Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

From Sheep Farm to Style Arbiter, Nicholas Pakradooni Tells His Tale

For this week’s Worn Out Wednesday, we hear from Nicholas Pakradooni on how he went from sheep farm to fashion influencer.

My name is Nicholas! I’m twenty-three and I currently live in Los Angeles, but I was raised in Pennsylvania, on a sheep farm twenty minutes away from Amish-country. I’m not kidding! I have an artist for a mother, and a family that loves to travel, so I spent a lot of time exploring museums in New York City or just taking photos in my backyard with my mom’s camera. Art and photography were always just hobbies for the most part. I didn’t even really do any arts in high school besides theater, and I didn’t study it in college. I did always have an interest in personal style, and when I moved to Paris in 2013, I started to understand fashion a lot more—or at least it sparked a stronger interest!

Nicholas Pacradooni
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Loving fashion and photography led me to Instagram, where I started posting my personal style and other miscellaneous photos, but I had no idea that it could lead to an actual career. After attracting an audience of my own, I caught the attention of fashion blogger, Aimee Song, who asked me to join the Song of Style team about two years ago. I am still happily with Song of Style, where I shoot the photos and create content for the blog, as well as film and edit our weekly YouTube videos, and manage our interns and editorial calendar. Every day at work is different from the last and I’m super excited for the future.

As for my personal style:

Jeans: I have a thing for Korean and Japanese denim. I’m also super jealous of women’s denim because it can be so much cooler than men’s. I have a pair of PLAC jeans that I got on a recent trip to Korea on repeat. Right now I’m into buying my jeans extra long and doing a five or six inch cuff.

Shirts: I don’t really have a favorite shirt, but I am into a camp-collar right now and I think that Alessandro Michele can do no wrong. I do wear a lot of sweaters and sweatshirts and I’ve been loving this Acne Studios sweater with zipper detail on the side. I’m actually wearing it right now.

Pants: Vince Drop-Rise Cropped Drawstring pants, or the Maison Scotch ‘Owen’ Pinstripe Trousers. I used to only wear skinny fit, but I think there’s something really flattering and polished about a wider leg pant.

Suits: I haven’t found my perfect suit yet. I just had one custom made by Indochino that I like a lot though.

Shoes: My every day shoe is the Uri Minkoff Covent Sneaker, or the Common Projects Achilles Sneaker

Accessories: I love rings. I wear a Gucci Lion’s Head ring pretty much every day, mix-matched with some others that I got from different flea markets. I also just got a Peyote Bird beaded bracelet that I haven’t taken off yet. I’m also a sunglasses guy. My current favorites are the Garrett Leight “McKinley” with salmon lenses. I love them because I can go back to Garrett Leight and they’ll change out the lenses. I think my next move is blue.

Outerwear: Simon Miller Denim Jacket with pins on it

Cologne: Le Labo Santal 33 or Rose 31

App: VSCO cam

Tech: iPhone 7 Plus

Next Style Purchase: Gucci Trousers

Cator Sparks
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…
New Wolverine boots reimagine original 1000 mile boot for company’s 140th anniversary
A reimagined classic
Wolverine Boot on display

They aren't good because they are old; they are old because they stay good. One hundred forty years is a long time to have your doors open, and the only way to make that happen is to ensure you only provide your customers with the best of the best. After a century and a half of making some of the best work boots on the market, Wolverine is digging deep into the archives to reimagine one of their most cherished classics. Like all Wolverine boots, the 1000 Mile is nothing but quality and effectiveness.

Of course, plenty of things make this boot the new (and old) staple you must have in your collection. You may ask what makes it so unique that Wolverine felt the need to bring it back. To find out for ourselves, we caught up with Scott Schoessel of the company to get his insight. "The original 1000 Mile Workboot was launched in the 1910s. The number one work boot of the time, the first work boot introduced on a broader scale. It was a fantastic boot known for its versatility and quality. It is called the 1000 mile because the claim is that it would last 1000 miles."

Read more
How to remove scuff marks from shoes (6 different methods that really work)
These tips for how to remove scuff marks will make you your shoes' best friend
Man removing shoe scuff marks

We've all been there, so at some point knowing how to remove scuff marks from your favorite shoes will be a lifesaver. A familiar scenario: you get a brand-new pair of shoes and walk around as carefully as possible so they don't get scuffed up. But it happens no matter how hard you try to avoid it. Of course, you don't just toss out those scuffed shoes. Instead, you work to get those marks out. And we have the handy list of methods that will get those ugly marks off of your favorite pair of shoes.

Read more
Mondaine brings back its stop2go watch, which is inspired by Swiss railway clocks
The Mondaine stop2go watch returns
Mondaine stop2go watch face

If watches for men were superheroes, the Mondaine stop2go would undoubtedly wear the cape. This timepiece, inspired by the precision of Swiss railway clocks, has made a triumphant return, complete with its signature 2-second pause that's as intriguing as a plot twist in a classic movie. At the heart of this horological marvel beats a quartz movement, orchestrating a Swiss ballet of timekeeping precision. The stop2go mechanism, akin to a dramatic pause in a gripping conversation, adds a distinctive touch that sets this watch apart from the mundane tick-tock.

Should you find yourself at a Swiss railway station, the platforms unfold a spectacle of expansive timepieces. These clocks boast faces as pristine as freshly fallen snow, adorned with assertive black indicators and a vibrant seconds hand. Crafted in 1944 by the visionary Hans Hilfiker expressly for the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), these iconic timekeepers transcend mere functionality. Fast forward to 1986, and Mondaine ingeniously translated this unassuming yet impactful clock design into a wristwatch.

Read more