Myles Joseph Hasnain PHOTO COURTESY OF MYLES JOSEPH HASNAIN
These stylish San Diego gents prove that success also comes with an eye for the art of fashion.
MANNY MACHADO PHOTO BY MATT THOMAS/SAN DIEGO PADRES
Third baseman and shortstop,
San Diego Padres
(mlb.com/padres)
It’s been 10 years since Manny Machado made his MLB debut in 2012 with the Baltimore Orioles, and just three years since he signed a 10-year contract with the San Diego Padres to the tune of $300 million—at the time, it clocked in as the highest contract ever for a free-agent player. Now, at 30 years old, Machado’s star status only continues to rise, with six appearances in the MLB All-Star Game and two Gold Glove Awards under his belt in his decadelong career. But when the Miami-bred third baseman and shortstop isn’t impressing fans on the field, he’s knocking it out of the park on the style front, stepping out in threads that have photographers snapping him on the red carpet, and heading to and from games.
“When I was younger, I found inspiration for my style on the red carpets at the Emmys, Grammys and award shows in general,” he recalls. Today, he turns to his wife, Yainee, to whom he’s been married to since 2014, to keep him looking fly, whether he’s hitting the town in Coronado, where he resides during baseball season, or rolling to a star-studded event. “My wife is the one that keeps me on trend; she’s my stylist full-time,” he reveals. “She’s the one that always puts me on top.” Those top ensembles include pieces from Dior, Gucci, James Perse and Louis Vuitton. “Right now, Louis is probably my No. 1 brand,” adds Machado. “I like their style right now, and I think they’ve been doing a really good job with their clothing collections; I’ve been sticking with them.”
While Machado is no stranger to a well-tailored suit or topnotch timepiece—he admits that his watch collection is the most cherished part of his closet—he’s a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy at heart. “Back home [in Miami], I keep it simple,” he says. “You’ll find me in jeans, a nice pair of shoes and probably a white tee.” Luckily, San Diego’s coastal ambiance has Machado feeling right at home. “San Diego’s style is more beach-friendly, so people like to be a little more relaxed,” he observes of the local fashion scene. “It’s right up my alley; it’s exactly how I love to dress.” A home-run match, indeed.
"San Diego’s style is more beach - friendly, so people like to be a little more relaxed. It’s right up my alley; it’s exactly howI love to dress. –Manny Machado"
MYLES JOSEPH HASNAIN PHOTO COURTESY OF MYLES JOSEPH HASNAIN
Stylist and owner, MJH Studios
(mjh.studio)
"Great style is defined by putting intention behind everything you wear; nothing should be an after thought or a placeholder.… Thoughtful fashion is true fashion. – Myles Joseph Hasnain"
For stylist and boutique owner Myles Joseph Hasnain, the art of dressing well is both business and pleasure. A graduate of San Francisco’s Academy of Art University with a degree in fashion journalism, Hasnain began his career assisting in, and eventually producing, fashion shows. From there, he headed to the Big Apple where he ended up at VICE magazine as an assistant to the fashion editor, before returning to the West Coast to work as Ralph Lauren’s creative coordinator in San Diego. After refining his skills, he set out on his own, founding an upscale women’s boutique in Del Mar in 2019. “Using all of my past experiences and learned skills, I opened MJH Studios, a highly curated boutique and fashion experience,” says Hasnain, who calls Cardiff-by-the-Sea home. “I’ve essentially been able to open the closet of a stylist to the public and bring a new perspective to the San Diego scene.”
Hasnain’s passion for fashion started in his youth—in high school, he was crowned best dressed in his class. “I was photographed in the yearbook decked out with a velvet blazer, flared jeans, tinted aviators and shaggy hair,” he recalls. “When I was younger, I always looked at past decades for style inspiration, as I still do. Fashion is cyclical, and I loved reinterpreting looks from musicians like Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones.”
Today, Hasnain cites Harry Styles as a modern-day inspiration. “Harry Styles continues to impress me, from his love for Alessandro Michele’s Gucci to his affinity for matching sets and the ’70s.” Matching sets have also made their way into Hasnain’s personal wardrobe. “I’m extremely into complementary pants and shirts made of the same colors and fabrics that can either create a head-to-toe ensemble or be worn separately,” says the style aficionado, who’s a fan of apparel by Marni, Séfr and Saint Laurent. “I love the idea of refinement with a twist.”
