What You Wear With Tomamadeus

How’s it going, Tom? Can you introduce yourself for those who may not have come across your page on Instagram?

Hey, it's going well thanks, hope you guys are good too. So for those who don't know, I'm Tom, 34 and from Leicester, Tomamadeus on Instagram.

For something that started as a lockdown hobby, are you surprised how quickly your audience has grown and where do you see things going in the future?

I'm amazed at how far it's come over the last year, especially the growth of my account this year. It still baffles me that brands have got in contact based on shooting photos of myself stood in my living room. I'd love to see it somehow lead into a job within the industry, but who knows. It's been cool to connect and chat with a lot of like minded people, which was one of the main reasons behind putting more effort into my account.

Has clothing and style always meant a lot to you? Hailing from Leicester, has the city's rich history in clothing production influenced you at all?

Yeah, I've always been into clothing and style in a way, from my early days as a teenager skateboarding, to my days of hoarding trainers. I wouldn't say Leicester's history in clothing production has had that much of an influence, however the shops here definitely have. Back in the day when Casino skates was open, and having had most of my friends work at Wellgosh, they were both big influences.

How much did you know of Admiral before you came across the Admiral Sporting Goods Co. collection?

I think the first person who put me onto Admiral was Will aka @rugged_style with a couple of posts he did about them. And I think I started following Admiral shortly after, the Leicester heritage certainly piqued my interest as well as the names of their items from places around Leicester, like the Aylestone Tee and the Braunstone Hoodie.

What do you like most about the ASGco. pieces you've picked up?

The pieces from Admiral definitely have a quality feel to them, the material and weight is spot on and what you'd expect from a brand with a rich history in sportswear. Basics, but done very well, and everyone needs a good hoodie and sweatshirt in their wardrobe.

How important are staple pieces in your wardrobe and what makes the perfect versatile garment?

Staple pieces are definitely the cornerstone to any versatile wardrobe. For me the material, construction, and fit are definitely the most important factors with any piece of clothing. It's only over the last few years I've started investing in quality pieces, building a wardrobe of clothing that all works well together, that I know will last for years to come.

When you’re not putting together fits for your Instagram, what other things do you get up to? 

I have two daughters who take up most of my time outside the world of Instagram, thanks to them I know the parks in Leicester better than the back of my hand. Other than clothing, my main interest is music. I've spent the last 15 years or so buying vinyl, everything from Jazz, to House & Techno.

For people who've never been to Leicester have you got any recommendations to explore the city?

I'm currently sitting in St. Martin's writing this at the moment, about to enjoy a decent Cuban sandwich, at night though it becomes one of the best burger joints in Leicester, Crafty Burger. For homewares, check out Harriman & Co, decent coffee you should hit up Northern Cobbler. Need to fill your house with plants, then Flowerworks, Out of Joint records for flipping through some vinyl and lastly if you want a good pint after all that, head to The Real Ale Classroom for some of the best pints in the city.