It’s hard to keep things on the down low when you’re the brother of model Solenn Heussaff and the boyfriend of the It girl of It girls, Anne Curtis. By association alone, Erwan already deserves mention, yet on his own, he’s built a life and a CV worthy of star status. Nevertheless, Erwan does not aspire to be an actor or model. He prefers to juggle work as a business development manager at Newrest SOS, join the occasional triathlon and write about his epicurean ecstasies for Esquire magazine and his food blog (www.thefatkidinside.com). His blog address hints at his former 240-lb physique and proves that pure dedication can turn it all around. We catch up with the publicity-shy style-maker and find out how he curates all things cool.

 

My staple piece of clothing is a well-tailored suit because… it is so versatile and can be worn with different shirts or T-shirts, which will determine whether it’ll be considered formal, business or just laid-back. I wore this gray suit from 5cm to the Esquire Ball this year and it is emblematic of a well-tailored suit. It is straight-cut, slim-fitting, simple, yet has an undetermined elegance to it.

 

I believe in dressing appropriately because… the way you look really speaks loads about your personality and how you carry yourself. People who dress loud are probably most likely to be quite lively. People who don’t pay attention to what they are wearing might be shy or just interested in different things. On my part, I just wear clothes that I’m comfortable in, are simple yet have a hint of modernity, and highlight who I am and how I want to be portrayed. A brand like 5cm carries both the classics and the more “now” pieces, which is great for a well-balanced man.

 

The most exotic dish I’ve tried is from… Hanoi. I was working in Hanoi for a couple of months in 2006 and I went with some colleagues to a local restaurant. I’ve always been an adventurous eater and I will try anything once; however, I will only eat something again (even if it’s gross-looking), if it’s tasty. Since I was the only man at the table, I, apparently, was reserved a treat. This was in the form of a beating cobra heart in a shot glass containing cobra blood. It basically tasted like blood and it was so small I didn’t manage to bite into it before it went sliding down my throat, throbbing along the way.

 

I have a fascination for… moccasins. I just find them so convenient. I dress up really quickly and tend to forget socks, so I just go straight for the moccasins. They are slowly making their way back onto the shelves and more and more men are wearing them. My favorite brand is Bass.

 

What excites me the most about my corporate work is… the pressure of attaining objectives and a sense of responsibility that is sometimes overwhelming. I know a lot of people give the word “corporate” a negative reputation; I guess you just really have to love it to appreciate it. It’s a tough, stressful environment. You are basically part of a team that needs to be successful in running and bringing a company to the next level, which is quite daunting.

 

I won’t hesitate to splurge on travel because…  I believe it really makes people more well-rounded and is an important part of growth. I have a running competition with one of my sisters, and with 40-something countries visited, she beats me out by about five. My parents have always been avid travelers and this is a bug that bit me when I was young. So even when I was still in middle school, I’d ask if I could travel alone and they would let me. I’m happiest when I’m lost in a new city or when I’m staring at a view I know I’ll never see again. When I was in high school, I made it a point to always take a vacation abroad with my friends every summer. In college, every summer, I took jobs abroad as well. I’ve been salmon fishing in New Zealand; bungee jumping in Canada; stuffing my face throughout the Italian and French countryside; shark diving in Tahiti; body boarding in Maui; bathing in a hot bath in northern Japan; and even dog sledding in Eastern Siberia, where I worked for two years.

 

I seriously don’t spend much on… grooming and bath products. I’m happy with a good bar of antibacterial soap, a nice-smelling shower gel/shampoo and a good razor. The only thing I do spend on is perfume; my favorites are Hermes, Dior Homme and Kenzo.

 

When traveling, my toiletry/Dopp kit essentials are… a good Gillette razor, a small Hermes perfume (Voyage), a couple of toothbrushes and Garnier hair wax.

 

During triathlons, my no-fail body product is… Body Glide and Spray On sunscreen. Body Glide helps reduce chafing at the neck or arms from the tight body suits while the sunscreen is essential on long training days where if you didn’t have any on, you would probably suffer a heat stroke.

 

Check out Erwan’s favorite threads at 5cm (2/L, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center;  2/L, SM Mall of Asia): poly wool jacket, P13,699; cotton stripe shirt, P5,499; poly wool pants, P6,699; oxford sneakers,  P5,499; leather  buckle belt, P2,699.

 

His choice perfumes come from Rustan’s Department Store.