The Modern Gentleman With Jimmy Choo: Mr. Utt Panichkul

No new name to Singapore and Thailand’s entertainment industry, Utt Panichkul has worked as an actor, model and host for the last 20 years. Raised in California, Utt moved back to Southeast Asia after university to front MTV Asia as a VJ and to start his own entertainment imprints Beam Artistes and Seven95ive Artistes. The man’s multicultural heritage and expertise in the fashion industry has given him a unique sensibility, hence, we were intrigued to explore Utts’ aesthetic as a young, dapper creative.

Upheld by confidence and humility, Utt’s style is best described as classic menswear with a twist. With an appreciation for well-fitted garbs, sleek cuts and quirky accessories that bring forth riffs of modernity, manners mean as much to Utt as does the state of his brogues. We caught up with Utt in Bangkok’s 1920s-inspired barbershop Black Amber to learn about the necessary elements needed to be a ”modern gentleman,” wardrobe staples he can’t live without, and lessons he’s learned working extensively in the entertainment realm.

American-raised, but a longtime resident of Southeast Asia, how does this background contribute to your aesthetic as a young creative?

It’s a balance of East and West, blending a confidence from an independent upbringing in the West and being exposed to the rich cultures and ethics of the East. I remember how men’s fashion at one time was limited, it was difficult to find the right tailoring and the right fits but that has enormously changed with the wave of metrosexuality and fashion in the modern day is extremely efficient for the modern gentleman. Asia has always been a pioneer with men’s fashion from fits and forms to hairstyles.

What’s your definition of a modern gentleman?

The modern gentleman is not afraid to express, to be in touch with his tastes, and to have an open appreciation of fashion and looking after himself.

 What article of clothing should every gentleman own and why?

A gentleman should own a simple tee, in simple solid colors like black or white. With simple colors you can go casual with jeans, simple with trainers, or spice it up with boots and semi-formal with a blazer.

What would you say footwear is for a modern gentleman?

Footwear for the modern gentleman is a bit of elegance simple yet unique and strong. My recent favorite is the Jimmy Choo Jules, a calf leather boot that carries a modish sensibility that I adhere to.

What’s your favorite activity to do in your pastime?

I like reading and though I have a Kindle, I prefer the paperbacks; my current selections would be A Street Cat Named Bob and Escape From Camp 14 which were fast reads. I also like to coast on my longboard when I’m free or go trekking. It’s good to be with nature.

Having been featured in a number of fashion/styling shoots in your time, what styling/menswear etiquette tip can you give for those wanting to look their best?  

It’s important to find what works for you as an individual, attention to what’s current, and what you’re able to mix and match together to make it look relevant to who you are, your lifestyle, and the environment you’re in. A lot of pieces you pick up can be timeless and those pieces can stay with you for a long time; as my understanding of fashion grew over the years I started seeing how there are pieces that fit into what’s relevant to the seasons and they’re a pieces that stay with you. Hence, I always opt for classic designs with a modern twist, from button-up shirts with rounded collars to oxford shoes with lacquered panels such as the Jimmy Choo Ewert.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from running a talent/artist/modeling agency?

That dealing with people can be exhausting and rewarding. There are the rewards of creating good relationships in the business and passing on experience to your colleagues and to help talents and models grow. The exhausting aspect actually exists in all types of businesses where you need to have patience and understanding and you might not always get that in return.

What fashion accessory do you hold close and would not be able leave the house without?

I always need some sort of carry-on, whether it’s a backpack or a duffel bag. I carry quite a number of things with me which may include my laptop, a book, amenities (hair/skin products, cleanser, etc.). I never know when I might end up going to work or needing to freshen up for a meeting or running around doing a few things in one day. In terms of footwear, I don’t often leave the house without wearing oxfords or leather boots, simply because these designs round out my look with definitive edge.

You’ve worked extensively in both Singapore and Thailand as an actor and model. What are the similarities and difference between the two markets?

As time passes by there are more similarities between the two markets because they have become my home, I’m very familiar with people within the industry from the fashion side to the TV side so it helps me ease into work easily and work is fluid of what needs to be done. The difference is in the size of the markets – Singapore is a much smaller market than Thailand. Thailand has grown tremendously from the film industry to TV and the fashion industry; there are a lot more players in the market and people come and go. As for Singapore the industry tends to shift slower because there are fewer avenues so you run into the same circle more frequently, not to say you don’t run into the same circles in Thailand but because the population is greater, the options are wider. Thailand’s paparazzi culture has grown big in the last decade whereas Singapore doesn’t really have a paparazzi culture. Singapore has more Western influences in TV and it’s likely because most of the big cable platforms are based in Singapore like MTV Asia, HBO Asia, AXN, FOX, etc.

Head to Utt’s Instagram to stay updated with his movements and head to Jimmy Choo for a closer look at the Ewert and Jules.