These Boston gents prove that success also comes with an eye on the art of fashion.
It’s always sweater weather for the founder of alpine sportswear brand Alps & Meters.
For Louis Joseph, his personal style is synonymous with the alpine lifestyle. He grew up skiing in the mountains of North Conway, N.H., alongside his mother and twin brother and eventually traveled all over the world, from New Zealand to Argentina, chasing the slopes. His favorite pastime took a professional turn in 2017 when Joseph launched Alps & Meters (alpsandmeters.com), a luxury alpine sportswear brand that just opened a new store in Boston. Joseph says that the “spark” of the company began with the purchase of a vintage ski sweater in Sweden.
“Skiing the world over in that particular piece, fellow alpinists were drawn to the garment because of its authenticity, romance and nostalgia,” says Joseph, who held key roles in strategy and marketing for sportswear brands like Puma, K-Swiss and New Balance prior to launching his own brand. “Alps & Meters products reflect the values of that old-world knitwear product and seek to deliver a performance expression of alpine sportswear that is tailored, technical and timeless.”
The ski world has certainly taken notice. In only a few years, Alps & Meters has forged a relationship with the United States Ski Team and sourced fabrics from Loro Piana for its High West collection out this fall. A new international subsidiary, Alps & Meters UK LTD, is part of a new relationship with Harrod’s department store. It’s all brilliantly timed with the Winter Olympics, starting February 2022.
Joseph says his personal style centers on understated, simple and classic ensembles and one essential, three-seasons piece.
“One style item that I could not live without is a standard piece of fall knitwear. In general, a classic sweater of any kind, crew neck or shawl collar, is the cornerstone of my September-to-April seasonal wardrobe. It offers wonderful versatility indoors and out, dressed up and down, with the ability to regulate my temperature with the easy addition of a vest, jacket or down-filled outerwear garment.”
Sounds like smart alpine style to us.
Mistral’s vice president of restaurant operations talks style, hospitality and his off-hours getaway
Working in the world of fine dining does have its own kind of sartorial demands. Just ask Mark D’Alessandro, vice president of restaurant operations at South End stalwart Mistral (mistralbistro.com) since 1997.
“For over 20 years, I wore a suit and tie to work every day. For years, I worked with Jose at Miltons in Chestnut Hill Square, where I bought all my suits, shirts and ties. I was in and out of the store in 30 minutes. He was amazing.”
Post-pandemic, D’Alessandro has adopted a more relaxed approach to work attire, opting for blazers and business casual pieces to oversee Mistral’s front of the house. These days, he wears socks in fun colors and patterns instead of ties to express his personal style. Clothing is a creative outlet in the midst of a trying time in the hospitality industry.
“The entire industry is doing the best we can to accommodate so many people anxious to get out and enjoy life again. We are very challenged with staffing, and while most guests understand, many do not. [It’s important] to respect our teams and do your best to help keep our staff safe so we can continue to provide the best dining experience possible.”
Away from Mistral, D’Alessandro retreats to his home in Sagamore Beach to recharge near the ocean in his usual jeans and T-shirts. Mistral is never too far from his mind though.
“I always felt I was meant for the hospitality industry. Prior to Mistral I worked mostly in the suburbs, and I think I limited myself to not venturing into the city sooner in my younger life. At the same time I don’t regret any of what I have done. I have had an amazing career and am very thankful for what I have accomplished.”
Whether it’s a custom suit or classic Levi’s, the President of The Druker Company, Ltd., is always dressed to impress.
Ronald M. Druker, president of The Druker Company, Ltd., comes from a long line of real estate developers. Over three generations, since 1901, his family has been involved in a number of projects from the hotels Kenmore and Braemore on Commonwealth Avenue to The Colonnade. Druker began working in the family business in 1968 with the development of The Heritage On The Garden, luxury residences set atop high designer shops like Hermès, Escada and Anne Fontaine.
He’s also the face behind major projects like the rehabilitation of the former Gilchrist’s Department Store and the Orpheum Theatre, along with Atelier|505 in the South End, which included some of the first new theaters to be built in Boston in over 75 years. “Being able to infuse neighborhoods with new concepts resulting in an enhanced Boston is what has resonated with not only me but our prior generations as well,” he says.
Druker is a true Bostonian at heart. He walks to work every day, strolling through neighborhoods like Back Bay, Downtown Crossing and the Financial District, wearing double- or single-breasted pinstripe suits and heavy, button-up cardigans from Loro Piana or Rubinacci. Other favorite brands include Hermès, Zegna, Huntsman, Hogan and Uniqlo. He describes his style as “eclectic but understated.”
Off the clock, Druker can’t live without his Levi’s 501 jeans, which are often paired with a flannel or linen shirt depending on the season. It’s also not uncommon to see him in Adidas track pants and zip-up hoodies. But even then, Druker makes sure to complement the basics with pieces of substance—whether it be bespoke suits from London’s Savile Row, custom-made ties from Charvet in Paris or linen shirts from Tokyo. He says, “I typically shop while I’m traveling.”
While he may travel all over the world, there’s no place like home for this Boston tastemaker. Druker credits his style to a local haberdasher who ensured he always looked his best.
"For over 60 years, Charlie Davidson of the Andover Shop on Holyoke Street in Cambridge was my close friend and “fashion muse” right up until his death in 2019 at the age of 92. Charlie ran the A Shop like a neighborhood saloon. He was the bar’s proprietor and clients/customers would come in to schmooze, exchange gossip and stories about politics, sports, music and, of course, fashion!" Druker says.
"Charlie kept a folder—in my case two—for his clients, which served as a history or, more accurately, a chronicle of what his customer had ordered to have made," Druker notes "There was always a notation about how it fit. Typically, perfect!"
"As my muse, Charlie encouraged me to shop elsewhere. To get shirts at Charvet or a suit on Savile Row. Shop at Alan Flusser in New York or explore new stores in Milan, Paris, London. In other words, to go for it! How many haberdashers would encourage a customer to shop somewhere else? Charlie reveled in seeing whatever I might bring in from afar, like Hong Kong, Naples, Rome. He would look at the detailing, the fabric, whatever made it special. He was the best!" Druker says.
"We created together, exchanging ideas about lapel width, vents, length and fabric until we had the look we wanted... I miss Charlie."
Photography by: Michael Blanchard; Bonett A/Getty Images
