Five Fits With: menswear enthusiast Daniel AJ Edwards

The London-Melbourne-based model and content creator chats with Esquire about styling the menswear trends of the moment, and his favourite shopping spots around his homebases

By Tyler Dane Wingco

Published: May 8, 2025

Esquire Five Fits With Daniel AJ Edwards — Esquire’s Five Fits With: Daniel AJ Edwards.

“I WOULD SAY my cultural background is the biggest influence on my personal style,” Daniel AJ Edwards tells Esquire. “Because I come from such rich ethnic identities – Jamaican/Sri Lankan. I’m also drawn to other culturally impactful areas of the world, like Japan and France.” The cultural impact of the latter two countries on Edwards’ style is seen in his penchant for designers like Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, and Saint Laurent.

But his personal style extends beyond brand names. As you’ll see in his edition of Five Fits, the model and content creator blends tailored European styles with more androgynous Japanese silhouettes. It’s a taste for international design that’s founded on living between his native Melbourne and London. Cultivating a curated eye since getting his first taste for fashion in his teens, it’s a similar style journey to what can be found in the menswear corners of TikTok and Instagram, where Edwards has gained a following for his videos on vintage designer finds, thrifted wardrobe, and breaking down the menswear trends of the moment.

Recently, we caught up with Edwards in Melbourne as he took us through five of his favourite fits while also giving advice on styling the trends you’re about to see everywhere, how his personal style has evolved living between two cities, and his favourite shopping spots around London, Melbourne and Tokyo.

Fit one

Esquire: Firstly, where did you grow up, and where do you currently call home?

Daniel AJ Edwards: I grew up in Melbourne. I think people call my area ‘the Southside,’ but I never really knew how to describe the pocket I live in, as it’s a bit of an in between area. Truthfully, I call home wherever my family and my partner are. Wherever we are, I feel at home, no matter the geographical location. We mostly split our time between Melbourne and London.

What was considered ‘stylish’ or ‘cool’ when you were growing up?

Early on I never really related to what others considered ‘cool’, I think it was due to my
contrasting cultural background to the kids I grew up around. From a young age, I always gravitated towards scenes and movements overseas like breakdancing, NYC skateboard culture, American rap culture, the NBA, etc. As l started to get older that evolved into grime culture, streetwear and trap music. Although to others, if you were a tall, sporty Aussie boy with a middle part you were considered the coolest guy at school. At least where I grew up.

How did you first get into menswear? Was there a defining moment?

I got into menswear from a young age. I’ve always been obsessed with looking ‘cool’ and stayed up to date with what was trending. My mum recalls a moment from 3-year-old kinder, when I was asked to write what I want to be when I get older and I wrote ‘fashion designer’. The funny thing is, I remember it was my sisters who told me that I should be a designer when I got older, and I just told the teacher what they said. Fast forward, it’s my biggest goal in life – to establish my own brand and create a new culturally impactful story in the global fashion industry.

Fit two

Five Fits With Daniel AJ Edwards — Daniel AJ Edwards wears Comme des Garçons shirt, Hikari no Yami jacket, Comme des Garçons Homme Plus trousers and shoes, Homme Plissé Issey Miyake hat.

Can you remember the first significant clothing purchase you made?

Of course. A few moments come to mind. One was when I was 16 and dragged my dad to Footlocker to buy the Jordan 4 ‘Pure Moneys’, spending every dollar I had at the time. Another when I received my first youth allowance payment at the start of the pandemic, and I spent the whole $1k on a pair of translucent rubber boots from Dior. Terrible decisions, but I still have both to this day, and they’re beaten up so bad I can’t even wear them anymore, so I feel like I got my money’s worth.

What’s your most recent pick-up?

I bought a Comme des Garçons Homme Plus blazer from [Rei] Kawakubo’s autumn/winter 2001 collection from dot COMME in the Melbourne CBD last week.

Tell me about how you first got into content creation.

I fell into it accidentally. I had been modelling for a couple years and my agent at the time coached me to get onto to TikTok to increase my exposure and get my face out there for more modelling work. I really prefer the content creation and creative direction side of the industry as I have always hated standing in front of the camera without being able to give creative input. Content creation allows me to have the freedom to bring creative visions to life that I wouldn’t have ever had the chance to do as just a model. I love it.

Fit three

What are some menswear trends you’re loving right now?

I’m really drawn to the resurgence of archival references in menswear – the idea of going back to the roots and reinterpreting legacy pieces through a modern lens. That’s what Champion’s Index + Archives collection does so well. It looks back on over 100 years of craftsmanship and breathes new life into timeless designs. I’ve always admired how figures like Bob Marley could naturally blend sport-style with more refined tailoring, and I feel like Champion’s Index + Archives taps into that same spirit, mixing authenticity with contemporary sophistication.

For me, it’s about elevation. I like to blend archival sportswear with more classic, tailored pieces to create balance. For example, today I’ve styled the 1950s-inspired H. Dean Satin Jacket from Champion’s Index + Archives collection with black tailored trousers and leather Bottega Veneta derbies. Mixing traditional with modern elements or premium fabrications and details help to elevate the outfit.

In your opinion, what archival styles do you think are having a moment?

Archival sportswear is definitely relevant right now. I think people are looking for unique, timeless pieces that prioritise craftsmanship and versatility. Everybody has sort of grown tired of the whole Y2K thing and are now going a bit further back in time, and considering their personal style over trend-based dressing. That’s why a collection like Champion’s Index + Archives resonates with me. The ’60s Souvenir Jacket from this collection is a perfect example – for me, it capture the spirit of the American high school campus scene, yet it feel fresh and wearable today.

Fit four

Who or what are some influences on your personal style?

I would say my cultural background is the biggest influence on my personal style. Because I come from such rich ethnic identities – Jamaican/Sri Lankan – I’m also drawn to other culturally impactful areas of the world, like Japan and France. I rarely feel inspired by isolated individuals, more so by holistic ideas and movements.

How, if at all, has your style changed over the years?

I have gone through the universal experience of growing up feeling restricted in the way I express myself. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become increasingly more confident in what I wear and how I carry myself, and I feel like you can tell that through the way I dress.

Fit five

You’re based between London and Melbourne. Where are some of your favourite places to shop in these cities?

I’m a big Japanese fashion enthusiast, so in London I’m spoiled with Dover Street Market and the plethora of designer stores on New Bond Street such as the beautiful Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake stores. In Melbourne, I’ll be honest, I struggle. I am drawn to stores like dot COMME, who have an insane collection of second-hand Japanese designers, as well as stores like HAVN in the Northside.

How has living between these two cities influenced your style?

I think it’s made me way more confident. Once you leave your bubble and thrust yourself into a new environment, you start to have a wider perspective of how your perceived or not perceived. I think I have a better read on how big the world is, especially concerning the fashion industry, and I think that just encourages me to be more comfortable in myself since everybody inevitably is just doing their thing.

You were also in Japan recently. I feel like a lot of menswear enthusiasts are heading over there right now. What were some of your favourite places to shop there?

Unfortunately, I’m a bit boring when it comes to my Japan recommendations as I’ve never left Tokyo. I usually stick to areas like Aoyama, where you can find the Comme des Garçons flagship as well as Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake. Ginza, the home of Dover Street Market. And Harajuku, where you can find endless amounts of second-hand designer stores in a 1km radius.

If you had to wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it consist of?

Oof, that’s very hard. Unfortunately, I’m not quite ready to show everyone the samples, but I would be head to toe in my upcoming label ‘Jungle de Béton’ for sure.