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Ben Watts

Ben Watts

Photographer; Director. New York

Ben Watts’ home is a true extension of his personality – vibrant, fun and just a little bit out there. The décor was an interesting introduction to the closet - psychedelic-colored carpets, leopard print chairs and yellow and red-splattered walls were a good indication of what we were about to discover. There’s nothing we love more than a man who’s not afraid to infuse a jolt of electric color into his closet. And Mr. Ben Watts wears it all so well.
You may recognize Watts’ last name; after all, his sister is Oscar-nominated actress, Naomi Watts. But don’t judge by that moniker. Watts is a renowned photographer who has worked with some of the biggest names in the biz, including The New York Times, i-D, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone. He regularly shoots for major clients like Victoria’s Secret, Nike, Apple, Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, all the major record labels (Sony, Warner, Interscope), J.Crew, Gap and the list goes on.
As if the numerous nods to the UK weren’t a total giveaway, Watts was born in London, raised in Australia and currently resides in NYC. Inspired first by the nightlife of Sydney and urban culture, the veteran photog has published multiple coffee table books. Our favourite? His first one, “Big Up,” which captures urban youth in a scrapbook-like journal. Watts is the go-to guy for celebrity portraits, too; he has shot everyone from Cov-legends, the Kardashians, for Glamour to Matt Damon for GQ. And we’ve got to say, even though they weren’t all “Ben Watts originals,” we were enamored with the portraits plastered on his kitchen walls. Uh, Snoop Dogg, anyone? His style is one part hip hop, one part hipster and one part Hugh Hefner.
Watts has managed to transform his creative eye from behind the lens into his home and closet. It’s a quirky space filled with Notorious B.I.G. toys (that one actually belonged to his little gem, Ruby!), skateboards, skulls, boom boxes and neon tape. And when he’s needs an escape from the city, Watts heads out to his other home in Montauk, which is said to be like his NYC home, kicked up 10 notches. Coming soon to a Coveteur near you? Now, that’s Watts up!

Shoes, Adidas

This is a great bag for the beach.

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Bag, Fydelity

I had these slippers custom made in Paris. Sometimes I get a bit of slack for wearing them but one thing is for sure... they never go unnoticed.

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Shoes, Matthew Cookson; Bowtie, Ralph Lauren; Sunglasses, Ray-Ban

I'll cover anything in tape. If it doesn?t stand out, i'll cover it in tape. The bag on the stool is the bag I travel with; it's Louis Vuitton. I use it for weekend getaways, too. You can shove a pair of pants, a toothbrush and underwear in there!

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Bag, Louis Vuitton

My assistant always gets amazing gifts for me or my daughter. He made a bold move with this shirt and it now includes me in the hipster club.

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Shirt, Wallace & Barnes

I can't remember who makes these shoes, but they do make my feet sweat!

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Shoes, Unknown Designer

Ruby?s got bright, little kicks because I have them. Like father like daughter. She likes them because I have the bigger version. Her wardrobe is pretty great. Her mom has amazing style, too.

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Shoes, Nike

The Yankees hat is all about being a New Yorker. It has everything to do with New York and I’m a New York fan. I have the winter one because it keeps my ears warm.

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Hat, New York Yankees; Scarf, The Kooples; Sunglasses, Unknown Designer; Shoes, Nike

I believe that you can have a slick suit but if you don’t put it with the right shoes, it isn’t worth it. You might as well be walking around naked. From the way they fit to the way they look, everything about them needs to be right. Sometimes you need to get your shoes custom made. Some of my Nikes are custom and it makes me happy to know that no one else is walking around with the same shoes as me. I'm a big shoe person. I also really like bright colors. I can tell a lot about about you by your shoes. I hate to make judgments, but if I were to judge someone, it would be based on their shoes.

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Shoes, Custom Nike

My friend Lyle Owerko made the boom box sticker and I put it on my computer. He wrote a whole book about boom boxes. I’ve seen other people using it, carrying it, sticking it on their stuff - he must be very proud. It gets noticed everywhere. The diamond stickers are my logo. I have to include myself somewhere in this don’t I? I put them everywhere! I put them in the bathroom, on a wall, anywhere. It’s shameful self-promotion. But I like the look of it.

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Shoes, Matthew Cookson, Sunglasses, Vintage

I’ve had this shirt for a couple of years, I love the colors and will wear it on a hot sunny day.

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Shirt, Adidas

They say you should judge a man by his watch, but I don’t think you should at all. It’s an opportunity for a male to express their style and personality. Some people go with crazy outlandish ones, but I go with Rolex because it is a classic and I’ve collected them over the years. I have a limited collection, but it is a stylish one. It’s an understated way of stating your type of style. The box that I keep my watches in is in perpetual motion. That way when you are not wearing one, you put it in there and don’t have to constantly update the date and time.

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Watches, Rolex

I got the British flag jacket made on Carnegie Street in London. The Welsh guard's jacket is from Portobello Road - it belonged to a real Welsh guard!

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British Flag Jacket, Custom; Red Welsh Jacket, Vintage

This picture is the famous art of “God Save the Queen” by Peter Hamel. It’s artwork from the Sex Pistols. I love playing ping-pong; I mean I’m good, but not good enough that the outcome is always in my favor.

