MAN OF THE HOUR | BLAZE ROBERTSON

You know that mysterious guy in high school who just had that unattainable level of cool and bad-ass-ness about them? That’s the feeling we got when we sat and talked with Blaze Robertson. Besides managing the ultra hip Rag & Bone store in lower Manhattan, Blaze also dabbles in some pretty epic projects both in and out of the fashion industry (of which we’ve been sworn to secrecy unfortunately).

In doing my professional research (see googling) on Blaze, I found that there’s zero information about him online; which kinda makes his persona even more appealing. Here’s what we do know: he has incredible style, he’s originally from Los Angeles, he was once in a somewhat well-known country band with his wife, and he had an opportunity to move to Paris but chose New York because he didn’t speak French. Makes sense to us. 

EA: What brought you from LA to Nashville?

BR: I was playing in an Alternative/Country band in Los Angeles when I met my wife. She had been living in Nashville but was back and forth since she was a singer. We started singing together in LA and it was just a natural progression. We ended up marrying out in Los Angeles. Within a year we realized we had to go to Nashville so we went, signed a record deal and spent six years making music for a living. 

EA: What was the name of your band?

BR: I NEVER say! There are certain things I can’t take off the internet that’s killing me right now actually. I just don’t think we were happy with what we were doing. Nashville was an amazing experience but we ended up making music that we didn’t necessarily want to live by. As that door closed we were actually really happy with it staying closed. There were definitely some fashion choices made during that era that will haunt me forever [LAUGHING]. Nothing detrimental. I wasn’t wearing Ed Hardy t-shirts or anything but there was definitely a time where they made me and my wife dress alike. 

EA: You’re only fanning the flame of mystery right now. 

BR: [LAUGHING] I know. You would be surprised how often it comes up. Someone at Rag & Bone asked and I told them they’d never know. 

EA: Do you and your wife still play music together? 

BR: We’re always making music. Very often we’ll stay up late making music. It’s something that’s in us. We really love it. Most of our friends here in New York are either in fashion or music. We’re all doing something in the arts and creative world so we’re bound to end up somewhere with a guitar at 2am drinking whiskey somewhere. Last night we just had a couple glasses of wine and played some music together. 

EA: What was it like transitioning from music to design and fashion?

BR: It was bittersweet in a sense. My first love was music. It’s what I did for over ten years but I think that, ultimately, creativity is just creativity and that’s what’s most important. For me, when I stopped writing songs and performing I started moving into sewing and designing. I just needed to find another outlet for creativity. 

EA: Were you designing clothes while you were a musician? 

BR: I actually started making my own t-shirts just for fun. I would just start dying white t-shirts different colors and silk screening designs on them. I’ve always loved fashion and enjoyed it but never saw myself being a part of it. I always had the love to create things that were uniquely mine that nobody else had. 

[Above] Blaze wears the Eaton Button Down Shirt

EA: How do you think New York style compares to Los Angeles style?

BR: I never thought of Los Angeles as being a very fashionable place. When I think of LA as a whole, I love so many aspects of it but none of it really has to do with fashion. It’s about weather, Venice Beach and Mexican food. New York style is incredible. I love the attention guys put into what they wear. A great tie clip, socks that match the belt. Whatever it is, there’s style and personality and such freedom in New York. You can really take your personality and style and make it uniquely yours and very cool at the same time. 

EA: We LOVE the bandana around the boots!

BR: [LAUGHING] I’ve been doing that since I started wearing boots. I actually do it because I like tighter jeans and I don’t like the boot to flare out so I just tighten them down. 

EA: If a guy has to build a wardrobe based around 7 key pieces, what would those be?

BR: Incredible pair of boots. One great pair of Jeans. A waste-coat. Blazer. Cashmere overcoat. Scarf. And a great pair of dress shoes. 

On his favorite pair of boots:

“I’ve had these for twelve years and they’re just Durangos. They’re $80 boots that were discontinued so I can’t get this color anymore. They’ve been from LA to Nashville to New York. Now that I’m in New York, I have to re-sole them every two months. As soon as cool or rainy weather hits, you’ll never find me out of these boots. I’ve decided I will duct tape them to keep them alive. I don’t care how unfashionable it is. Maybe I’ll get some bandana print duct tape.” [LAUGHING]

Photos by Eric | Story by Nate

*Please give credit to the EA Journal or Photographer if you use these images.