Chuck Cavanaugh, 36, Cedar Rapids
Regional Manager of Continuous Improvement @ H. J. Heinz
Owner and designer @ Rise Above Leathers

What he’s wearing:

A woven wool slouch hat from Urban Outfitters, T-shirt from Underground Art Studios in Cedar Rapids, Triple-Five Soul sweat shirt from Nordstrom, vintage leather café-racer inspired jacket from a boutique in Seattle, scarf from H&M, Levi’s skinny cut 511 cords from Urban Outfitters, vintage Beatle zip boots from eBay. The belt, watch and cuff are custom made by me for Rise Above Leathers.

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Where do you get your style inspiration from?
A lot of it has come from the research I have been doing for my side business, looking at old Rolling Stone magazines, old album covers, and also from attending a ton of concerts and live music performances. When you are up by the stage you really understand what goes in to having a “presence” from the aesthetic side of a performance.

Who are your style icons?/Why?

Historically speaking, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Robert Plant. When you watch old videos of them performing, they had this swagger about them that started with how they dressed. In more current terms, I think Scott Weiland, Lenny Kravitz, and Johnny Depp all have curious and unrestrained tastes when it comes to fashion. In all cases, it is the attention to detail with unique color combinations, how they accessorize, and wearing slim and mod cut fashion that fits their silhouette.

What is your favorite local place to find amazing pieces?

I travel quite a bit for work to big cities on both coasts, so I usually pack half a suitcase and come home with a full one.

What is your staple go-to store for fashion finds?

I rarely walk into an Urban Outfitters without buying at least one thing.

What is the one fashion item you can’t live without?

Probably my numerous pairs of True Religions. They have been my favorite denim for over 3 years now, and have defined themselves as American made classics for unique cuts, washes, and overall styling for both men and women.

What do you want to splurge on?

It’s been about a two year quest on ebay to find a vintage East West Musical Instruments Company leather jacket, but have not found the style/size/condition I want. These were handmade leather jackets crafted in San Francisco in the late 60’s. They did custom leather attire you would find on musicians of that era (Hendrix, Santana, Janis Joplin).

What kind of fashionista are you?

Big fan of taking vintage pieces, especially shoes, suits, and outerwear, and blending those with modern denim, pants, shirts, t-shirts, and of course adding an edge to it all with custom leather accessories (cuffs, watches, belts) that I make in my studio.

What fashion genre would you put yourself in?

Retro/rock chic