admin Menswear obsessives have a tendency to take their clothes a little too seriously, getting lost in the nitty-gritty of stitching styles and leather tanning techniques. That’s what makes Albert Muzquiz, better known by his handle @EdgyAlbert, one of the best follows in men’s fashion. A trained improviser and former employee of the legendary denim boutique Self Edge, the 28-year-old LA native’s social videos skillfully combine biting humor, a little sex appeal, and a penchant for vintage jeans, big pants, and classic Americana styling. It’s been a winning formula for Muzquiz, who has amassed over 300,000 followers on TikTok, and nearly 200,000 more on Instagram.
Aside from his obvious charm, one of the reasons Muzquiz has developed such a rabid fanbase is his commitment to championing well-curated basics. He sports accessible classics like Levi’s Cowboy jeans, chambray shirts, and loafers—all things that someone just dipping their toes into the fashion world can wear and pull off right from the jump. His videos are funny and inviting, but there’s real, useful knowledge at play too, helping his viewers find the most versatile pieces for their wardrobes and the most flattering sizes for their bodies.
GQ called up Muzquiz at home in LA to chat about the rise of Edgy Albert, his dueling passions of comedy and menswear, and his best advice for anyone looking to dress better. And if you have questions of your own for Muzquiz, you’re in luck: He’ll be on the GQ Discord on Thursday, August 17 at 12 p.m. EST for a “Fall Fits” themed AMA.
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GQ: Talk to us about how you started Edgy Albert.
Muzquiz: I was working at Self Edge LA. I had already become really interested in raw denim and learned a lot, but when I began working at the store I learned a whole lot more. I’d go through the process of trying to style someone and inevitably they’d opt for something else. And it was like…you’re on the verge of helping somebody step up their style. You’re offering something that’s going to flatter them or maybe even change how their whole wardrobe functions. But they won’t listen. I thought a lot about how people should dress. I had these broad strokes rules that I really wanted to tell my customers but wasn’t really allowed to.
During the pandemic, I got TikTok. I had moved into a new place. My roommate was staying with his parents. I had gone through a breakup. It was pretty dire at the time. On a lark I thought, Let’s look at the men’s fashion content on here. It was just so inane. It felt very outdated. A lot of guys just talking about sneakers and how your pin roll jeans are supposed to interact with your sneakers. And then there’ll be the guys who have, like, “Fill-in-the-blank Gentleman” as their handle. And it’s all about them wearing a sort of costume. It’s this weird oppressively retro thing. I wear a suit, I drink whiskey, and I listen to the rules of etiquette. It was two ends of the spectrum in this real vast and diffuse network of sensibilities.
What I’d learned is that most people wear a T-shirt and jeans. There were really simple ways to dial that in so that you looked really good and felt really good. It didn’t require crazy high-end designer stuff. I just felt like…I’m gonna let it rip. It seemed to appeal to people straight off the bat, I think because it was suggestions on how to dress like a pretty normal person. Here are a few rules you could apply to kick it up a notch or two without dramatically reinventing yourself or what you wore.
Your videos are very funny. You’ve trained in improv. Do you feel like humor has been part of your success?
The comedy stuff definitely informs my work. When I was beginning to work in fashion I really had a hard time placing myself. A lot of people who work in fashion are really self-serious. I always felt like I was kind of too silly for fashion. Then I felt like I was kind of too invested in my appearance for comedy. I was doing improv before the pandemic in LA, and most improv people dress like babies. They’d wear big jumpsuits or stripy shirts and they might as well be carrying a little lunchbox with them. It’s really interesting—I felt like I didn’t really make sense in that (world) either.
