“Good Shirt, Baggy Pants”: Marcus Allen Is a Menswear Champ

All photos courtesy of Marcus Allen.

Marcus Allen has a sixth sense for making vintage feel modern. As the creative force behind The Society Archive, he assembles collections that celebrate American heritage brands with a focus on wearability and storytelling. This fall, he teams up with Banana Republic on their new Archive drop, diving deep into decades past to resurrect the rogue spirit of Mill Valley safaris and downtown expeditions in a tightly curated collection of vintage treasures: epic leathers, bold graphics, utility staples, and classics you didn’t know you were missing. Highlights include a ribbed rollneck similar to Kate Moss’s 1992 campaign, patchwork vests, and fringe jackets made for road tripping. To mark the release, Allen answered our questionnaire to talk clout, sneakers, and why blending in is always worth questioning.

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How do you know when you’re ready? After 3-10 sprays of cologne, locating my keys, headphones and a shameless plug, The Society Archive cap.

What do you wear when the cameras are off? Same thing as when they’re on—good shirt, baggy pants.

Do you have any skeletons in your closet? Yes.

Who has the worst taste on the internet? Anyone without their own point of view.

What are you sick of seeing on the red carpet? Clothing wearing the talent.

What’s the last gig you turned down? I plead the fifth…

What’s your favorite piece from the Banana Republic archive? The Patchwork vest feels like a really standout archive item.

What’s under your trench coat? A cashmere crewneck and baggy jeans.

What’s the most overrated trend? I don’t even know what’s trending.

What shoe can you not get down with? Puffy skate sneakers, unless it’s an old pair of Volcoms or DCs.

What do you use your clout for? Dining in the Mercer lobby.

Who’s the biggest clown in fashion? Anyone who is dressing for any other reason than themselves. 

Who do you fuck with most? Jan Quammie.

What do you want that you can’t have? I don’t believe in a ceiling. 

Does fashion ever feel pointless? My gut says no, but then I remember sitting at shows and wondering what I’m looking at—fashion can feel pointless if there is no sincerity. 

Do you ever dress down for dates? I don’t feel I’m ever particularly dressed up or down—my fits are fairly uniform.

What’s wrong with blending in? It depends on why.