Rowing Blazers' Jack Carlson Is Redefining The Rules Of Prep Style (But Please Don't Call Him "Preppy")

An academic, aesthete, athlete and archaeologist, Jack Carlson is quite the accomplished collector of As. Off paper, he's just your above average, beyond charming lad - the type you can tell has had his fair share of fun, boasts a closet you'd never get bored in, and holds some amazing recommendations tucked in his pockets. Let us tease you with just a few of his favorites:

Restaurant: Edward’s in Tribeca; Da Michele in Napoli; and the Schi-Alm in Kitzbühel
Drink: The French 75 from Harry’s Bar in Paris
Band: Vampire Weekend
Book: The Pumphouse Gang by Tom Wolfe
Film Character: Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers not Steve Martin)
Vacation Spot: Lago di Como, Italy
Bad Habit: Popping over to Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop and having three slices for lunch
Tradition: A very old tradition at Oxford: Oxford’s oldest pub (a thirteenth century institution) is The Bear Inn, where the walls and ceiling are covered in swatches of club, academic and regimental neckties. If you go into The Bear wearing a club tie that is not already in their collection, you may have a piece snipped off with scissors in return for a half-pint of beer

I met up with Jack at his home-just-a-short-walk-away-from-home, the Rowing Blazer's store on Grand Street. One cheeky, interesting gallery wall after the next, all magically placed just so by co-founder Jack himself, the shop has a bold sense of style, humor, and sport. Donald Robertson paintings, oars, medals, books, a pool table, a ping pong table, foosball and more. Did we mention the shower head in the dressing room? Wes Anderson could take some notes here, that's for sure. A brand toting a modern sense of heritage, Rowing Blazers has become a fast cult favorite, and for good reason.

Click through for our chat with one of the most interesting guys in New York!

[Photos by Yumi Matsuo]