Cool people like cool things, which is why we asked cool person Michael Martin-del-Campo to come on Perfectly Imperfect & redistribute his good taste.

Michael Martin-del-Campo, aka MikeyMDC, works at an advertising agency in Los Angeles, but he’s probably better known online for his love of classic suiting and guns. Mikey also freelances as a wardrobe stylist and consultant for brands like Stussy and makes random merch such as the “Kill All Artists” bootleg t-shirt and Conde Nast hat that he & friends sell on darkwebinc.bigcartel.com. Mikey has great taste and lucky for us, he’s here to tell us what he’s been into.

Without further ado

Michael Martin-del-Campo (instagram)

💪 Guerlain L’Homme Ideal cologne

I’m really into fragrances. I have 30 bottles on my dresser as we speak. This is one of my main go-to’s lately, a blend of citrus and almond and leather. I blind buy all my fragrances from Fragrancenet for the most part, usually basing my decisions off of reviews from Fragrantica which is like the perfume nerd mecha. I know ordering something without smelling it in person is a risk, but scared money never wins. I’ll usually buy anything that mentions the adjectives “masculine” or “elegant” in the reviews, and this is just that. I don’t really jive with the “signature scent” mindset, especially when outfits and seasons come into play. You mean to tell me you use one perfume bottle all year round? That’s fine, but I hate you. Variety isn’t just a river in Egypt, ya know. 

📝 Parker Jotter ballpoint pen in stainless steel

I was about 10 years old when the Goldeneye movie and game for Nintendo 64 came out. I was obsessed with James Bond at that age. In the movie he uses a Parker jotter pen that explodes when you click it 3 times. My mom had the exact pen in her purse and used it to write checks and I stole it from her. It felt like I owned a real live prop from the movie. I recently bought another one online and I’m surprised how often it comes in handy. $15 for a sleek design and less pretentious than carrying a Mont Blanc around. I always prefer the grace of a ballpoint anyway. 

🎵 “In a Sentimental Mood” By John Coltrane and Duke Ellington 

My favorite song to play when I’m driving home at the end of the day. It’s a living soundtrack song if there ever was one. It’s ideal for rainy nights, getting ready in the morning, or field stripping your pistol. 

🥤 Kiwi Apple Red Bull

I never was a coffee drinker. I know energy drinks are déclassé, but whatever. If you know me, you know this is my signature beverage. I start my mornings with one, and I’m aware how disgusting that sounds. More for taste than any kind of caffeine buzz, which I think I’m numb to anyway. This flavor used to be more common but every now and then I’ll have to drive around town from gas station to gas station to track one down. Always worth it.

📚 Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

I read this earlier this year and still think about it. At over 700 pages, it was daunting, but I was in the mood to read an epic western that I knew would make me feel some sort of emotional connection. It took me about 2 months to finish, and it blew me away. I felt immense dread when characters who I had spent weeks getting to know were in peril or dying. I truly loved everything about it and I was devastated when it was over. It’s been months and I’m still upset about certain parts. 

📽️ LA Confidential (1997)

I watch this every year around Christmastime. The beginning of the movie is set during Christmas, and that’s kind of enough for me to make it a seasonal treat. It’s also one of my favorite movies for a number of reasons. I never read the book, and I know that it’s radically different in many aspects, but I’ve also heard this movie is a great example of condensing and contorting the source material into a feature length film. One thing that stands out to me is that it was a huge awards winner at the time, and I’m not so sure it would even get made nowadays. The characters are all flawed, and corrupt, and preoccupied with climbing the ladder of police politics. But they all have these great redemption arcs, especially Kevin Spacey as Jack Vincennes. It’s really hard to believe there was a time when Academy Award winning movies ended with thrilling shootouts.

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