My style: Montrealer Yannick Lapierre

Story by Colin Smith

Yannick Lapierre caught the running bug after a friend registered him for his first race. “I was hooked,” he says. “I’ve now been running for two-and-a-half years, and I gotta say, I really enjoy the lifestyle.”

Don’t let his warm-smile fool you, Lapierre is a fierce competitor. His first passion was hockey and growing up in the Montreal suburb of St. Bruno de Montarville he excelled on the ice. His skill and dedication took him from his home on the south bank of the St. Lawrence River to a season with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. “I have really fond memories of those times,” Yannick says.

As a teenager, he discovered another passion: fashion. He was influenced by the English new wave bands he was listening to at the time, groups like Depeche Mode and New Order. He says he wanted to be a “preppy boy” and found out quickly that working in retail could help fund his preppy style.

The 39-year-old now has more than 20 years in the fashion industry under his belt. After spending 15 years running his own shop – a high-end clothing store called Boutique Kasüal – he is now co-owner of Fous de la Course, a Montreal-area running store ( fousdelacourse.com).

In that short time that he has been running, Yannick has excelled: he ran the 2015 Boston Marathon in 2:40:22. “My goal is to keep getting better and better,” he says.

STREET STYLE

Jeans: Nudie 

I’m completely sold on the Nudie jeans. I love how the brand came to be. It all started with a woman who was growing her own organic cotton and was passionate about it. And what’s crazy is that the more you wear them, the better they look on you. They truly become your jeans.

Sweater: DSquared

I’ve always liked DSquared, they have a knack for coming up with funky stuff. My DSquared sweater is so freakin’ funny, people call me Andy when I wear it.

Watch: Omega Seamaster

I have a soft spot for watches. Omega watches are true classics, they’ll never go out of style.

Shoes: Diesel

I like the combat boot look of my Diesels when I pair them up with skinny jeans.

Belt: Diesel

A punk stud belt is a must for a real rock ’n’ roll look.

RUNNING LOOK

Short and T-shirt: Asics

For my running attire, Asics is always a sure bet, whether we’re talking about comfort or running in style.

Watch: Suunto Ambit3 Sport

With my Suunto watch, it’s quick and easy to connect to gps. On top of that, the colours are amazing. It gives my wrist a nice twist and a really cool look.

Shoes: Nike Zoom Streak

I go with the Nike Zoom Streak or a very light Racer for 5Ks, or a pair of Lunar Tempo for longer runs.