designer’s personal inspirations and words of wisdom for the well-heeled man:

How has your personal style changed over the years?
When you have a high level of knowledge gained from experience, you don’t have to try too hard anymore. If I have an idea in my mind, it isn’t so necessary to execute the final actual design. It is enough to have thought it through in my head.

Did you have any influential mentors?
Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, The Pope, and Peter Saville.

Are there any films or actors that inspire your work?
Death in Venice.

How can you tell the difference between someone with genuine style versus someone who's trying too hard?
I can feel it before I see them. It is in the aura.

What is your advice for a smart wardrobe?
Stick to a color palette that is right for men – like dark navy – and wear the best quality you can afford, not the brand label you can afford. Style is not a brand label, but the two can be mutually exclusive.

Which are the most important pieces of clothing you own?
Usually the hangers and the wardrobe are far more important.

What are a few must-have wardrobe staples for British gentlemen?
Dark navy 1/B suit, dark navy jean, white shirt, navy V-neck.

Do you have any grooming tips in your daily regimen that you'd personally recommend?
Water– drink it and bathe in it.

What is the ideal wardrobe for yourself?
It depends on the occasion, but to relax, I would lie in bed in crisp finest cotton V-neck T-shirt, and shorts.

How would your friends describe you?
My close friends tell me that I am a complete dichotomy of two characters, positive and negative.

What would be your alternative career if not a designer?
A priest.

Where do you see yourself three years from now?
I can’t predict things and only live in the moment.

~Leann Peterson

First & second photos by Amelia Troubridge
Third photo by Thibault Camus
Fourth photo courtesy of Kilgour