Up next, Hasnain will launch his own personal label of clothing in 2023. “Great style is defined by putting intention behind everything you wear; nothing should be an afterthought or a placeholder,” he says. “You don’t need luxury labels to look stylish, just care and attention to the details. Thoughtful fashion is true fashion.”
ANDREW UTT PHOTO BY STACY KECK
Executive director, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego
(icasandieg.org)
For the dapper Andrew Utt, an elevated sense of style is an extension of his art-filled life. As the executive director of the Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego (ICA)—which he launched in September 2021 as a result of merging the San Diego Art Institute and Lux Art Institute, for which he was the director two years prior—Utt seeks to inspire and engage the community around him. “For me, art is about grabbing your attention, then making you think about why it was created. Why, for instance, would someone dedicate their time to something that has no tangible function? They’re doing it to express ideas,” he shares. “I believe art can build one’s ability to think critically about the world. Ultimately, I want my daughter to grow up being inspired and proud to be living in a global city.”
While Utt was born and bred in San Diego, his art career has taken him to museums and galleries all over the world—from Paris to Buenos Aires to Bogotá—producing projects on nearly every continent. That global outlook has also influenced his personal style. “I feel best when I support small designers from South America that have no brand,” says Utt, who also makes a conscious effort to buy pieces that are sustainable and free of plastics. “I definitely take style cues from my trips to art fairs abroad.”
While his early years growing up in SoCal had him donning skater-approved looks, his style today leans a bit more preppy and a lot more colorful. “I feel most like myself in burgundy pants, bright shoes and a shirt that blinds you with color. I’m all about comfort, breaking traditions, and patterns and seams that make your eyes wander.” He’s even found a fashion confidant through ICA. “My undercover stylist is one of ICA’s board members and an amazing designer himself, Sean Leffers,” he reveals. “He is so incredibly eclectic in his tastes and I trust him to push my style boundaries.” Just don’t expect Utt to wax poetic about his wardrobe. “I’m not sentimental about clothes at all; they’re highly functional for me,” he admits. “Art is a different story—I couldn’t imagine not being surrounded by it.” Now, that’s painting the town.
"I feel most like myself in burgundy pants, bright shoes and a shirt that blinds you with color. I’m all about comfort, breaking traditions, and patterns and seams that make your eyes wander . – Andrew Utt"
CHRISTIAN POTTER PHOTO BY LAURA BRAVO MERTZ
Real estate agent, Compass
(christianrpotter.com)
At just 26 years old, Christian Potter has established himself as a rising star in San Diego’s booming real estate industry. A Rancho Santa Fe native, Potter is carrying on the legacy of his go-getting family—which includes commercial builders, civil engineers, architects and real estate attorneys—through The Bornstein Group at Compass. With his signature blonde coif, the dapper gent not only looks like a million bucks but has clocked in well beyond that in real estate transactions—in the past year alone, he’s closed nearly $20 million. “While I have achieved a lot in the last four years, I still have a very tall ladder to climb,” he admits.
When it comes to dressing the part, Potter’s style is an ongoing journey to self-discovery. “My style has evolved a lot in the last four years,” he reflects. “I notice myself taking more risks and really dressing for myself. I’ve gone from preppy schoolboy to Downtown L.A. wannabe, and all the way back around to a nice mix in the middle—I mean, I carry mini bags around town; I never would have done that four years ago,” he quips. “I like variety. I no longer dress in one category—I like to mix preppy and edgy styles together.”
As for the labels that line his wardrobe, he reveals that one brand rises above the rest. “I am the Balmain king; I’d say 60% of my wardrobe is Balmain,” says Potter, who also counts Casablanca, Amiri, Saint Laurent and Alo Yoga as fellow favorites. “The style and tailoring is impeccable and makes you feel like you can own anything you do!” A special piece by Hermès is also near and dear to his heart. “My most cherished accessory is my tan mini Kelly bag. I purchased it when I closed my first big deal.”
At the end of the day, Potter is never fully dressed without his innate self-confidence. “To me, great style starts with confidence,” he notes. “You can wear all the designer apparel in the world, but unless you can strut your stuff down the side of the road and own it, the outfit means nothing.”
"You can wear all the designer apparel in the world, but unless you can strut your stuff down the side of the road and own it, the outfit means nothing . – Christian Potter"
Photography by:
