meet Gary Trente ..the silver fox renaissance man

In this age of Instagram and Facebook it is not a stretch of the imagination to admit that one’s attention is drawn to a stranger by  how they present themselves in a single image but it is upon  further exploration  that this writer came upon a gentleman who  fit the  bill when it comes to people who are  subjects of my interviews.

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I have written and interviewed painters, silver fox models and just about any type of créateur that you can imagine so when he consented to this interview, I was thrilled. There is so much more than just that single image we see on a phone screen, iPad or desktop.

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He has led a life that so many might be envious of and yet he is easy to speak to, open and diverse in in his talents and so he shared with us a few of his thoughts on topics that I selected as pertinent to this sort of renaissance man I had stumbled upon.

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So now, the reluctant conversationalist “speaks” ....

Jeffrey Felner: Let’s trace your trajectory and find you how you landed where you are today. Keeping my eyes on your posts, you have a very philosophical point of view about life, was there anything or anyone who influenced that way of thinking and why do you still adhere to it?

Gary Trente: I’ve always thought in a philosophical manner.  College of course encouraged that.  My English Literature professor, sophomore year probably boasted my ideas and encouraged me to read other philosophers.  I did study comparative religion in college as well.  My aunt had a huge impact on me.  She is my Auntie Mame, she used to live in NYC and would take me to anything that was new and exciting in the arts, music or spiritual.  She really expanded my view of the world. Why do I still adhere to it?  I can’t see any other way of living.  Doesn’t everyone want to know who you are and why you exist. What’s the purpose? What’s to point of life?

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 JF: Since you are also involved in fashion as a model, tell us your feeling about clothes being shown on boys rather men and do you honestly believe that showing $4000 suits on a 20-year-old enhances the brand or detracts from it? Please be painfully honest here!

GT: Young models in mature men’s clothing; I think it’s wrong and short sighted.  I tend to not look at clothing (retail) that advertises with young models.  I can’t relate to them.  I think there are many reasons why they choose that type of model.  There’s the attraction to youth both from the buyer and the designer.  The clothing usually hangs on the models like a hanger and that’s what designers are looking for.  Older models who are advertising to a mature audience, is seen as a waste of time.  They must believe that more mature buyers are already set in their ways as far as what they will buy and I I don’t agree.  I constantly get asked what do I do for my skin, hair, weight for example.

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JF: As I told you, I was an art major and yet I never mastered drawing and painting so I am awed by your talent as an artist and by your subject matter, your medium of choice and that almost photographic quality you achieve... where and how did this come about?

GT: I’ve always drawn.  I went to The Atlanta College of Art for my undergraduate and New York Academy for my graduate work.  I’ve been director of a few galleries, worked at MOMA and assisted many artists.  I’ve had working studies in New a York City and Miami.  So, art has always been in my life.  There was a long break before the pandemic.  Covid gave me the time to revisit my love of Art.

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JF: If you could invite any 5 people to dinner, who would they be and why?

GT: Dinner hmm, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Fran Lebowitz, Dorothy Parker, and GERTRUDE STEIN.  I’m not big on conversation so I can just sit back and watch... I’d be listening far more than conversing. The choice should be blatantly apparent given their gift of gab, their cache of stories, escapades and my predilection to be a listener.

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standing out in the crowd... meet Ben Desombre

At a time when most models are chosen for  their bodies, the good and bad of them, and what the gym has done for them rather than for their unique appearance, there comes along a man who has charisma and has attained his notoriety by being clothed and exuding an air of sophistication, wealth and unadulterated class. He has the looks of a film star and the sprezzatura that so few of any age can offer. He evokes the spirit where one would not find it difficult to imagine him cruising the Mediterranean on some mega yacht or skiing in Gstaad, sunning at the Hotel du Cap or just sipping an espresso at some sidewalk café in any fashion capital. He is the embodiment of what was once referred to as “continental

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Ben is the consummate example of a target customer than only brands abroad seem to understand and yet so many brands still assiduously ignore this fact. He is the epitome of an aspirational customer, think of the aura of a Gianni Agnelli or even a James Bond type of man... international, rich, tasteful, well-bred and so easy on the eyes. We in the USA seem to ignore the fact that there are generations of men who exemplify the beauty of a man at any age; yes you can classify him as a silver fox but to me he is so much more than just that general category and too much of a generic way of pigeon holing him.

