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You may not know so just yet, but Dean DiCriscio is the brain behind some of your favorite apparel purchases of late. Currently helming design at the next-gen casualwear label Madhappy, the Parsons graduate has been actively contributing to a new wave of American wardrobe for years now, having designed for Frankies Bikinis and having styled for Sandy Liang for several years. (DiCriscio also spent nearly five years as Petra Collins' studio manager.)
Raised on the teachings of Donna Karan and Tommy Hilfiger, the LA-based designer, stylist and self-proclaimed obsessive of cowboy boots naturally has plenty of shopping telltales to show for his multifaceted career. As such, he had no hard time elaborating to us on serendipitous grail finds, his mom's favorite pantsuit, and what is factually the ultimate air travel get-up.
What item or garment have you owned the longest?
I've been obsessed with cowboy boots my whole life. When I was in kindergarten, I'd only wear cowboy boots. They've always been a part of my wardrobe. Whenever I'm in a good bootcut jean, the boots come out. My current ones are from when I was interning in college and really wanted a new pair. I didn't own any at that point, and they were obviously quite expensive. The person I was interning for — I was at their apartment, down in the laundry room, there were a pair of cowboy boots that somebody left on the table with a note that said, "Please take." And they were exactly my size, a YSL-style pointed cowboy boot, vintage, perfect, in gorgeous black leather. I've worn them through a lot of chapters of my style, and have had them for over a decade now, 10 to 15 years maybe.
Who’s the most stylish person you grew up around?
My mom. She introduced me to all of the true Americana brands that I’m still so obsessed with. She influenced my style and taste so much, especially my love for denim. When I say Americana brands — I grew up in New Jersey, and we didn't really know about designer brands. The first brand that I ever really was aware of was Marc Jacobs. My mom would introduce me to DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, and all these mall-type denim brands. And she’d always wear the perfect low-rise boot cut jeans, my entire life. It's funny because I would describe her style as objectively more feminine-leaning, but at weddings she would only wear pantsuits. She had this amazing Guess one in a black, shiny denim; boot cut pants and a matching jacket.
What item do you receive the most compliments on?
Girls always compliment my Sandy Liang Pappas jacket. I'll literally wear it for the rest of my life. And I always recommend it to people. When my brother came and visited me — he's a finance bro — he wore it. And when I have girlfriends come over and we go out to dinner and they need to wear a jacket because they're cold, I always give them that same jacket. It just looks good on everyone.
What item do you wear at least twice a week?
My best friend’s fiancé gave me these adidas satin/nylon shorts. They're vintage, and I haven't been able to find them anywhere again. I've worn them now for four years now, and probably more than twice a week, to be honest with you. They're my base layer, especially in LA, because I feel like I wear shorts all year now, and my entire style ethos is rooted in sportswear. If I'm dressing up, I put something that's the complete opposite with it. So, I’ll wear gym shorts with a button-up or a blazer.
What’s the last thing you bought in person?
I went on a trip to Montecito with my friends for a weekend and I found this incredible store, Mate Gallery. It's like if the Society Archive and Ralph Lauren and Nancy Meyers had a little boutique, and I bought this striped rugby, long sleeve polo, that I've worn so many times since. I tried it on in an extra large and a large, three different times, with my friends, and was like, "Tell me which one!" and I made them take pictures of me because I wanted it to have the perfect fit. It's so funny because the goal is always for things to feel effortless, yet there's so much effort that goes on behind… Anyways, it's my summer staple.
Tell us about your favorite pair of jeans.
My favorite pair of jeans are by Redone. When I go on a date with someone, and I don't really know what to do, I always suggest going shopping because it's the way that I feel the most comfortable — walking around and looking at stuff. And then I always buy things I don't need. But in this particular instance, I once bought these jeans from Redone on Melrose. It was the end of their cycle of making men's denim, and they had these perfect vintage recreation, Levi's-adjacent jeans. They're the perfect wash, straight cut, and fit around the butt. I wear them all the time. Those are my go-to, and I pray they'll make them again.
Describe your go-to airport outfit.
I will never not wear a full Madhappy look to the airport. It's the quintessential airport outfit. And the one thing I've learned in my years of working there is that our runway is the airport. My current favorite set is my Madhappy Free City set, which is the lightest weight. It makes me feel like I'm an Olsen twin or some sort of early 2000s Fairfax Avenue celebrity out shopping.
What’s your approach to dressing as a wedding guest?
I'm at that age where I'm going to many weddings. I get so much anxiety about what to wear to a wedding because I hate the idea that I have to wear the same thing as everyone else. But interestingly enough, getting older, I've become obsessed with blazers. So, I look forward to weddings more now, because I think the power that a blazer can give you is so… impressive. And I get really into different cuts now, whether it's an '80s boxy shoulder or a Hedi Slimane slim-fit. The last wedding I went to, I wore this Korean brand Recto. It's this big shouldered, wide legged gray suit. For the next wedding I'm going to, I’m yearning for a slimmer suit because I feel like everyone is now wearing big ones. As I said before, I like to mix dressy with athletic pieces, so outside of weddings, I end up wearing these suit parts as separates.
How would your friends roast your style/look?
I remember this one night, me and a friend were having dinner at Little Fish in Little Melrose Hill, and her boyfriend and his friends were in the Valley. It was late and she's like, "Let's just go meet them." We meet up with these people, and I think I was probably wearing gym shorts and my Pappas jacket and loafers. They were all drunk, and then one guy was like, "Oh my God, you look like a chauffeur that just finished his shift and then went to go to the gym."
What goes on my face in the morning?
I've used a P50 Biologique Recherche toner since I was in high school — because that's another thing my mom taught me: skincare. P50 makes your skin so glowy. Then I put a light moisturizer on. The brand that I'm using right now is called Mousse. Before, I'll use either the Dew or the Osaya Malibu face wash. And then I'll use an Emma Lewisham face exfoliant.
What's something you do that others deem unnecessary or decadent?
I'm obsessed with fragrances and candles right now. Scent is a really easy and organic way to exercise understanding things that you like. So, when I moved here to California from New York, I loved night jasmine, because when I would walk around at night, you could smell it in all the bushes. I found this fragrance online — Elizabeth W Vetiver Eau De Perfume. "Blooming night jasmine," I believe, was the main note. I ordered that just blindly because of it, and I've been using it for very long.
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