What's Your Fancy? Peter Som on How to Make Every Meal Look Fashionable

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Scroll through your feed and you'll understand why Peter Som's life is a coveted one. Food and fashion are his forte, having stints at Bill Blass and Tommy Hilfiger prior to launching his own label where luxury meets function, and diving into the culinary world simultaneously.

"The creative approach is always how I look at things—whether it be a dress or developing a recipe," Som tells T&C. "As they say you eat with you eyes-so much like designing clothing, a dish has to look great. But at the end of the day that piece of clothing has to fit perfectly and that dish has to taste amazing."

For Som, the balancing act between form and function is what bridges both food and fashion. "A good-looking plate of food is nothing if it tastes bland and boring, right? Both have one part creativity, one part mechanics, and one part dreaming." The differences? Som says fashion is a team sport, whereas developing a recipe is a very personal approach.

Scroll through your Instagram feed and you'll understand why Peter Som's life is a coveted one. Food and fashion are his forte. His website is a one-stop shop for those who are interested in putting together an ensemble just as much as they are preparing a good dish. Chef or fashion designer? Som is both. To him, they have more similarities than differences.

"The creative approach is always how I look at things—whether it be a dress or developing a recipe," Som tells T&C. "As they say you eat with your eyes, so much like designing clothing, a dish has to look great. But at the end of the day, that piece of clothing has to fit perfectly and that dish has to taste amazing." For Som, good form and function are needed for both food and fashion. "A good-looking plate of food is nothing if it tastes bland and boring, right? Both have one part creativity, one part mechanics, and one part dreaming." The one massive difference? Som says fashion is a team sport, whereas developing a recipe is a very personal approach.

But, there's another binding factor in Som's work: his cultural identity. "My upbringing and background play a big part in how I think about food," the Chinese-American designer says. "Food is a connection to your past, your history, and to who you are now. I am so influenced by the cooking of my grandmother and my mom and growing up in the Bay Area where seasonal local cooking was the norm. It's all so intrinsic to who I am. So many of my memories stem from food; the act of gathering around a table has so much meaning and lord I think we can all agree that everything happens at the dinner table."

Below, Peter Som shares his must-haves for making a dish as beautiful as it tastes.

Signature Round Wide Oven

"My Le Creuset Dutch Oven is a must in the kitchen! I have some that are probably 30 years old—and there’s always one sitting on the stovetop cause the colors are just so darn pretty."

Stan Smith Shoes

"I’m never not without my Stan Smiths—and yes even in the kitchen at home. It’s really more of an insurance policy since I’m a bit accident prone—once you’ve dropped a knife with bare feet you learn a thing or two."

Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle

"As a total summer person and a major tomato person, I love how Flamingo Estate’s candle instantly takes me back to August—especially useful and restorative when it's 32 degrees out."

Five Spice Blend

"I am a Five Spice fanatic and will try and put it into any dish I can—both sweet and savory. My Mom made Five Spice Chicken almost every week when i was growing up, and its aromatic scent is permanently imprinted on my brain. I consider it Pumpkin Spice’s sassier sister."

Shallow Serving Platter

"Perhaps an occupational hazard, but I love serveware. I’m much more into big platters of food piled high and served family style than small individual little things—so serving platters like these KH Wurtz ones are how I roll."

ASK A MOSCOT FRAME FIT SPECIALIST

"Without these I’d be lost (literally!) And they make me look like a smarty pants which is always a bonus."

Set of 4 Acier Bleu Linen Napkins

"These are my everyday napkins and make even eating delivery on a Tuesday feel chic. I love the natural dyed tones-and as someone who loves any shade of blue, these fit the bill."

Japanese Mandolin

"I love Japanese mandolines but I love these smaller ones even better—no fiddly stand, small enough to not feel threatening but big enough to handle fennel. For safety, I’ll usually wear an oven mit when slicing."

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