Zoltan Pali
Occupation: Architect, Founder and Design Principal of Studio Pali Fekete Architects
Suit: Tom Ford
Structure is a concept that pervades the lives of both LA architect Zoltan Pali and famed menswear designer Tom Ford. Both were trained as architects, and their individual works share closely related elements: clean lines, modern influences and well-refined details.
In his professional life, Pali boasts a résumé that includes coveted projects such as the renovations of the Pantages Theatre and The Getty Villa, as well as the current construction of the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts. Married with two sons, Pali (who enjoys drinking a martini while he sketches) turns to Ford when an occasion calls for a suit.
Pali discovered the designer during an investigation into the “panorama of suits” in Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills’ men’s section, where Pali picked up a Ford garment and never put it down. “As soon as I tried it on, it felt perfect. It made me feel handsome,” he says. Being a consummate researcher, he quickly discovered his and Ford’s shared bond: architecture.
Quality, along with meticulous detail, is what truly makes a Tom Ford suit. Sewn from the finest Italian wools, his suits exude an indefinable charm, from the signature ’20s- and ’30s-inspired peaked lapels down to the side adjusters on the pants—design elements included in many of Ford’s exquisite garments. Sleek lines and luxurious fabrics contour a man’s body, creating a strong masculine silhouette. Ford created his menswear line in 2007 and has said it was a response to not finding what he wanted in the marketplace as a consumer; his collection seems to fulfill his personal wish list.
In his favorite Tom Ford suit, Pali notices a design philosophy he believes they both share. “I feel I have one foot in the past, one foot in the future and I straddle the present,” he says. “This is similar to the Tom Ford suit because the tried and true is there, but there is a lot of flair that represents now.”
Suit and dress shirt, Pali’s own. Pocket square, Hugo Boss ($30). 414 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-859-2888
