Creating Buzz
The Beehive co-owner aims to "dress to impress." Mission accomplished.
You’d think the guy who founded the Bean Town Jazz Festival and came up with the idea for the hot South End nightspot The Beehive would be a carefree, improvisational dresser. You’d be wrong. “I often have six meetings a day with corporations, business owners, and nonprofits. I dress to impress,” says Darryl Settles, president of the real estate/entertainment company, D’Ventures Limited. Though always fashionable, Settles’s wardrobe became noticeably more conservative 10 years ago, after the 47-year-old attended an after-work bank reception in khaki slacks and a polo shirt. “I didn’t have time to change and felt uncomfortable. I won’t let that happen again,” he explains. Now the successful entrepreneur is known for his impeccably tailored suits, patterned or textured shirts, and colorful ties. The Newton resident and father of two is a smart shopper as well as dresser. He once spent eight consecutive hours at an outlet mall in Florida while his wife attended a business conference. “I was in heaven,” he sighs.
Where He Shops
FOR SUITS: While he’s clearly a huge fan of Filene’s Basement (215 Needham Street, Newton, 617-332-1295, filenesbasement.com), Settles also has suits custom-made by a Bangkok tailor who visits Boston several times a year to fit local clients (novatailors.com for appointments).
FOR SHOES: Most of Settles’s shoes are classic loafers or lace-up oxfords, and he has a lot more formal shoes than casual pairs. For dress footwear, he visits Saks Fifth Avenue (The Shops at Prudential Center, Boston, 617-262-8500, saks.com) and Johnston & Murphy (The Shops at Prudential Center, Boston, 617-437-0255, johnstonmurphy.com).
FOR WATCHES: “The extremely big Rolexes aren’t cool to me. I like classically elegant watches,” says Settles, who owns styles by Cartier, Concord, and Tiffany’s. He enjoys buying and trading watches at Time & Time Again (73 Newbury Street, Boston, 617-266-4760).
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