Dressing Well and Living Well with Daniel Messana
We’re welcoming our first ever guest contributor! Photographer, menswear enthusiast and author Daniel Messana shared photographs with us and his insights on craft, relationships and, as always, watches.
By Daniel Messana
Since the beginning of my journey in menswear, having a background in over 10 years of photography, I never took the traditional route to my style and images. I built too much of an eye for seeing things differently and how shadows and highlights will either push away or pull in an audience.
My work quickly became less about what I wore and more about how I presented my creativity to the world. I currently work as a photographer and media marketer with a focus that lies heavily in menswear and all products made by hand.
Tradition is everything to me — how something was made, to who made it, to why they made it, all matters to me. It is also why I am so picky about who I choose to work with on collaborations. Organic relationships are still king in this game, and there is nothing like getting to know a brand owner and how they have passed down their skills for generations.
As is customary with all things clothing, next came accessories to enhance my outfits and overall appearance, and that’s where I landed on watches. There are literally centuries of craftsmanship behind the way we keep time. Sundials to pocket watches and now complicated tourbillons that cost a fortune. All of that history and art fascinates me.
My relationship with watches is less about what brand I wear and much more what went into making the watch functional, reliable and durable. I can remember the first “high end” watch I bought — it was an Omega Genève, 36mm caliber 601 in 14k solid gold from the 1960s. I still own it, and it marked the start of a new journey that opened my mind to a whole world of craftsmanship, tradition and style.
Nowadays I’m pushing my work to newer heights, whether that be via photography or the garments and accessories I wear. To really feel alive and connected to reality, I believe, you should get to know not only yourself, but know your relationship to what you do, what you associate yourself with and to a lesser extent what you wear.
A first impression is always visual, and experts say the 70-93% of all communication is nonverbal. What you wear matters; how you carry yourself matters. Sometimes you have to put in extra effort to bring your best foot forward. Not only has ideology helped translate in the real world for me, but also into my photos and creative eye. Taking that extra 10-20 minutes to think about what to wear and where to shoot can make all the difference. As always, be true to yourself and never forget to Find the Light.
All images courtesy of Daniel Messana. You can follow Daniel on Instagram (@danielmessana) and find his book, Find the Light on Amazon.
