Style remains continuous, however it adjusts itself in different phases of time. In this instance Marta Bota interviews her brother Jeff Gallo, he possesses the special key to another era...in fashion. ~ Copa Style Magazine
A Glimpse of Fashion Past
by Marta Bota
Copa: Where did you grow up?
Jeff: Brooklyn, New York (for the first 37 years of my life)
Copa: Where did you grow up?
Jeff: Brooklyn, New York (for the first 37 years of my life)
Jeff's Mom
Copa: What is it about NYC that makes it so special to you?
Jeff: The sense of history and place, and the fact that my paternal grandparents from Naples, Italy came here with the dream of a better life. They succeeded. My mother also saw a better life in New York, but that was my parent's second choice. Let's just say Fidel Castro had other plans which effected my parents, as my mother was from Havana, Cuba.
New York is like an onion skin, layers upon layers of history. The people, the architecture, and sense of place grounds me to the city. Also, no matter how much you think you know the city, it is always evolving and changing. Not necessarily for the better because New York history is sadly being swept away, in many regards, whenever there is a real estate boom. Many historic buildings that should be landmarked are bulldozed for more generic luxury housing. Another factor is young people still come from all over the US, and the world, to find as well as reinvent themselves and for some just to survive. There is something for everyone in NYC if you know where to look! That keeps the city vibrant and is why it's like no other city in the world.
Jeff: The sense of history and place, and the fact that my paternal grandparents from Naples, Italy came here with the dream of a better life. They succeeded. My mother also saw a better life in New York, but that was my parent's second choice. Let's just say Fidel Castro had other plans which effected my parents, as my mother was from Havana, Cuba.
New York is like an onion skin, layers upon layers of history. The people, the architecture, and sense of place grounds me to the city. Also, no matter how much you think you know the city, it is always evolving and changing. Not necessarily for the better because New York history is sadly being swept away, in many regards, whenever there is a real estate boom. Many historic buildings that should be landmarked are bulldozed for more generic luxury housing. Another factor is young people still come from all over the US, and the world, to find as well as reinvent themselves and for some just to survive. There is something for everyone in NYC if you know where to look! That keeps the city vibrant and is why it's like no other city in the world.
Jeff's Mom and Dad
Copa: How would you define your fashion style?
Jeff: Classic gentleman's menswear, with an emphasis on the 1930's pre-war American style through the early 1950's. After that time period menswear, and fashion in general, became splintered into what adults wear and the ubiquitous youth culture and fashion trends. Of course the first real youth culture/rebellious fashion started in the 1920's with the flappers and drugstore cowboy/ varsity collegiate look with plus fours, crazy sock, sweater patterns and oxford bags. From their zoot suits and 1950's rockers and then on to the anti-establishments 1960's hippies and so on.
Jeff: Classic gentleman's menswear, with an emphasis on the 1930's pre-war American style through the early 1950's. After that time period menswear, and fashion in general, became splintered into what adults wear and the ubiquitous youth culture and fashion trends. Of course the first real youth culture/rebellious fashion started in the 1920's with the flappers and drugstore cowboy/ varsity collegiate look with plus fours, crazy sock, sweater patterns and oxford bags. From their zoot suits and 1950's rockers and then on to the anti-establishments 1960's hippies and so on.
Copa: At what point in your life did you notice your awareness of fashion and one's personal style?
Jeff: I was always a visual person, even from my elementary school days, and acutely aware of fashion even in the early 70's. Having older siblings helped and coming of age at the cultural fashion zeitgeist of the times (proto-hippy fashions, 70's glam, the early disco era). It's was all exuberant over the top fashion! I remember getting the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album by Elton John for my 10th birthday and asking my mom for platform shoes. I would have gladly worn them to my 5th grade class but thankfully my mother said "NO"!!!
Jeff: I was always a visual person, even from my elementary school days, and acutely aware of fashion even in the early 70's. Having older siblings helped and coming of age at the cultural fashion zeitgeist of the times (proto-hippy fashions, 70's glam, the early disco era). It's was all exuberant over the top fashion! I remember getting the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album by Elton John for my 10th birthday and asking my mom for platform shoes. I would have gladly worn them to my 5th grade class but thankfully my mother said "NO"!!!
Copa: Who or what did you feel had the greatest influence on your own unique sense of style?
Jeff: Without a doubt old Hollywood movies and the great leading men of that era. Fred Astaire is an obvious choice but William Powell, Clark Gable and the great Humphrey Bogart influenced my look. Also discovering on my own terms the popular music & jazz from the teens, 20's, 30's and 1940's. The music, the architecture, cars and everyday industrial design from the first half of the 20th century was fantastic! Take a photo from those decades or movie and nearly everyone looks amazing, or at least very well put together. It was about style back then and today it mostly about comfort and causal to the extreme.
Jeff: Without a doubt old Hollywood movies and the great leading men of that era. Fred Astaire is an obvious choice but William Powell, Clark Gable and the great Humphrey Bogart influenced my look. Also discovering on my own terms the popular music & jazz from the teens, 20's, 30's and 1940's. The music, the architecture, cars and everyday industrial design from the first half of the 20th century was fantastic! Take a photo from those decades or movie and nearly everyone looks amazing, or at least very well put together. It was about style back then and today it mostly about comfort and causal to the extreme.
Copa: How does your sense of style fit into your career and personal lifestyle?
