22.06.24
New York City Profiles: Tyler Lain, actor
Thomas Pink took a trip to the Big Apple to photograph a group of New Yorkers in our shirts. Here, actor Tyler talks hustle culture, starting a new chapter and choosing style over comfort.
Where do you live/work?
I live in New York City and absolutely love it. I’m in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Luckily, I work mostly in New York, but I’m down to be wherever I need to be if the job is inspiring. I’ve been traveling quite a bit for work since the pandemic.
What does a typical day look like for you?
The only typical thing I can really count on is a morning coffee run. Otherwise, I’m all over the place. Most days include auditions from home, a shoot, and lots of what I call bopping. Events and dinners and what not.
What do you love most about your job?
I love that no two days are the same.
And what are the biggest challenges?
It’s hard to know when to step away. The hustle never really stops, and no one is ever prompting your vacation. You have to really self-advocate, create boundaries, and be OK with maybe letting an opportunity pass, knowing it’ll always come back around.
What are your favourite things to see/do in New York?
My friends and I have a weekly tradition of spending Friday afternoons at Dante on MacDougal Street. An awesome jazz quartet – The Bailsmen – play there, and it’s really hard to beat. It feels quintessentially New York and also very Parisian at the same time.
How would you describe New York in three words?
Electric. Honest. Superior.
How would you describe your personal style?
Inspired by my mother. By the way she dressed me as a kid and her personal creed to be fully dressed and styled every day. I’m all about casual but not necessarily comfort. I like garments with structure and form. It never bothers me to feel a securely buttoned waistband or a shirt cuff rolled up tight on my forearm.
How has your taste in fashion changed over the years?
When I moved from Dallas to Los Angeles, I learned about shirt jackets, linen and sneakers. When I moved from Los Angeles to New York, I learned about bold expression and daily reinvention. Your outfit can inspire the character you play that day. I think, today, my style has influences of Texas, California and New York.
Who are your style icons?
Ralph Lauren.
What do you look for in a shirt?
I appreciate a nice, perfect fit across the shoulders. I’ve been really enjoying a classic blue stripe lately. My sleeves are most often rolled, so a cooperative cuff is a real win. And finally, some wrinkle resistance can really take you far in NYC. It’s all too common to set out for the day and not make your way home until the next.
