Harvey Ambomo : Homme de la nuit

Certain men simply defy words. This much can be said of the enigmatic Harvey Ambomo, who splits his time between his roles as event planner for Materialiste, founding partner of Kisu PR, makeshift DJ and full-time public personality. A creature of the night, Harvey is indefatigable and lives by the hectic rhythm of endless soirées.

Materialiste has decided to dedicate the first in a series of portraits to Harvey for two reasons : firstly, nobody understands what it means to be an elegant man better than he does.

His strikingly individual outfits and impeccable taste should serve as inspiration to men in search of refinement. Secondly, and on a more personal note, Harvey’s identity is calved deep into the pages of Materialiste. It is therefore with great friendship and deep respect that we salute his style.

R : Harvey, what does being an elegant man mean to you ?

H : Being truly elegant has nothing whatsoever to do with the clothes you choose to wear. I believe that elegance is a state of mind. You must feel at ease and be natural if you want to be elegant.

R : I know that everyone asks you the same question, but could you tell me a little about your style?

H : I don’t think I could really define my ‘style’ so as to speak, as it does not belong to any one category. As a rule of thumb, I go for simple pieces that are both comfortable and well cut. When it comes to accessories, I push the boundaries a little further : I try to buy unusual items. I rarely step out without a bow tie or a necktie!

R : It goes without saying that you are a keen sunglass wearer. You never take the things off, even at night!

H : (Raughter) Indeed! I am quite the hardcore sunglass wearer, though perhaps not for the reasons you might think. I am rather shy and wearing sunglasses allows me to filter out the outside world.

R : Let’s talk brands : which are your must-have sunglass labels?

H : I almost exclusively wear designs by Thierry Lasry. He’s an incredibly talented man who is constantly innovating. Today I am wearing a pair of Smalto sunglasses which were part of a limited edition created for the last menswear show. I often end up falling in love with a pair of sunglasses, as was the case with the white-framed pair by Marc Jacobs I came across while on a trip to Tokyo. As soon as I saw them, I said to myself : ‘I simply have to have them’.

R : If there is one thing we have in common, it’s a love of bow ties.

H : Quite! I too am a fan of Laurent Desgrange’s work and often find myself wearing his creations. I also wear designs by Flouzen, another key name in the field, my favorite of which is a red cashmere skinny tie that can be tied up into a bow tie.

R : It is hard for men to get jewellery right, yet you manage to do so with grace and intelligence. What are your main reference points ?

H : I only ever by high-quality costume pieces which are at once unexpected and masculine. My Nicolas Theil necklaces come to mind. Having previously worked for Jean-Paul Gaultier, Theil is a genius who comes up with expectional pieces. Of all the jewellery I own, I am fondest of a pipe-shaped pendant designed by Vibe Harsloef, a Copenhagen-based designer.

R : Which key pieces should a man get his hands on if he is to stand out at night?

H : That’s an easy one : you can’t beat a tuxedo or a cocktail jacket. Margiela and Smalto are particularly strong brands from this point of view. These basic pieces must obviously be offset by a few well-chosen accessories!

R : Which fragance do you wear at night? Are there any smells that remind you of nighttime?

H : I wear three different fragrances : L’Eau de Cartier, Lolita Lempicka ‘Au Masculin’ (summertime) and ‘Never on Sunday’ by Ego Facto, for which I am the inspiration. The last of the three is quite surprising, the blend of hemp and incense resulting in a masculine headiness. The nighttime makes me think of freshness, crispness if you will, and I think that this is reflected in my aforementioned choices.

R : All this non-stop partying can’t be easy! What beauty advice could you give us for the morning after?

H : To be honest, I don’t follow a very strict beauty regime, but whenever I am in need of a detox or a facial, I use products from the Kiehl’s for men range..

R : Describe the perfect evening

H : I always pick the events I attend according to the brands that sponsor them, as this is usually a fairly good indicator of how the evening is going to turn out. I attach a great deal of importance to the venue as well as the music set, as I am a part-time DJ. A truly successful evening depends on several different factors, but above all good food and drink and excellent company!