Jeff: I'm a real estate agent in NY so I can dress however I like, even if that means wearing original 1920's - 40's clothes every day! Regardless of the season, I never leave the house without a hat! Personal lifestyle? Well most of my friends keep a busy schedule of all the wonderful vintage events going on in New York City. My wife and I try to go to as many as we can. My wife creates exact replicas of 1930's dresses & coats, even using vintage material and 1930's, and 40's Vogue patterns. She makes a connection with dresses and loves to wear original hats from that era. Women looked amazing and elegant where nowadays most people, even for formal or dressy occasions, play it safe and it all starts to look bland or overly trendy . As far as personal lifestyle, even though we have two children, our 1903 late Victorian home is decorated as if time stopped during FDR's last term. Nothing post 1945 from the kitchen, bathrooms and every room in the house. * except the kids who are very much children of today & don't dress in vintage.
Jeff: I'm a real estate agent in NY so I can dress however I like, even if that means wearing original 1920's - 40's clothes every day! Regardless of the season, I never leave the house without a hat! Personal lifestyle? Well most of my friends keep a busy schedule of all the wonderful vintage events going on in New York City. My wife and I try to go to as many as we can. My wife creates exact replicas of 1930's dresses & coats, even using vintage material and 1930's, and 40's Vogue patterns. She makes a connection with dresses and loves to wear original hats from that era. Women looked amazing and elegant where nowadays most people, even for formal or dressy occasions, play it safe and it all starts to look bland or overly trendy . As far as personal lifestyle, even though we have two children, our 1903 late Victorian home is decorated as if time stopped during FDR's last term. Nothing post 1945 from the kitchen, bathrooms and every room in the house. * except the kids who are very much children of today & don't dress in vintage.
Copa: Do you feel that vintage clothing is more about a style trend or more of a lifestyle movement?
Jeff: I don't see it as a style trend although, with the internet and access to endless blogs and references, it certainly has become much more popular. Classic elegant pre-war styles are the furthest thing from "trendy". It's grounded in looking good and bringing a sense of occasion, regardless of what you are doing. The people I know, and others who dressed the period correctly, make a connection through their lifestyle. It's not simply a "look" or aesthetic, but a genuine sensibility and connection to the pre 1950 era! Whether it's being a musician playing old jazz, driving a vintage car, historic reenacting, being an expert Lindy hopper, or replicating clothes and designs, it's a way of looking at the world through sepia tone glasses and connecting to history on a real personal level. That is very important to many people who "dress" vintage, many are history buffs and the need for context is key to their sense of style. Sadly, so much of contemporary culture, fashion and music is disposable.
Jeff: I don't see it as a style trend although, with the internet and access to endless blogs and references, it certainly has become much more popular. Classic elegant pre-war styles are the furthest thing from "trendy". It's grounded in looking good and bringing a sense of occasion, regardless of what you are doing. The people I know, and others who dressed the period correctly, make a connection through their lifestyle. It's not simply a "look" or aesthetic, but a genuine sensibility and connection to the pre 1950 era! Whether it's being a musician playing old jazz, driving a vintage car, historic reenacting, being an expert Lindy hopper, or replicating clothes and designs, it's a way of looking at the world through sepia tone glasses and connecting to history on a real personal level. That is very important to many people who "dress" vintage, many are history buffs and the need for context is key to their sense of style. Sadly, so much of contemporary culture, fashion and music is disposable.
Copa: You are a natural born artist with raw talent in many areas. What do you do to keep your creative juices flowing?
Jeff: I consider myself an artistic person and, although I have a background in art and design, my "artistic" outlet is for my own enjoyment. I've restored & reupholstered antique furniture, light fixtures, re paneled & repurposed Victorian woodwork and I do some painting restoration on my art collection. I see my house and how I look everyday as a living history of the way people dressed. It's not elitist but it's how I feel most comfortable. In the summer months it feels more comfortable and natural to be in a linen suit, bow tie and Panama hat, as your average person on the street in shorts, flip flops and a logo t-shirt.
Jeff: I consider myself an artistic person and, although I have a background in art and design, my "artistic" outlet is for my own enjoyment. I've restored & reupholstered antique furniture, light fixtures, re paneled & repurposed Victorian woodwork and I do some painting restoration on my art collection. I see my house and how I look everyday as a living history of the way people dressed. It's not elitist but it's how I feel most comfortable. In the summer months it feels more comfortable and natural to be in a linen suit, bow tie and Panama hat, as your average person on the street in shorts, flip flops and a logo t-shirt.
Copa: Tell me about your annual family Christmas card and how you come up with ideas?
Jeff: Well, everyone knows when you have kids that you do the "family" Christmas card (everyone smiling by the tree or fireplace). We decided to turn it into a reflection of our vintage household. So each year, usually after Thanksgiving, we decide on a card theme. Last year it was a 1920 stunt bi-plane acrobatics with my daughter and son wing walking and my wife and I piloting the plane!! The year before it was vintage subway travel, and prior to that I constructed a "paper moon " and we did portraits. Everyone looks forward to our cards and we never know what we'll do next!
Jeff: Well, everyone knows when you have kids that you do the "family" Christmas card (everyone smiling by the tree or fireplace). We decided to turn it into a reflection of our vintage household. So each year, usually after Thanksgiving, we decide on a card theme. Last year it was a 1920 stunt bi-plane acrobatics with my daughter and son wing walking and my wife and I piloting the plane!! The year before it was vintage subway travel, and prior to that I constructed a "paper moon " and we did portraits. Everyone looks forward to our cards and we never know what we'll do next!
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Copa: Describe your perfect day.
Jeff: It would start with a hearty breakfast with my two children, then a day at the beach enjoying their company and relaxing with my wife. Later in the day diner with my wife and then meeting up with friends for cocktails and dancing to my favorite jazz orchestra.
~Copa
Jeff: It would start with a hearty breakfast with my two children, then a day at the beach enjoying their company and relaxing with my wife. Later in the day diner with my wife and then meeting up with friends for cocktails and dancing to my favorite jazz orchestra.
~Copa
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