A firm favourite in the street style game, Joel Mcloughlin of Gallucks has set the pace for minimalist dressing since starting his blog.
The former stylist is loved by his followers for his contemporary dress code and edgy undertones. We chat to the menswear specialist to get the lowdown on his inspirations, trans-seasonal must-haves and where it all began…
1. Describe your style in 3 words.
'I guess minimal is the first word I would choose. Contemporary, because as far as menswear goes, I don't wear tailoring or anything like that. I think that there definitely is a dark twist to everything that I wear because I used to be a very gothic type. That style factor has definitely persisted in my overall aesthetic.'
2. What made you start your blog and vlog?
'I started the blog just before I started college because at this time, for the first time in my life, I was allowed to wear my own clothes every day. It was only then that I realised the opportunity to find some really cool clothes and to develop my own style. I would go onto YouTube to watch music videos. I got really interested in Korean pop stars in particular. Their style was amazing, and that's what really got me interested in fashion. I then started finding blogs like Kate Loves Me and Style Bubble. It was at this point that I started to think "maybe I could start a blog." So I did, it was very bad at the start (laughs).'
'So that's where my inspiration came from to start a blog, K-pop and other bloggers. It all happened six years ago, and then around two years later things really kicked off when I wanted to do it full time.'
'The YouTube channel developed soon after as I love watching YouTube, so it was kind of a natural process. It's all currently going really, really well. Instagram, my blog, and YouTube. It's all so much fun.'
3. What do you love most about being an online influencer?
'I love just doing my own thing. When I wasn't working for myself, I had a constant struggle with not being able to do what I wanted to do. There was always restraints or rules. Whereas now I create my own content, I can pull off whatever I think of in my head. The blog has given me so much freedom to do what I like, which is the best thing with the influencer life.'
4. We like the creativity in your blog, vlog and lookbooks. Where do you get your inspiration from for all of your creative content?
'I think a lot of my inspiration comes from designer look book collections. What really inspires me is architecture. So I'll find a cool location and find clothes that match with the location.'
5. Name three pieces to effortlessly enhance one's wardrobe.
'I would say jeans. I'm still on a hunt for some. I like all of my jeans but I just need a really really good denim item, perhaps like black denim jeans from Junya Watanabe. Most of mine have rips in them as I like the distressed look. But sometimes you need jeans that don't have rips!'
'I think everyone also needs a good quality winter coat. You’re not always going to wear it but you just need that overcoat that makes you feel comfortable, and you can wear with any outfit. A statement coat or something that you'll wear for a long time is always a good idea too.'
'Thirdly, a good pair of sneakers. I think if you get a good pair of sneakers, then you can wear them all of the time. For me, it's all about being comfortable. I think sneakers are a great choice.'
6. What are your go-to staple pieces? And who are your favourite designers?
'I always always wear an over-sized drop shoulder hoodie. I'm not wearing it right now, but it's literally the one thing that I wear the most. An over-sized drop shoulder hoodie is just so comfortable.'
'In terms of my favourite designers, recently I've been obsessed with Off-White. Vetements, Balenciaga and Off white are definitely my main inspirations and obsessions these days.'
7. Your looks are very stand-out. What are your tips for creating a statement look?
'I usually choose one piece that I want to wear that is a bit more over-the-top and then everything else is usually plain. So, for this outfit it would be the sneakers because they are quite different when compared to everything else. I try to keep things a bit toned down. And obviously, all black always helps.'
8. Do you think it’s important to experiment with personal style?
'Yeah, definitely. It's important to get out of your comfort zone. I used to only wear black and white for a whole year.'
'But then I started getting a bit bored; I soon felt like I needed something else to play with, especially since I was now doing the blog thing as a full-time job. Now I'll still wear black but also with red, yellow, or orange. These bright 'out-there' pieces add a new dimension to things.'
9. What has been the highlight of your blogging career?
'One is travelling. Last year I went full-time blogger and I was able to travel so much more, whether it be with a brand or just booking my own trip for content. It's so fun to be able to go and explore and do things in different countries and cultures.'
'The other factor would be making friends. I know that's really silly, but you meet so many people who are in the same boat as you like other bloggers who are doing it full-time. It's really nice to be able to make relationships with people who are similar to you. So I'd say making friends and travelling are the definite highlights!'