It’s hard to describe what Dave Hunegnaw does in just one word.
He’s a serial entrepreneur who’s launched countless businesses, including DOMedia, GrooveJob, HeadStartup and, most recently, AboutOurWork. (Think LinkedIn for the small business owner.) He’s a mentor to a startup participating in the 10-xelerator program, and he’s an investor in several other enterprises.
However, if I had to describe Hunegnaw’s appearance, one word immediately comes to mind: immaculate. And yet he never looks as if he’s spent hours primping. (How he achieves this, I will never know.)
So how does Hunegnaw describe his appearance?
“Uniquely, casually, professionally me.”
Music to my ears. It’s always better to be a first-rate version of yourself rather than a second-rate version of someone else (to paraphrase Judy Garland).
When getting dressed for the day, Hunegnaw says he considers the people with whom he’ll be meeting and working and the various places he’ll be visiting, which can be a challenge when going from very professional environments to very casual and back again.
To learn what else Hunegnaw has to say about fashion and style, keep reading.
Favorite fashion trend of all time?
All time? Cufflinks. It’s a nice piece for a man to wear when it’s time to go the extra step.
What are you most vain about?
I don’t know if I’d call it vain, but I definitely have an addiction to sunglasses. I probably have 10 pairs− all badass, no drugstore stuff. My friends give me a hard time about my addiction.
Who do you consider a style icon?
Kanye, Miles Davis, Pharrell, Lenny Kravitz −I wish I could pull off some of his looks!− have always stood out to me as icons. Each of these guys absolutely own their looks! Locally, I’m always looking at my good friend, and always stylishly dressed, Rick Wolfe of The Cheesy Truck and Larry Robertson of Brigade for inspiration. They both have a unique style that I always admire.
What are three items you can’t live without?
Sunglasses. Rolex Submariner, which I actually traded a domain name for. A good pen and my laptop. Really, my laptop goes everywhere with me− even Christmas dinner!
Your favorite local shop?
Every shop in the Short North! Seriously, we are pretty lucky to have such an awesome mix of retailers in the Short North. Milk Bar, Shoe Repertoire, Brigade, Tigertree are all fantastic shops. There was a time when I went to Tigertree daily. I probably purchased five pairs of sunglasses from Tigertree last summer alone. Remember that addiction we discussed earlier?
A style motto you live by.
If I wear a jacket or sportcoat, I always add a pocket square. That little piece of fabric can take an outfit from a good one to a great one. Costs a buck, takes less than ten seconds, and any light fabric will do.
Photo by Adam Slane Photography.