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There is something to be said about not being stereotypical or fitting into a mold, think about the REAL trail blazers of the business who turned being a model into an art form … think  Tony Spinelli, Pat Cleveland, Lauren Hutton, Peter Keating, Gia, Pelito Galvez, Denis La Marsh  and  Tommy Garrett. These men and women brought more to the table than most of today’s assortments could ever aspire to since today they are mostly interchangeable and robotic at best. So in the tradition of the greats …. Here is Ben Desombre in his own words

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Can you give us a bit of background as to how you “arrived” at where you are professionally?

My background is quite standard for à French guy: grew up as a middle guy between 2 brothers, 1 had to be a "black sheep" I chose that. Meaning as a bourgeois, my destiny was supposedly to be  a good student to become a lawyer, real estate or something like that ...I was awful at school, ended at junior college to become a squash professional career, as the tennis and soccer player ended early, as lack of hard word, not talent... I became a decent player, doing the minimum, but still ended playing for France and was top 10 in my country for few years (6was my highest).

Then moved to the US to be close to my 1st daughter, as her mom was American. Picked up squash again as that was not a top sport at that time (93) but actually that was the step chosen by the IOC to change the American squash courts to European size. Therefore I have been able to teach this game to "the whole country", and became US National coach around those days for few years (juniors and women). Got recognized by the US Olympic committee "coach of the year 1999" for the sports of rackets among all the other sports coaches from all the Olympic disciplines.

In 2002  I moved to NY after a stint of Brasil for 3 years (got remarried there and raised my 3rd daughter) then after 4 years in the city, started some modeling as there was a demand for older classic men. I joined DNA in NYC and started some jobs such as MACYS, Martha Stewart show etc...I got my first contract in Japan in 2007, where I spent 3 months, then I came back to my appt in NY and decided NY was not for me anymore and moved back to Europe where I based myself in Paris. And since then, I worked for the modeling industry nonstop. I am today at 52 in the top 20 most working men in my age category, I have a great life, traveling extensively all over the world, and worked many great jobs and hope keeping at it next 10 years.

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If you could choose any collaborator or collaboration, who or what would it be and why?

As to find a collaboration, I would love doing a campaign for Ralph Lauren, Hermes, or any Italians, and doing a huge renowned perfume campaign.

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If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would they be and why?

i would take 6 people for diner actually and they would be: my mom that I miss daily, Barack Obama that I look up to, Bjorn Borg that I admired so much as a kid, Paul Newman for his amazing career as a film actor and especially as a human being and Christy Turlington that I find the most gorgeous woman and the unbelievable Bill Murray that for me is the funniest actor existing.

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Do you have any mentors or style icons that you admire and why?

I admire Roger Federer as I like his resilience and hard work multiplied by a huge talent is the ultimate equation associated to an amazing level of humility; make the word "an icon" the perfect sense.

I liked Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, and Robert Redford as actors etc....love old movies.

Otherwise Nelson Mandela is for me an amazing example.

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What has been your most exciting project so far and why?

My most exciting pro project is my squash career, the National coaching for the US for few years and the switch from being an athlete as a working model. Then personally my 3 daughters who are from 3 moms from 3 countries (American, Norwegian and Brazilian)

The Silver Foxes of Fashion .. part 1.. T.R. Pescod

Contrary to what one might see on runways and in many print ads, there is a crop of men who look like men and bear no resemblance to waifish, prepubescent or drug addled young boys. These silver foxes are those who might actually resemble the demographic of a brand rather than some absurd notion possessed by a designer. Models have always represented an ideal or dream rather than a nightmare or the nadir of life.  So,  it is my privilege to introduce you to some of those who were  the so called founding fathers  or the foundation of men’s modeling but continue to give the fashion business a patina of true class and elegance via their enduring and thriving careers. These are the men who the savvy of readers and viewers might actually relate to!

