Work Life

#FollowFriday: Five Questions with @TheClothier

By Abby Miressi
Richard Drew AP

William Wilson found huge success with his custom clothing company after eight and a half years in the Navy and taking charge of his own construction business. When he isn’t living the fast-paced life of designing suits for the stars like Anthony Anderson, you can find him on the golf course or relaxing in his uptown condo.

Twitter Handle: @TheClothier

Hometown: Augusta, Arkansas.

Favorite lunch spot: Queen City Q.

(1) How did you get into fashion?

Actually, by accident. I owned a high-end construction company — only building houses 8,000 square feet and up. As a part of the business, I would go to a lot of client meetings. One day, one of the homeowners stopped me and said, “You are always so well-dressed, can you help me put my wardrobe together?”  Long story short, I helped him build his wardrobe, and he started to send people to me … Then, in 2010, I designed a suit for R&B artist Calvin Richardson and he won “Best Dressed on the Red Carpet.” The business really took off from there.

(2) How do you decide the style for your clients?  

A lot of the time, with my clients, I help them figure out their own style. It’s like when you go to Beverly Hills — I am the tour guide that takes you around to all the beautiful houses. I ask them what they are looking for and why. The “why” is just as important as the “what” … Nothing I do is about fashion. I am a style guy. Off the rack is “fashion;” custom is “style.” Some things that are considered fashion might not necessarily fit your style … You want your wardrobe to feel like you.

(3) Any style pro tips?

Dress your style. That’s the biggest thing, especially with men.  Also, dress to your comfort but don’t let your comfort work to your detriment … People size you up in 2.7 seconds. If you are trying to work yourself up the ladder but you don’t look like you pay attention to the details of how you present yourself, how can someone believe that you are going to pay attention to them and give them good service?

(4) What is your biggest style pet peeve?

I would have to say my biggest pet peeve is when men wear button-down-collar shirts and a tie. There’s a distinct difference between a button-down-shirt collar and a dress-shirt collar. Dress shirts are meant for ties. If you are going for that Yale preppy look, maybe you can get by with it, but that’s it.

(5) What’s next?

That’s a good question. I am not quite sure, and here is why: My only endeavor experience in clothing is this company. I have never worked in retail, taken a design class or a fashion class. I am still learning the industry and developing my brand. I have found that if you don’t stay open to what’s around you, you miss out on a lot of opportunity.

Abby Miressi

@abbymsays

This story was originally published June 11, 2015 at 11:00 PM.

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