Weekend of February 4th

By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor

This month's subject for our “Morning Routine" series proves that you can look great with everyday items from any chain drugstore.

Weekend Reading

My Morning Routine

The noted aesthete Mike Nouveau appreciates good coffee and drugstore grooming products

Mike Nouveau has impeccable taste. And it's served him well his whole career. First, as one of fashion's favorite DJs—known for his sense of style and eclectic playlists—and now as a menswear insider and vintage watch specialist with an insanely dedicated social media following. His horological musings and secondhand shopping adventures really put the tick in TikTok. As the senior buyer and client relationship manager for Craft + Tailored, he travels the world in search of grail timepieces, hitting auction houses and under-the-radar shops and wholesalers. “If I can find great watches, that takes care of my primary job and my secondary job [TikTok] at the same time,” he says. Not surprisingly, the guy appreciates the finer things in life: his jeans are mud-dyed Visvim, his shades are Jacques Marie Mage and on his wrist, well yeah, you get it. But when it comes to grooming, Mike is shockingly low-key. Saving his cash for the more permanent things or investment pieces that actually gain value, his bathroom is stocked with everyday drugstore finds—tried and true products that are anything but fancy. We recently caught up with Mike, who's always on time but definitely isn't a morning person.

My Routine

I’ve always been a night owl.

It's probably what led me to DJing in the first place. Ever since I was a kid, Sunday nights were always a nightmare because I had school the next day, but I had almost definitely stayed up until 5am the night before. I do enjoy waking up early if it happens naturally, but give me a long enough time frame and I will eventually go back to waking up late.

But I do value my sleep.

I definitely get at least eight hours, sometimes more. Unless I'm traveling and jet lagged. But that means I'm usually waking up between 10 and 11. I probably get up slightly earlier on average than I used to.

I don’t always set an alarm.

Luckily I don't usually have to wake up at any specific time, so if I don't need to, I won't set an alarm. It's a better way to wake up, for sure.

It’s a bad habit, but ...

I definitely sleep with my phone next to my pillow.

One good habit I have is that I make the bed.

Everyday. Definitely, yes. It starts the day right and it is way better getting into a made bed at the end of the night.

As soon as I wake up, I check my phone.

I open up any overnight texts, then scroll through e-mail then DMs, before even getting out of bed.

I can’t start my day without a nice shower.

I don't leave my house without showering in the morning, ever.

The most important part of my morning ...

Is feeding my cat.

I usually check in with my group chat.

They're the first people I “talk” to, but I can probably make it through the first 50% of my day without actually speaking to anyone.

Walking to my local coffee shop is an integral part of my routine.

Even when I'm staying in different cities, I make a habit of going out to the same coffee place every morning.

I’ve never made coffee myself in my life.

I love Abraço, in the East Village. The baristas pull the richest, most perfectly balanced shots of espresso. I like either a cappuccino or a flat white. Never drip coffee, never cold brew, never iced coffee. And I always buy it from a coffee shop.

While I’m there, I might answer some emails.

You're out of the house and caffeinating, so why not get a little work done, right?

I’m not much of a breakfast guy.

I actually usually don't even eat breakfast, but I'll eat my first meal around 1 or 2pm.

Fitness is somewhat important to me, but I’m not crazy about it.

I don't really have a current routine. I do walk around 10 miles per day though, weather permitting. I got a Peloton last year which helped me lose 35 pounds, but now I just walk a lot for maintenance.

My grooming routine is minimal, at best.

In fact, nearly nothing. I don't use a single cream, product, anything on my skin or hair. I'm not exaggerating. The only thing in my shower is a single bar of Dove soap and drugstore shampoo. I'll shave my neckline once a week—with whatever disposable razor is cheapest at Duane Reade. And when the beard needs trimming I have the barber do it. No cologne, no vitamins, no nothing. I brush my teeth and use deodorant, that works for me.

Clockwise, from top left:

Moisturizing bar soap, $6.99 (for a 4-pack) by Dove Ultra Clear deodorant, $6.49 by DegreeFlat white, $4.50 by AbraçoVintage Rolex GMT Master Ref. 1675 watch, by RolexBondi 8 sneaker, $165 by HokaSensitive shave gel, $3.49 by EdgeSensor2 disposable razors, $12.72 (for a 15-pack)by GilletteMenthol shampoo, $10.80 by Head & Shoulders360 Total Clean toothbrush, $8.49 by Colgate Complete with Scope toothpaste, $7.70 by Crest

Unless I’m traveling, I don’t really plan my looks for the day.

I've developed something of a uniform, I guess. I usually wear some combination of jeans and a T-shirt with a leather jacket and sunglasses. Which is why I have so many multiples of them. The watch changes a lot, obviously. Right now, I'm wearing my daily driver ... Rolex GMT Master Ref. 1675 with a fuchsia insert.

Never leave home without ...

I want to say “my watch”, but that’s not even true. If the weather is bad or it’s super late at night I often won’t even wear one. I think keys/wallet/phone are the only guarantees.