Jeff Rocker
Underserved youth, professional athletes, and movie stars might not appear to have much in common. But Dr. Jeff Rocker has found an unlikely way to address their mental health with Hip-Hop Therapy—a unique approach to discussing psychological topics like anxiety and depression by unpacking popular lyrics. “This was my way of connecting with everybody,” Rocker explains. “Hip-hop is very transcendent and can relate to all types of people no matter how old or young [you are], or your race, culture, or ethnic group.” Born and raised in North Miami Beach, Rocker chose the mental health field after recognizing a dire need for more Black male therapists. “I wanted to give back to my community by helping them out mentally,” he notes. Relatability is everything to Rocker, and he says it’s the cornerstone of what he does . “My approach to therapy is to be very open-minded, transparent, and direct.” His sessions with local youth have expanded to other cities across the country, catching the attention of actress Taraji P. Henson, who invited Rocker to speak at a conference and among her celebrity friends. Rocker’s roster has since grown to include high-profile clients in the movie, music, and entertainment industries, plus athletes in the NFL, NBA, and MLB. But no matter a person’s background, Rocker believes everyone grapples with similar issues. “A lot of people go into therapy because they’re struggling with confidence,” he says, noting that fashion can play a role in how people see themselves. “Surround yourself with people who have confidence either in their personality or in their look [and that] can rub off on you.”
Brands he loves: I’m not that strict when it comes to brands. If it looks nice, I’m definitely going to wear it. Style icon: Ryan Clark with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His swag inspires me. Worst style moment: Wearing huge white tees back in the day. Best fashion advice: Drip or drown. You’ve got to dress to impress, because you never know who’s watching you. Miami stores he frequents: Men’s Wearhouse, Gucci, and Versace Latest purchase: A Rolex watch Trend he thinks will last: Fitted outfits Trend he can’t stand: Skinny jeans Go-to piece: Blazers. When in doubt, throw a blazer on top.
Henri Ford
Dr. Henri Ford has more bow ties than there are days in the year. “Probably close to 400,” estimates Ford, who was appointed dean and chief academic officer at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in 2018. Long before he was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine, appointed as chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Council of Deans, or named president-elect of the American College of Surgeons, Ford was a bow tie enthusiast, sporting the dapper accessory in family photos dating back to when he was only 7 years old in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. For style inspiration, he credits his father, who “always believed in dressing up and being elegant,” and his older brother, who “likewise, was all into fashion.”
But it wasn’t until his surgical internship and residency at New York Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical College in the ’80s that Ford made the conscious decision to abandon long ties for good. “There’s something about bow ties that was quite distinguishing at the time,” he recalls. “I liked them and decided it was going to be all bow ties from then on.” Throughout Ford’s decorated career (he was appointed the Benjamin R. Fisher Chair in Pediatric Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and surgeon-in-chief at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and later vice president and chief of surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and professor of surgery at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine), bow ties have become a meaningful gift from his coworkers. Of his nearly 400 bow ties, he keeps a rotation of 25 to 50 that he regularly updates for the seasons, holidays, or special occasions. His favorites are his green-and-orange bow ties, which are the University of Miami school colors. “I like bright colors,” he adds with a shrug.
Brands he loves: Tommy Bahama and Robert Graham Favorite under-the-radar brand: Beau Ties of Vermont Style icons: My dad and brother Collects: Every time I see a bow tie, I have to stop and take a look. Worst style moment: I wouldn’t call it my “worst style moment,” but I had a big afro in high school. Best fashion advice: Learn to tie your own bow tie. Miami stores he frequents: I love to take a drive to Sawgrass Mills. Priceless piece in his closet: A dark blue paisley bow tie that was a gift from my former business administrator when I was moving on and taking another job. Owns too many: My wife will say I own too many bow ties. Trend he can’t stand: Clip-on bow ties Trend he thinks will last: Bow ties are no longer an unusual occurrence, but more of a standard these days. Go-to piece: Bow ties!
