100 Beards, 100 Days: Taking Five with Jonathan Daniel Pryce

By Jodie Kharas Published July 9, 2013

Blogger extraordinaire and fashion photographer Jonathan Daniel Pryce is possibly one of the nicest, most exciting people emerging on the London men’s fashion scene right now. Born and bred in Scotland, Pryce moved to London last summer, and promptly bagged the award for Photographer of the Year at the Scottish Fashion Awards. Gaining momentum, JDP then began his revered 100 beards, 100 days blog project which led to the publishing of his sell-out book featuring the entire collection of his sartorially charged beard portraits.

We managed to grab five with the man of the moment for a chat about men’s style and facial fuzz.

Hey JDP, what’s new and exciting?

Recommended Videos

Hello! Everything feels exciting and new for me right now. I’ve just moved house and I’ve got some exciting projects in the pipeline. One will be a digital showcase spotlighting the unsung heroes of the men’s fashion industry. It’s a joint project with a friend called ‘The Inside Man’ and will feature the most interesting men behind the scenes – the pattern cutter, the illustrator.

The success of your 100 beards book still seems to be going strong, considering the sell-out sales so far. You must be ecstatic?

I’m overwhelmed actually. It’s been nearly 8 months since I first thought of the idea and it’s been non-stop ever since. I’ve had an exhibition in Edinburgh, two in London (one with Jigsaw Menswear, one at Front Room at St Martin’s Lane), an exhibition in Linz, Austria and I’m also talking to a gallery in Brazil currently. The first edition of books has sold out and I’m now looking at a re-print. It’s crazy!

So far, your imagery has been Brit-centric. Do you have any solid plans to shoot across seas? The Manual would love to see you in the US!

I’ve actually had a few friends suggest doing a kick-starter project, which I’m now seriously considering. What I think I’ll do is try to fund a photographic and film documentary of 100 beards in the US. Check 100beards.tumblr.com for details soon!

The majority of your subjects are guys. Do you prefer shooting men to women?

The reason I started a men only project with 100 Beards is because they’re notoriously more difficult. Now I do this and also have my men’s street style blog AnotherGarcon.blogspot.com, I’m enjoying men’s fashion more than ever.

How would you define the style of British men?

British men are irreverent, culturally aware, referencing a wide range of subjects and styles across history. They may not always stick to the style “rulebook”, but they’re always interesting.

Who has been your favorite subject to shoot so far?

I love anyone with a story or personality that matches his or her intriguing style. It can be the old man on the street off to get groceries or the creative designer in East London full of energy. Anyone I make a connection with.

Who inspires your daily dress?

It’s an amalgamation of all the people I meet and spot on the street to be honest. If I were to name names, I’d say 70s Paul Newman and 50s Montgomery Clift were impeccably dressed.

Can you tell us about any exciting brands to watch out for here in the US?

I think Jigsaw is doing a great job with their menswear line and I love Duchamp London for their use of colour and tailoring. Also my Spencer Hart coat is beautiful.

What is good style?

Knowing yourself and being confident with who you are.

What’s next?

Hopefully a road trip across the States in search of great beards!

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Jodie Kharas is a style, art and culture writer who lives in London. She has contributed to the online platforms of POP…

Fashion & Style

New Balance, Basketcase creates one of the hardest-to-get sneakers of the season

New Balance and Basketcase drop new shoe

new balance beige sneaker on table

When New Balance and Basketcase decided to partner up for a second time, there was no doubt they would deliver another outstanding design. However, not only was their most recent collaboration a stylish drop, but it became the must-have sneaker of the season. A difficult-to-find sneaker, everyone wants a pair. Many want to get their hands on the pair for plenty of reasons since the trail sneaker is a unique design you can’t find anywhere else. Although the silhouette appears more casual, the new collaborative shoe between New Balance and Basketcase is a well-designed trail sneaker you can wear almost anywhere. While getting your hands on a pair might be difficult, there’s no reason why you can’t marvel at this high-tech and high-quality shoe.

New Balance x Basketcase Minimus M10 sneaker

Fashion & Style

Ben Sherman x Ace Cafe combine enduring legacies in a capsule collection

Ben Sherman x Ace Capsule Lifestyle

Ace Cafe was the place to go when the North Circular Road was brand new in 1938. The cafe was frequented mainly by truckers and other travelers on the road until the building was demolished in a WWII air raid in 1940. It took a full nine years before the cafe reopened, and just like England, it bounced back after the war's destruction to become stronger and more successful. Ben Sherman is one of the more popular brands we talk about on The Manual, it is the pinnacle of British style and embodies the rebellious nature of its origins from the 1960s. Six years after Ben Sherman opened its doors in 1963, Ace Cafe was forced to close theirs. The Ben Sherman x Ace Cafe capsule collection is a testament to the enduring legacy of both brands and puts British heritage on full display.
Enduring legacies of rebellious culture

In 1994, the Ace Cafe Reunion organized the convergence of numerous motorcycle runs that played homage to the closure of the original cafe and brought recognition back to the long-loved cafe. Ben Sherman put together a seven-piece capsule, creating a timeless fusion of mod and biker culture spanning from the late 50s to the present day. It includes two tees, two pullover polos (one long sleeve and one short sleeve), two button-ups (one long sleeve and one short sleeve), and a short sleeve zip, all carrying the classic black and white color scheme and checkerboard pattern Ace Cafe is best known for.
Ben Sherman x Ace Cafe

Fashion & Style

Kith’s iconic winter Birkenstock collab is back

Birkenstock and Kith rerelease their clog

four birkenstock clogs in lineup

While it seems like Kith is everywhere nowadays with its constant collaborations with high-named brands, its latest partnership with Birkenstock is already an instant classic. First released in December 2023, the Kith x Birkenstock’s winter clog is all about injecting your favorite silhouettes with a woven texture that gives it an extra touch. While there isn’t any significant change to the shoe’s design, this drop will come with four rich colorways that easily work for any winter look. Although this is already the third drop between Kith and Birkenstock, the partnership continues to deliver practicality and style, which keeps fans wanting more from the two brands. Even though the new drop doesn’t bring anything new, it’s certainly an investment that will never go out of style.
Re-Introducing the Kith x Birkenstock London braided clog