We discovered Moti Ankari, the blogger behind The Metro Man (TMM), singing “Tearin’ Up My Heart” in front of Jennifer Hudson a few weeks back. Yes, you heard us–at the pop star’s karoake night in celebration of her New York & Co. denim campaign launch, where Ankari, well, killed it. He gave us the scoop on his music interests, his style set, and why he started blogging in the first place.
Why did you get into blogging?
You know, I typically agree with the statement “Your parents know best,” but not when it comes to your own passions and career path. Before I transferred to FIT to pursue a career in fashion, I listened to my parents and studied accounting at Baruch College. I was unhappy with what I was doing so I started a fashion blog. Oh, and I also signed up for hip hop classes at Broadway Dance Center.
What were you doing before you started TMM?
I started my blog my sophomore year of college. At that time I was working in wholesale cellphones. Talk about living the dream.
Are you working on your blog full time?
I invest a lot of my time in my blog, so I would consider it a full time gig. I started TMM out of pure passion and had zero intentions for it to turn into what it is today. So for me, it’s a hobby that I really, really enjoy. I always want it to be something I want to do rather than need to do. In addition to blogging, I’m an associate fashion editor at Bloomberg Pursuits. I love having the opportunity to do both.
How do you describe your style?
Oh, that’s a tough one since it changes every day. The people who follow my blog would tell you my suit game is strong (I guess I should thank working for GQ for over two and half years for that.) Right now, I have a huge appreciation for simplicity. So black, white, and grays. Super minimalistic.
What inspires your style?
Everything and everyone. I was brought up in New York City, one of the most fast-paced cities in the world with so much diversity, so much culture and endless inspiration. It’s truly a blessing living here.
We saw you perform at Jennifer Hudson’s NY & Co. event. Are you big into karaoke?
Um, that wasn’t me. That was my twin brother. Kidding. Not about the part that I’m a twin, (hey Ami!), but, yes that was me, and yes, I love to sing—not necessarily saying I sing well, but I’m happy no one threw any tomatoes my way yet. Woo!
Songs you’re loving right now, please.
If I wasn’t in fashion I would be in the music industry, for sure! I love top 40, but also love discovering new talent. I’m currently listening to “Music Never Dies” byHector Fonseca ft. Natascha Bessez. Also, Swedish singer Loreen’s “I’m In It with You.”
What’s a tip for transitioning a man’s wardrobe from summer to fall?
Simple layering. Throw on a leather jacket or knit over your favorite summer tees.
One item every “Metro Man” should own?
A badass leather jacket. It’s worth the investment.
How often do you go shopping and where?
Uh oh, people are going to hate me for this—not often! Thankfully I do receive a lot of clothing, but every season I tell myself I will splurge on one item. This season I invested in a pair of the Valentino tennis shoes. The places I shop at are mrporter.com, ssense.com, Barney’s—oh, and I recently came across this UK-based site, Size? They have some pretty sweet sneakers.
What have been some career highlights?
You mean besides making a complete fool of myself in front of Jennifer Hudson? During New York Fashion Week: Men’s, one of my favorite online retailers, East Dane, asked me to style and model a few looks for their homepage, which I thought was pretty rad, and I had so much fun!
What are you looking forward to doing before summer ends?
I can’t believe “before summer ends” is actually a thing—wasn’t it just June?! I’m excited to go to San Juan!
PLUS! Moti’s Five Tips for Aspiring Bloggers…
- Be authentic. Figure out your personal style, then shape it, hone it, and own it.
- Be consistent. The more content you put out there, the more exposure and the more eyes on your stuff.
- Do it for the love, not for the money. People continue to ask me how I got to where I am. Well, I started TMM without knowing I could turn it into a business. I think my motives are one of the reasons I’m successful today.
- Make a difference. Always try helping those in need. Whether it’s a charity or simply responding to a tweet. It might not require much effort on your end, but you can easily make someone’s day that much better.
- Stay humble. I don’t care who you are, who you know or what you do. It doesn’t cost anything to be a nice person.
