Informal Interviews With Great Men - Jesse Burzminski

Jesse Burzminski, also known in the world of bloggers and Instagram as Burzan, is a men’s fashion lover, especially fond of colognes and shoes.

His fashion journey started on bodybuilding.com, where he participated in a thread called “Sperrys and Polos.” He is also an active writer on Styleforum.

His next step was to start his website, Burzan Blog, in 2017. Here you will find his menswear journey along with his reviews on products. You will also remember him for his awesome pictures and for coining the #burzanhands pose.

1. What clothes do you like to wear on a daily basis? Which looks do you enjoy the most?

During the workweek, I mainly reach for sports coats, polos, oxford shirts, denim, and trousers (occasionally). I try to take inspiration from many different places and mix a combination of these pieces for a unique casual look.

On the weekend, I go a bit more casual and opt for field jackets and chore coats for outerwear, paired with more casual footwear like sneakers and boots. The base of my outfits stays pretty consistent though, even on the weekend.

2. How would you define your personal style? How has it developed or changed over the last few years?

I would say my personal style is constantly evolving. My initial interest in menswear started with shoes, and only within the last couple of years did I begin focusing more on the clothing aspect.

With this, I still find myself experimenting with looks on a regular basis. For example, I only started wearing sports coats last year and find that selecting ones that fit my personal style has been a constant work in progress.

I think a trial and error process is essential for anyone looking to define their look and wardrobe.

Right now, I also find myself rebuilding my trouser collection, as I found that I had acquired too many pairs that were either too formal or ill-fitting over the years.

3. What's your take on style rules; do you believe in them? Which would you tell a friend to absolutely follow or forget?

Style rules can be a good starting point, but I try to think of these “rules” more as guidelines to build off of. Rules are restricting, but guidelines can certainly be useful in steering those new to fashion in the right direction.

When it comes to menswear, I would say the golden rule is that “fit is king.” It is irrelevant how much an item costs or how good you think it looks on the rack if it doesn’t fit you well it is not going to look right and make you feel uncomfortable.

There is no sense picking up an item if it doesn’t fit well, as you will end up passing on it in your closet in favor of better fitting items. This applies to everything fashion related, from clothing to sunglasses to footwear.

4. Are you more of a morning person, or a late night person? How does a typical day look to you?

I used to be more of a late night person, opting to hit the gym late in the evening or staying up to watch TV; however, since having our first child that has kind of shifted. I actually quite enjoy the mornings now.

I need to be up early to get our toddler and myself ready for the day, so I have grown accustomed to that routine. I also feel as though I get my best work done in the mornings.

5. If we had 24 hours to spend in Calgary, what should we do? (Sights, food, bars, landmarks, stores)

If you happen to be in Calgary in July, it is essential to head down to the Stampede. There are games, rides, music and other attractions that draw hundreds of thousands of people to each year.

The Calgary Zoo is one of the best in the country and is definitely another must see.

I would also suggest a visit to the top of the Calgary tower for an amazing view of the city; there is a revolving restaurant (Sky 360) at the top, which allows you to see all of Calgary in 1 hour.

If you aren’t up for a formal dinner at the tower though I recommend you head to Mug Shotz for wings. Year after year this place is voted the best in the city for wings (and I find myself there at least once a month with my friends).

6. What tools or apps do you use the most? (For work, fun, wellness, anything really)

On a daily basis, I use my Nikon D5100 camera for my blog and Instagram and use Lightroom for editing. I need to get back at it but I also like using MyFitnessPal for calorie tracking and FitMenCook for easy recipes.

7. What websites and magazines do you read regularly? What do you like about them?

I visit Styleforum daily to get updates on all of my favorite brands and to draw inspiration from the amazing community of members there.

 I also love blogs like Put This On and Die Workwear; both are filled with amazing editorials and even more fashion inspiration.

Apart from those I also spend a lot of time online searching for music. Sites like Soundcloud and Bandcamp allow me to keep up to date with independent artists and their new music.

The Burzan hands pose!

8. In the last few years, what decision have you taken that you feel proud of?

I have a lot to be proud of over the last few years, but more recently my wife and I decided to try for another baby, which was huge for our family. We are now expecting her in the next couple months and I couldn’t be more excited to meet her!

9. What advice would you give to your younger self 10 years ago?

I don’t want to get too deep here, so will stick to fashion advice for my 25-year-old self, lol.

I would tell myself to buy a pair of loafers. I really didn’t get into them until about 5 years ago but I honestly can’t live without them. I certainly could have used them much earlier in life.

10. When you happen to feel down or unmotivated, what do you do to cheer up?

Almost without fail I like to put on some music to help me in those moments. The right song or album can really turn my day around and help get me back on track.

11. Where can folks learn more about you? (Social media accounts, website, etc.)

Check me out on my Instagram (@burzanblog) and my website (www.burzanblog.com).

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Thank you for reading! We want to especially thank Jesse Burzminski for helping us with this project.

Please don't forget to leave a comment below, or share Jesse Burzminski's advice on social media!