Nathanael Schedler Plays With (Not By) The Rules

Nathanael Schedler has a very tenuous relationship with the rules of style.

On one hand, his approach is exceptionally classic. On the other, he revels in thumbing his nose at tradition simply because he can and has the confidence to do so. That approach may seem a bit incongruent with his past as a banking consultant, but as an artist at heart, Nathanael’s sense of irreverence and playing — or perhaps more appropriately, toying — with convention starts to come into sharp focus.

It’s also why Nathanael is perfectly suited for his currently role as Head Of Finance for German tailoring brand Maximilian Mogg, whose approach to design and marketing mirrors his own approach to style.

We recently caught up with Nathanael, who also happens to be a great friend of HSS, to talk about his style journey, his personal style, some of his favorite brands, and so much more. We hope you enjoy this edition of Speaking Style with Nathanael “Nat” Schedler.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was raised in a small town near Zürich, Switzerland. Embracing Swiss clichés, like a love for cheese and watches, I initially worked in banking as a consultant for enterprises and startups. After experiences in New York and Japan, I settled in Berlin, where I met Maximilian Mogg and transitioned from banking to support Max’s vision for his brand. I create music under my short name Nat Schedler, and my camera is always within reach.

What’s your earliest memory of being into menswear?

Coming from a small town in Switzerland with limited exposure to menswear, my interest was first sparked when my friend Lucien introduced me to his favorite store in Zurich, ALFERANO. The store, partially owned by Jeroen van Rooijen, a store owner and menswear journalist, became a pivotal point in my journey. On that day, I purchased my first pair of Grenson Oxfords, marking the beginning of regular discussions with Jeroen and Lucien, both influential figures in my journey into menswear.

Dylan Oxfords In Tan

Grenson

How would you describe your style?

I would call it classic with the certain je ne sais qois. We at Maximilian Mogg have a structured silhouette with the idea of sculpting the body instead of following it when we cut the suits and shirts. I like the way a good suit empowers me and makes me feel more confident. At the same time, I don’t follow the rules strictly and play a lot with them. A dinner jacket with a notch lapel and a jeans? Yes, please!

Tell us about what you’re wearing here.

I’m dressed head to toe in Maximilian Mogg (no surprises there), wearing my current favorite coat. The coat, made from a cloth by Dugdale from the Luxury Lambswool collection, is super long — a feature I appreciate for two main reasons. Firstly, it creates a dramatic silhouette, and secondly, it keeps me warm by covering my legs.

Underneath the coat, I’ve paired a grey herringbone three-button jacket and black trousers, both from the Fox Brothers flannel bunch, my preferred flannel. The shirt features my favorite Zee Jerman tab collar, a design by Max from Maximilian Mogg that has become a staple for both myself and our customers. Alongside the shirt, I’m wearing my favorite tie, a black shantung, which I find exceptionally cool due to the subtle imbalance provided by the shantung texture. My glasses are from NIRVAN JAVAN in Switzerland, my home country, and my shoes are from Atelier Leonard Khalcke in Frankfurt.

What are some of your favorite brands?

I have the big luxury that I work for a brand and therefore don’t have to buy new clothes from other brands. So it is Maximilian Mogg all the way. Lol. That said, I lived for a few months in Japan and I’m still a very big fan of Japanese brands like visvim, KAPITAL and BEAMS. All the denim and Americana stuff is amazing. When it comes to watches I love everything that NOMOS is doing.

Most recent menswear (or accessory) purchase?

The last suit I made myself was a chocolate brown corduroy suit which I wore for a week straight after I got it. I can’t get enough of it at the moment.

Favorite piece in your closet?

The first suit made by Max holds a special place in my heart. It features a limited fabric from Fox Brothers — a grey-green Prince of Wales pattern — and marks my introduction to double-breasted suits.

Most-worn item in your closet?

My high rise denim from Maximilian Mogg. We started doing them during the Covid-19 lockdowns. The silhouette is inspired by Fred Hughes who used to bring his Levis 501s to his tailor to have a crease ironed into them. I make them out of Japanese denim and, trust me, they’re a dream to wear.

How has your style changed over time?

I used to go quite extreme with my suits making myself a yellow linen suit with big peak lapels while still working part time at a conservative private bank. While my customers loved it the owners of the bank were sadly not so happy. I recently started to mute my colors and these days wear a lot of browns and monochromatic looks. I think they better highlight the silhouette we create with our suits.

Do you have a “style icon”?

Yves Saint Laurent is my unequivocal style icon.

Favorite book?

When it comes to novels I started to get very much into the books from Serhiy Zhadan an Ukranian author. My favorite so far is “Voroshilovgrad.“ It’s the story of one brother who gives up his job to take over the gas station from his brother, who has gone missing. Everything is stationed around the city of Luhansk. My girlfriend is from Ukraine and introduced me to this author. Definitely worth a read!

Voroshilovgrad

by Serhiy Zhadan

Favorite movie?

“Lost In Translation” by Sofia Coppola. My girlfriend will probably laugh while reading this because she knows we have to watch this movie at least four times a year.

After a long day, how do you unwind?

I play guitar and write songs. Songwriting is like meditation for me and I’m very grateful that my father who is a jazz/blues musician was able to show me the magic and power of music