Being one of Miami’s premier communications experts, Manny Machado is always on the go. As a man of means, Machado must be specific about how he presents himself, from how to dress and even his scents of choice, Machado breaks down how he creates his best self.
Good Eats
I am very lucky to have as a personal chef, Ansy Noel. He is great. His execution of my favorite dishes is in some cases, better than my own and that coupled with his own creations makes for a great evening. Whether it is a small, formal sit down dinner, to a party for a large group up to 100, he always comes through for me. We share the philosophy that the food must be creative, well presented and executed, and abundant. He knows my home and kitchen and is a master of timing. Our professional relationship of 10 years plus certainly helps the process and helps him put up with my demanding standards. Only the very best.
Cut N' Stitch
I grew up in the garment business, my parents were contractors/manufacturers for ladies' clothing and I worked in the factory after school and over the summer. It is here that my passion for fashion started, and thanks to the diversity of the work that we did, I believe I was able to develop a personal style. I really don’t like labels, so to say that I am a classic, contemporary or trendy dresser would not truly represent my perspective on the matter. I rather think that what and how I wear a garment is representative of the occasion, my mood and feelings, and who I will be engaging with. If you went to my wardrobe, one could say it looks like a department store or a small collection of Miami’s Design District. I love to wear Stefano Ricci, Tom Ford and Armani for business and formal gatherings; they fit me well and among the three iconic design houses, I can have a great variety and many different looks from a casual Ricci knit, to a formal from Ford.
However, if I want to dress edgy, trendy, or whatever we call it in this visionary year of 2020. For other affairs and events, I would choose Loewe, Dior and Fendi, these designers still work for me, and I feel that when I am dressed in their cutting edge designs I am still age-appropriate. For shoes, I have no rules, I will wear whatever shoe I am feeling at the moment, with whatever look I have. So you may find me in Louboutin or Givenchy sneaks with a tux, or Gucci mules, Stubbs & Wooten made to order slippers, or a fine patent leather piece from Ferragamo with jeans or a white shirt and a blazer along with my signature Hermes pocket square, it all depends on my mood. I used to wear glasses as a prop, now I actually need them and I switch them out based on the occasion. There is a small optical store in Venice that keeps me always on point with designs that favor my facial structure.
Over the years, I have tried to remain wearing age-appropriate threads that are classy and timely, so you won't see me in tight-fitting t-shirts, (shorts sleeves don’t favor me), or torn jeans, I draw the line at that look!
Finally, if there are metals involved, in belts, shoe hardware, watches, or any jewelry (gentlemen should not overdo it on this front), I never mix metals, even on a timepiece!
Looking the Part
Who said gentlemen cannot take care of themselves? I believe that a good look needs help, and there comes a point when one must help that along. My barber of Choice, John Dandrades from Spot in Downtown, is the guy responsible for my beard looking as it does. I kiddingly call his place ‘petsmart grooming”, and he is now a celebrity in my Instagram stories as part of the “petsmart chronicles”. Everything else is part of the process, pedicure, manicure, (who wants to do business with a person that has unkept hands) and yes, a little help from Dr. Brad Herman for the much-needed touch up to avoid premature aging.
Good Scents
I am also a creature of habit, my good friend Luis Rigual says that I am very precise man, I guess he is right. I like to be consistent, which is why I rarely deviate from my fragrance of choice. I have used Green Irish Tweed for decades, it is a fragrance that at one point represented the majority of sales for the House of Creed. I find it masculine and representative of the way I live, and wearing it reminds me how hard I have worked, to be able to afford it, now and then! I don’t think I have had occasion not to have this fragrance since I discovered it as a younger man at Bergdorf Goodman