Clive Chang
Earlier this year, Clive Chang was appointed president of YoungArts, a Miami-based organization that identifies artists ages 15 to 18 from across the country and provides them with funding, mentorship, and professional development. From singer and actress Vanessa Williams in 1981 to actor Timothée Chalamet in 2013 to National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman in 2016, YoungArts has benefitted 21,000 artists across myriad disciplines over the past 42 years. “It’s the best job ever,” says Chang, who, in addition to being an influential arts leader, is an accomplished pianist and composer. He was just 3 years old when he started banging on a piano in Hong Kong; he wrote his first composition when he was 8. “I’m an artist myself,” Chang explains. “I carry so much of that artistic identity with me in my role now.” He moved to Miami from New York City, where he previously served as executive vice president at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Though Chang still performs as a pianist, composer, and music director, he says his style has evolved as a new medium of self-expression. “Rather than cast my preferences on any person’s particular style, I look at how they are presenting themselves as a statement and what their general sort of philosophies are,” Chang says. “Style, for me, is such a personal thing.”
Brand he loves: No Bull. It’s a niche brand that came out of the CrossFit community. They make small-batch sneakers and their designs are heavily patterned or heavily textured. It’s very utilitarian. I can wear them as my workout shoe or travel shoe, or if I need a pair of nice-looking sneakers to go out to dinner. Style icon: I’m always ogling over Pharrell. Collects: Watches. In the last couple of years, bracelets. Worst style moment: In my early 20s, I went through this K-Pop/Korean boy band hair phase where it was swept to one side and very long. I have no idea why I thought that would be a good look for me. It didn’t suit the shape of my head. Priceless piece in his closet: My engagement watch. When my husband and I first got engaged, we bought Cartier Tank MC watches for each other and engraved our initials on the back. Latest purchase: A silk cashmere scarf Owns too many: I don’t think I have too many pairs of shoes, but my husband does. Trend he can’t stand: Every luxury brand seems to have their take on a dad sandal. I actually have a pair (so I’m being a little bit hypocritical), but I hope it quickly goes away. Trend he thinks will last: Everyone came back from COVID-19 less formal, and I hope that it sticks. Go-to piece: My Issey Miyake blazer. It’s multiple tones of blue, never wrinkles, and is so versatile that I pack it in my suitcase all the time.
Robert Rivani
Robert Rivani doesn’t look like other real estate developers. He sports a mohawk, doesn’t own a single tie, and wears Jordans to work. “My style is respectfully edgy,” says Rivani, president of Black Lion Investment Group. “When you look in your mirror and you’re happy with the way you look, you’d be surprised by how much more confident you are as a human being.” He says he was drawn to the beauty of Miami and its people, visiting the Magic City roughly seven years ago and catching on to its full potential via its raucous entertainment scene during the throes of the pandemic. What the 33-year-old property mogul’s closet might lack in cookie-cutter suits, his portfolio now makes up for in Instagram-worthy fine dining establishments across town, including the lush and trippy Wynwood Jungle, the waterfront Amara at Paraiso, and the swanky Gekko at SLS with Miami hospitality king David Grutman and Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny as partners. With plans to invest another $100 million in South Florida, Rivani credits this vigorous pursuit of his “creative vision” to working solo, without the bureaucracy of a board or investor group. “When I find a niche or something I love, I go 100 miles per hour,” Rivani says. “Not having partners—where you have different people with different mindsets clashing—just allows me to have the freedom to be an artist.”
Brand he loves: Phillipp Plein Favorite under-the-radar brand: I just discovered On shoes—very comfortable. Style icons: Honestly, no one, because no one really looks like me. Collects: I have like 60 pairs of shoes, and I love watches. Worst style moment: My mom showed me a photo where I have a bowl cut when I was like 4 years old. Then, when I was in middle school, I wore chains and saggy pants showing my boxers. Best fashion advice: Don’t be scared of what other people think. Miami stores he frequents: When I shop [in person], I go to the Design District, but most of my retail shopping now is online. Priceless piece in his closet: I’m not one of these extremely rich guys who just cares about having a $5 million watch collection. I like traveling and enjoying life a lot more than I do high-priced ticket items. Latest purchase: A $100,000 Robert Dubuis watch Owns too many: Shoes. I have a whole closet dedicated to shoes. Trend he can’t stand: The trash bag stuff, where they’re making designer trash bags and shoes that look like they’ve been thrown into a dog’s mouth and bit apart. I don’t get it. It doesn’t make any sense. Trend he thinks will last: The classy chic look Go-to pieces: My Black Lion shirts.
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