Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A dapper man has become the talk of Manchester-by-the-Sea with his antique-looking outfits.
Matthew Swindell, the Director of the Manchester-by-the-sea Museum, has a knack for classic menswear. From three-piece flannel suits to a straw hat, Swindell’s clothes express past decades' styles.
“Well, I like beautiful clothes. And as I always say, I'm an admirer of classic menswear. And I suppose I try to embody that,” said Swindell. “Of course, yes, there is historical inspiration. I look at illustrations of when it was certainly more common and more popular.”
The 26-year-old said his love of historic fashion began during the 2020 pandemic, but his interest in history goes back to elementary school. Along with clothes, the young museum director has some classic etiquette as well.
“You’re going into somebody's home, or a museum,” Swindell said. “I would say it’s the proper thing to do, to take off one's hat, as a show of respect.”
While it doesn’t relate much to his work dealing with the 17th and 18th Centuries at the museum, Swindell said even his casual wear can help bring some nostalgia to people on the street, with many telling him the style is reminiscent of the way their fathers used to dress.
“I usually consider my casual, maybe a sports shirt, maybe some chinos, a sports coat, usually still a tie,” Swindell said. “Those that remember seeing that, more popularly, it does invoke some positive memories.”
While Swindell doesn’t dress for others, he said he hopes the younger generation could learn a thing or two from his fashion sense.
“I’m not hoping for miracles, well I'm not banking on it, I guess you could say.”
WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.