The elegance of a Global Nomad: Tyler Brûlé

por Felipe Olaya

Vamos a ser claros, pocas personas han alcanzado a los 44 años todo lo que Tyler Brûlé puede incluir en su currículum. Nacido en Canadá en 1968, Brûlé se marchó a Londres a estudiar periodismo y aprendió el oficio en las filas de la BBC. Se curtió como colaborador de The Guardian o Vanity Fair, entre otros y en 1994 fue destinado a cubrir el conflicto de Afganistán para la revista alemana Focus.

Allí recibió dos impactos de bala que le hicieron perder parte de la movilidad en su mano izquierda. Durante su recuperación se familiarizó con revistas de estilo de vida y decidió fundar una. Así nació uno de los iconos editoriales del interiorismo, el diseño y la moda: Wallpaper.

En 1.997 fundó una agencia de publicidad y Branding llamada Winkreative y en 2.001 (con 33 años) se convirtió en el más joven ganador del Lifetime Achievement Award de la Sociedad Británica de Editores de Revistas. En 2.006 Tyler Brûlé decide montar otra revista: Monocle, la cual dirige actualmente, y que define como «Un briefing sobre asuntos globales, negocios, cultura y diseño».

Su estilo se define fácil: americanas, calzado cómodo, saharianas, pañuelo en el bolsillo, cárdigans y de vez en cuando corbata. Todo perfectamente entallado, planchado y pulcro hasta la obsesión del milímetro.

Estos logros dejan claro que Tyler Brûlé es Global, eso seguro. Pero es que lo de Nómada lo lleva en el espíritu: viaja 250 de los 365 días del año y su revista elabora las mejores guías de viajes de la actualidad y además en 2.005 tuvo la cortesía de compartir con nosotros algo que he querido rescatar: publicó en su columna del New York Times, sus 10 consejos a la hora de hacer una maleta

1. No existe el check-in… Llévalo encima, siempre.
2. En la mayoría de los casos podrás llevar una pieza extra de equipaje de mano si lo pides con amabilidad (al menos en Europa).
3. Tres días, tres meses. Es lo mismo cuando se trata de hacer una maleta. Los hoteles tienen servicio de lavandería por un motivo.
4. Nada de logos. La discreción es siempre mejor que la ostentación.
5. Lleva siempre una bolsa plegable para las compras y material de vuelo (revistas,un kit de aseo, zapatillas cómodas).
6. Ignora las maletas de Porter, Herve Chapelier, Globe-Trotter, Coperto y Valextra por tu propio bien.
7. Lleva una sahariana, son prendas para cualquier momento y cualquier clima.
8. Elige prendas de punto de Peter Geeson de lana de oveja, sirven para cualquier estación.
9. Pide al servicio de lavandería que doble y embolse tus camisas, que no las perche.
10. Elige un neceser pequeño y mejor de nylon que de cuero, el tamaño impone disciplina.

by Felipe Olaya

Let’s say it as it is: not too many guys at 44 have achieved as much as Tyler Brûlé can count on his curriculum. Born in Canada in 1968, Brûlé left his hometown to study journalism in the United Kingdom. He learned the trade in the BBC and worked as a contributor for The Guardian and Vanity Fair.

In 1994 he was stationed in Afganistan where he was shot. As a result of the wounds he lost part of the use of his left hand. While he was recovering he started to read lifestyle magazines and decided to found his own. It was the beginning of one of the biggest editorial icons on interiors, design, fashion and lifestyle: Wallpaper.

In 1.997 he founded an advertising and branding agency, Winkreative and in 2.001 (at 33) he became the youngest winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the British Society of Magazine Editors. In 2.006 Tyler Brûlé started his second publishing adventure: Monocle, where he works as editor in chief. He defines the magazine as «A briefing on global affairs, business, culture and design».

Brûlé’s style is very easy to define: blazers, comfortable shoes, cardigans, safari jackets and a handckerchief in his front pocket. Everything perfectly fitted.

All these achievements prove Tyler Brûle is Global, that’s for sure. But he is also a Nomad: he spends 250 out of 365 days travelling, his magazine is responsible of the best travel guides you can find nowadays and in 2.005 he was kind enough to share something I wanted to rescue: his 10 tips on packing your bags in his New York Times column:

1. There’s no such thing as check-in. Carry-on — always.
2. You can usually carry on one extra bag if you ask nicely — at least in Europe.
3. Three days, three months: it’s all the same when it comes to packing. Hotels have laundry service for a reason.
4. No logos. Discreet is far superior to bling, particularly in less secure destinations.
5. Always pack a collapsible tote for shopping and in-flight material like magazines, toiletry kits, slippers et al.
6. Overlook bags by Porter, Herve Chapelier, Globe-Trotter, Coperto and Valextra at your own peril.
7. Consider the safari jacket (Helmut Lang or Alberto Aspesi); it is an excellent all-round, all-weather garment.
8. Opt for Peter Geeson knitwear in single-ply lamb’s-wool; it’s multiseasonal.
9. Always ask your laundry service to fold and bag shirts rather than hang them.
10. Dop kits (nylon over leather) are best kept small, as size imposes discipline.

by Felipe Olaya

Let’s say it as it is: not too many guys at 44 have achieved as much as Tyler Brûlé can count on his curriculum. Born in Canada in 1968, Brûlé left his homwtown to study journalism in the United Kingdom. He learned the trade in the BBC and worked as a contributor for The Guardian and Vanity Fair. In 1994 he was stationed in Afganistan where he was shot.

As a result of the wounds he lost part of th use of his left hand. While he was recovering he started to read lifestyle magazines and decided to found his own. It was the beginning of one of the biggest editorial icons on interiors, design, fashion and lifestyle: Wallpaper.

In 1.997 he founded an advertising and branding agency, Winkreative and in 2.001 (at 33) he became the youngest winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the British Society of Magazine Editors. In 2.006 Tyler Brûlé started his second publishing adventure: Monocle, where he works as editor in chief. He defines the magazine as «A briefing on global affairs, business, culture and design».

Brûlé’s style is very easy to define: blazers, comfortable shoes, cardigans, safari jackets and a handckerchief in his front pocket. Everything perfectly fitted.

All these achievements prove Tyler Brûle is Global, that’s for sure. But he is a Global Nomad: he spends 250 out of 365 days travelling, his magazine is responsible of the best travel guides you can find nowadays and in 2.005 he was kind enough to share something I wanted to rescue: his 10 tips on packing your bags in his New York Times column:

1. There’s no such thing as check-in. Carry-on — always.
2. You can usually carry on one extra bag if you ask nicely — at least in Europe.
3. Three days, three months: it’s all the same when it comes to packing. Hotels have laundry service for a reason.
4. No logos. Discreet is far superior to bling, particularly in less secure destinations.
5. Always pack a collapsible tote for shopping and in-flight material like magazines, toiletry kits, slippers et al.
6. Overlook bags by Porter, Herve Chapelier, Globe-Trotter, Coperto and Valextra at your own peril.
7. Consider the safari jacket (Helmut Lang or Alberto Aspesi); it is an excellent all-round, all-weather garment.
8. Opt for Peter Geeson knitwear in single-ply lamb’s-wool; it’s multiseasonal.
9. Always ask your laundry service to fold and bag shirts rather than hang them.
10. Dop kits (nylon over leather) are best kept small, as size imposes discipline.