Photography by Michaela Giles 

Ashlyn Chesney is the new style council director for Mr Porter, the online retailer synonymous with men's fashion, we chat to her about the recently re-launched Style Council app and the influencers who hold the keys to top spots around the world.

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How did you end up in your role in Mr Porter?

Last September I decided to take a hiatus and explore the world. I happened to meet Jeremy Langmead (Mr Porter Brand and Content Director). We really hit it off, and he asked me what my plans were for the future. I had this vague idea, but he wrote to a mutual friend the next day and said, ‘I think I have the perfect role for her.’ He was right – this role encapsulates everything I really enjoyed doing in my previous jobs in one – plus more. It feels like a bit of a dream sometimes.

How are Mr Porter and the Style Council connected?

Mr Porter is the premier destination for all things men. We’re an online retailer, and stock everything from grooming products to lifestyle products to menswear. The Style Council is essentially a supplementary service available through the Mr Porter app that helps our customers  connect fashion with travel and lifestyle. We have members who act as ambassadors - some we’ve worked with for years, others are newer – and they give recommendations on where to dine, eat and shop when they are travelling. It’s a complete lifestyle package.

Photography by Michaela Giles

You’ve recently relaunched the app. How has it changed, and what’s new?

When Mr Porter began six years ago, this programme was in place. What they didn’t have was someone dedicated to running it. Mr Porter took off a lot quicker than anyone really expected it to, and the gentleman running it also had a hundred other tasks. It was a great idea that needed focus and energy. Having a person dedicated to running the programme has made a huge improvement. It means someone is updating the content constantly, making sure that reviews and recommendations are current. We’ve made a lot of great partnerships – uber, google maps, open table – so now you can make your dinner reservations based on the recommendations of our members, and then organise transport to the restaurant, all through the app.

Photography by Michaela Giles

Who is included on the Style Council?

We want stylish, global citizens. They get around the world, for business, or pleasure, or both. They are stylish individuals, not just the exterior but how they live their life. They are stylish when they approach business and social settings, in the way they conduct themselves. We want our members to be able to present their personalities and to use our app as a platform to reach their global communities. 

What is the next step for the Style Council?

We definitely want to increase and diversify our members. We are a global retailer, and we want this app to be used around the world. We want to add more geographical locations and more industries. We have a lot of people in fashion and film and media, but expanding those different fields to make sure that when anybody comes to the site they can relate to somebody as well.

Photo courtesy of Mr Porter

Do men shop very differently to women?

A lot of the men I know do take recommendations from friends. Mr Porter tries to contextualise fashion and products for the customer - how they could wear it, where they could wear it, why they need this in their wardrobe. The style council app is kind of like having your best friend in your pocket. Go through the members, find someone you like or someone local to the area and see what they say. There will be recommendations of what to wear to certain places, so that when you turn up you know what the dress code is and you feel comfortable. This is really your one-stop travel and fashion companion.

Mr Porter Style Council re-launched exclusively on 20th October, and is accessible through Mr Porter's Style App for mobile

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This article first appeared on hk.asiatatler.com