With hipster beard and 'edgy' trousers, DNC host Kevin Washo nails just the right look

Kevin Washo, executive director of the Democratic National Convention's Host Committee, attended an early-morning news conference and several afternoon meetings one recent Thursday, dressed in what might be considered boring, conservative blah: a blue blazer, gray slacks, and brown, spit-shined shoes.

But the dandiness - for which Washo is becoming known around town - is in the details. His navy blazer is tailored, not the uber-stylish shrunken look. The slim-fit trousers were plaid, flat-fronted, and with a watch pocket. (How is that for sharp?) And the brown dress shoes? They were of the double-monk strap variety, courtesy of Italian luxury brand Santoni.

"Here is the thing, I never want to look like I'm wearing a uniform," Washo told me, sitting in his fourth-floor office in DNC headquarters at 1900 Market St. "At first glance, you might not see anything too distinguishing. But when you peel back the onion, the pants are a little edgy, the shoes are a little edgy. That's what I try to go for."

Washo, like many millennials establishing themselves in the political realm, walks a fine line between dapper and dull.

Too spiffy and Washo, 35, risks being labeled a clotheshorse, or, worse, out of touch with the working man. In recent weeks, the DNC Host Committee has taken some criticism for refusing to make donors' contributions or officials' salaries - including Washo's - public before the convention begins next week. So it's important that Washo, formally the executive director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, dresses in a way that would not be seen as too luxe.

On the other hand, though sometimes a disheveled look can project a certain trustworthiness, it could also be viewed through a contemporary lens as frumpy.

And that's not quite the right look for him, either. As the DNC's coordinator of local events, his job is to project all that is hip and cool in the city, and to represent Philly both socially and sartorially. (Hence the well-groomed and oh-so-Northern Liberties hipster-style beard.)

"It's like hosting a dinner party," Washo said. "You've got to make the guests feel comfortable, and you've got to look good."

Still, he added: "I don't want to be ostentatious; I don't want to be over the top."

This kind of effortless style takes a plan, and Washo has been working on his for about a month. In addition to getting his hair cut this week (to give it time to grow out) and splashing on a little Acqua di Parma, (the Democratic-appropriate unisex cologne in the blue bottle), he's done some prep shopping.

Washo bought three suits - one Trussini and two Eidos - off the rack from Boyds Philadelphia. He's not a fan of custom suits or, for that matter, monogrammed shirts because, he says, that's trying too hard.

But "Sergio," one of the menswear specialty store's in-demand tailors, is in the midst of making sure Washo's summer-weight ensembles in brown, khaki, and blue fit to a T.

"It's about being tailored, not shrunken," Washo said, turning up his nose at the too-tiny Thom Browne-esque suits made popular by the Allentown-bred designer.

"If it's not tailored properly, it's big trouble."

It appears natty Philadelphia men likely headed to the convention are also following the tailored-not-tiny trend.

Alex Gushner, 26, is a buyer for men's tailored pieces at Boyds, and son of co-owner Kent Gushner. He said that despite the traditional July sales slowdown, he'd seen an uptick in suit sales this year that he's pretty sure can be credited to the convention.

"We've been selling a lot of suits, jackets, shirts, and ties that incorporate patriotic colors," Gushner said.

"And it's been all about the high-performance fabrics . . . that can easily go from day to night."

Washo will likely move most of next week's day-to-night wardrobe (he's thinking he'll average two outfits a day) into the walk-in closet in his office this weekend.

The purchased-at-Boyds pieces will join a handful of other Eidos suits. He owns a half-dozen suits made by the GQ-worthy Italian brand. They generally average $700 to $1,200 retail, but Washo stressed that he does most of his shopping on sale.

Washo's dress shirt of choice is Eton. Scattered on the floor of the closet next to his Muay Thai gym bag are a pair of Santoni shoes, white-on-white Vince sneakers (Washo is a bit of a self-described sneaker fiend), and short black To Boots.

Tucked in the back of the closet is a coat hanger filled with solid knit ties, not the skinny ones from the 1980s, but the up-to-date wider-stitched cousins. Pocket squares are mostly white, although Julie Coker, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitor's Bureau, bought him a mint green one he keeps with his office stash.

Washo credits his grandmother - who he says was always dressed to the nines in shirtwaist dresses and cardigans - for instilling a fashion foundation reminiscent of Hollywood's leading men: Cary Grant, Robert Redford, and, especially, Paul Newman.

"The guy could pull off anything," Washo said. "He would pull things off the rack and look just as great in a T-shirt as he did in a tuxedo."

When Washo was a teenager, his style was neither grunge nor pocket-protector nerdy, but more baggy jeans, Brandon Walsh of Beverly Hills 90210 appropriate. As he moved into his 30s, his professional look became tailored, with a dash of Theory's soft simplicity.

Over the years, Washo has developed a few style rules designed to keep his look dapper. Chief among them: Belts and shoes must match. Ostentatious logoed belts are a no-no, as is a popped collar on a Polo shirt.

And the only thing he wears every day is a yogi-esque beaded bracelet. In the last few months, Washo's 3-year-old daughter, Gracie, has made him about six or seven, so they are heavy in the proud dad's accessory rotation.

"I want her to know that I'm always wearing them," Washo said.

Like we said, Washo's dandiness is in the details.

ewellington@phillynews.com

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@ewellingtonphl