Without any further blah, blah, blah, here is T.R. Pescod in his own words:

1-How, when and why did you begin your career? And what is your current profession?

I began my career in 1989 when a NY photographer and friend said I should take some photos with her. I had just quit my “real” job in A&R for a record company and wanted to move back to Europe (I studied my junior year in Paris). She showed the photos to an agent here in NYC, Boss Models, and within 2 weeks I was on a plane to Paris for the Men’s shows. I saw modeling as my passport to experience the world. In a matter of months I went from Paris to Barcelona, Milan, London, Hamburg back to Paris, Japan…and many other stops in between. My dream of experiencing the world, different cultures, seeking my spiritual truth and center had begun. Modeling was my stepping stone to a larger ambition of becoming an actor. After spending 2 1/2 years traveling the world and smiling for the cameras I left Europe and made my way to Los Angeles. I spent 6 years in LA shooting many TV commercials, various roles in films and TV and honing my acting chops. Then in 1999 there was a major actor’s strike which lasted over 6 mos. No auditions and no acting work….Just previous to the strike I had shot a TV commercial for Banana Republic with celebrity photographer Peggy Sirota, who on set suggested I get back into modeling. “Why?” I asked, and she replied, “The gray hair is money honey!!!” The rest is history….I went to an agency that next week, was signed and my modeling career was re-ignited!! 

I’m still modeling on a regular basis. Having just turned 50 I would have never imagined I would still be enjoying a career modeling! I think certain brands have realized the importance of reaching out to their core buyers and using models that the buyer can actually relate to as a peer and aspirational figure. I enjoy acting gigs here and there, have done a number of TV commercials, and in the past year have launched my own design firm TRP Design. In 2010 I embarked on another dream to design and build my own house. Completed in 2011, the house was photographed and published and from that point I have taken on a number of clients, curating their dreams and making them a reality!! 

2-What would you describe as your most memorable, defining or gratifying moment of your career?

All three can be wrapped up in one when I was 6 stories high on a billboard in Times Sq.!! I had done a shoot for Target which ended up in Times Sq. One of my oldest friends had suggested we go to the Marriott  to the sky bar which overlooks Times Sq. to get a glimpse of the billboard….when we arrived she had assembled a large group of friends who were all there to celebrate the billboard. To have all my friends together excited for a billboard!?!?! That kind of blew my mind and heart!!

3-Would you care to offer your opinions on the current crop of “models” that populate runways and magazine pages?

Americans will always be obsessed by youth….I don’t think that will ever change…..runway has always been for the “boys”. I did a runway show for Kenneth Cole a couple years ago and it stirred quite a conversation. After the show a number of publications came back stage and wanted to interview me, wanting to know how it felt to be “grey on the runway”!! I got a great laugh out of that and really enjoyed the show. I think as the ethnic pool continues to diversify we are experiencing an ever expanding definition of beauty….I love the direction our current societies’  viewpoint is taking, re-defining what gender and beauty is all about. However, our current obsession with celebrity is really hurting the modeling industry….every cover you see these days is a celebrity….gone are the days of the super model.

4-If you could invite any 5 people to dinner … who would they be and why?

Egon Schiele, Diana Vreeland, Christian Liaigre, Cary Grant, Mies van der Rohe,

These 5 have influenced me, helped to shape my aesthetic, given me inspiration in how they live and have lived their lives and continue to shape my world and personal view. To have the opportunity to sit down with them, have a couple of cocktails enjoy an amazing meal cooked by Dan Barber of Blue Hill restaurant in NYC would be my dream dinner!!! OK so I guess it’s 6 people since Dan Barber would have to be cooking for us (I’m a bit of an amateur chef and foodie)!!! LOL…..

5-If you could rewrite your own life story, what, if anything, would you change and why?

Nothing!!! For me LIFE is about experience, we are here for a finite period of time….experience all you can and have no regrets. The Dali Lama has a quote that I will paraphrase: Most people live life as if they are never going to die, then die having never lived.  I want to LIVE LIFE!!