Written by Menswear Style in Interviews on the 16th January 2018

With a quick glance at Corentin Huard’s Instagram account you will instantly be struck by his impeccable taste in menswear and his eye for an amazing photo. He’s travelling the world, influencing and inspiring people with a smile on his face; no wonder he has 605k followers. On the back of Milan Fashion Week we manage to sit down with the French model and filmmaker to find out more about his love of menswear and what it’s really like to be a model and influencer in 2018.

What are favourite menswear brands?  

"I really like AllSaints because of their simplicity; they have a lot of really cool leather jackets and long coats that you can mix with everything. I personally love their boots too. Versace is also one of my favourite brands, they have amazing coats and I really like the medusa logo. For bags, my favourite brand is Coach as they have amazing pieces with really good leather and interesting details."

How would you describe your style? 

"I love looking smart, but casual. I like to dress according to my mood; in the winter months I mostly wear darker clothes, but in the summer I like to wear clothes that are a bit brighter. I like black jeans with a cool T-shirt or turtleneck, white sneakers or black boots and a long elegant coat. Everyday I'm trying different outfits to see if the pieces I choose fit with the other one. I love searching for vintage items and i love jewellery; if I don't have my rings and bracelet on it I feels like something is missing. I don't like having items of clothing that everybody else has - like a coat you can find in Zara or H&M that everyone else is buying and seems to be wearing - I like to look for more unique clothes and accessories." 

Who are your style icons?  

"I love David Gandy's style. He’s an aficionado when it comes to mixing up the three-piece suit, choosing jackets that are cut snug at the waist and making a statement with a standout shirt or tie. I'm also a big fan of David Beckham and Ryan Gosling's style too."

What is it like modelling and walking at shows for the likes of Givenchy and D&G? 

"It's an amazing experience; I never thought I would get to the point where I was walking Dolce and Gabbana fashion shows at only 18 years old. I was super excited and in the meantime stressed by all the important people I was about to walk in front of. But once you start your catwalk, you forget everything and all the pressure backstage suddenly disappears and it becomes excitement."  

How did you get to where you are today? What was your first ever job? 

"Hard work. The harder you work for something, the greater you will feel when you achieve it. Stop doubting yourself; work hard, and make it happen. I never wanted to be a model, it just came to me. After meeting a few people in the industry, my agent Jon Viatgé sent me to China to learn how to be a model. I had no experience, and I was super young. It was really different from what I was used to do because one month prior I was studying sports at university. During this year I travelled a lot and I went to Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Hong Kong. Then I signed with my first model agency in Europe - Major (Italy) - where everything started. I walked for D&G during Fashion Week and then I signed with Soul Artist in NYC, Modelwerk in Germany, Wilhelmina and Bananas. My first job was probably in Paris for a wedding show, the designer was from India."

What 2 places should we visit when we’re next in Paris?

"Montmartre is one of my favourite places. If you walk through those small streets, you get to see the whole of Paris. Its kind of mini Paris. Take time to appreciate the architecture, the art, the theatres, the churches and the coffee shops. Of course, the Eiffel Tower-Trocadéro is iconic too and it's my second favourite spot."  

We can see from your Instagram that you travel a lot, what are your top packing tips? 

"I wouldn't go anywhere without my cameras and video equipment (stabilizer, drones etc.) I can't travel without taking every single thing I own - plus a few extra sweaters just in case. Because I'm an influencer I start my packing process days or even weeks ahead of my departure date; this gives me time to craft a complete list, plus purchase any additional items I might need for my trips. Creating a packing list is a fail-safe way to ensure that you never, ever, forget to bring something important."

Benefits and drawbacks of being an influencer  

"I love being an Influencer because it gives you the opportunity to create whatever you want and to be unique. I like it because you're your only manager and you can control everything. It's also a lot of hard work, dedication and sometimes people don't realise how much effort and patience it takes. But my favourite part of it, is that I can travel as much as I want and work with different people and landscapes."  

What's the best city for fashion?

"I would say Paris. Chanel, Dior, Saint Laurent, Hermes, Louis Vuitton… the list is extensive and ever-expanding. French designers have long created the most renowned and coveted fashion brands in the world."

We catch up with the French Model, Filmaker and Instagram Infuencer, Corentin Huard to find out about his love of menswear and career to date.