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Hat, Vintage; Bowtie, Ralph Lauren

These brushes were given to me by one of my dear friends, Ben Pundole. They are like ornaments. I got the cuffs years ago. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be published. I’m working on another book at the moment.

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Cufflinks, Paul Smith

I always wear Ray-Bans. The photos in the kitchen are all mine, except for Snoop Dog - Anthony Mandler shot that. I love Snoop Dog.

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Sunglasses, Ray-Ban

I got these at Undefeated in LA. My sister, Naomi calls them my "Smurf" boots. It hurts me, but perhaps they are a bit smurf-like.

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Shoes, Nike

I made these hats for a promotion for my first book and I gave them away at a gallery opening that I had.

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Hats, Ben Watts

My agent in Australia made this for me for my 40th birthday. It is everything I'm about -old world meets new world, old thinking meets new thinking. It?s iconic. I don?t know whether she knows it or not, but she is so inspiring. I customized these watches and gave them as Christmas presents this year. I bought them at Harrods in the airport. They looked at me and I looked at them. We chose each other.

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Watches, Harrods customized by Ben Watts

Jackets (Left to Right): Etro, Pretty Green, Etro; Bowtie, Ralph Lauren Jackets (Left to Right): Etro, Pretty Green, Etro; Bowtie, Ralph Lauren

Some of these pictures are mine and some are by people who have worked for me.

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Ties, Various Designers

The hairdresser that I work with got these shoes custom made for me for Christmas. I love them.

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Shoes, Custom Nike

These pictures are from Montauk and Hawaii. I have been using bright colored neon tape for years, so I find it funny that it just became popular again.

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Shorts, Unknown Designer

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Shoes, Adidas

This is a great bag for the beach. Bag, Fydelity

I had these slippers custom made in Paris. Sometimes I get a bit of slack for wearing them but one thing is for sure... they never go unnoticed. Shoes, Matthew Cookson; Bowtie, Ralph Lauren; Sunglasses, Ray-Ban

I'll cover anything in tape. If it doesn?t stand out, i'll cover it in tape. The bag on the stool is the bag I travel with; it's Louis Vuitton. I use it for weekend getaways, too. You can shove a pair of pants, a toothbrush and underwear in there! Bag, Louis Vuitton

My assistant always gets amazing gifts for me or my daughter. He made a bold move with this shirt and it now includes me in the hipster club. Shirt, Wallace & Barnes

I can't remember who makes these shoes, but they do make my feet sweat! Shoes, Unknown Designer

Ruby?s got bright, little kicks because I have them. Like father like daughter. She likes them because I have the bigger version. Her wardrobe is pretty great. Her mom has amazing style, too. Shoes, Nike

The Yankees hat is all about being a New Yorker. It has everything to do with New York and I’m a New York fan. I have the winter one because it keeps my ears warm. Hat, New York Yankees; Scarf, The Kooples; Sunglasses, Unknown Designer; Shoes, Nike

I believe that you can have a slick suit but if you don’t put it with the right shoes, it isn’t worth it. You might as well be walking around naked. From the way they fit to the way they look, everything about them needs to be right. Sometimes you need to get your shoes custom made. Some of my Nikes are custom and it makes me happy to know that no one else is walking around with the same shoes as me. I'm a big shoe person. I also really like bright colors. I can tell a lot about about you by your shoes. I hate to make judgments, but if I were to judge someone, it would be based on their shoes. Shoes, Custom Nike

My friend Lyle Owerko made the boom box sticker and I put it on my computer. He wrote a whole book about boom boxes. I’ve seen other people using it, carrying it, sticking it on their stuff - he must be very proud. It gets noticed everywhere. The diamond stickers are my logo. I have to include myself somewhere in this don’t I? I put them everywhere! I put them in the bathroom, on a wall, anywhere. It’s shameful self-promotion. But I like the look of it. Shoes, Matthew Cookson, Sunglasses, Vintage

I’ve had this shirt for a couple of years, I love the colors and will wear it on a hot sunny day. Shirt, Adidas

They say you should judge a man by his watch, but I don’t think you should at all. It’s an opportunity for a male to express their style and personality. Some people go with crazy outlandish ones, but I go with Rolex because it is a classic and I’ve collected them over the years. I have a limited collection, but it is a stylish one. It’s an understated way of stating your type of style. The box that I keep my watches in is in perpetual motion. That way when you are not wearing one, you put it in there and don’t have to constantly update the date and time. Watches, Rolex

I got the British flag jacket made on Carnegie Street in London. The Welsh guard's jacket is from Portobello Road - it belonged to a real Welsh guard! British Flag Jacket, Custom; Red Welsh Jacket, Vintage

This picture is the famous art of “God Save the Queen” by Peter Hamel. It’s artwork from the Sex Pistols. I love playing ping-pong; I mean I’m good, but not good enough that the outcome is always in my favor. Hat, Vintage; Bowtie, Ralph Lauren

These brushes were given to me by one of my dear friends, Ben Pundole. They are like ornaments. I got the cuffs years ago. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be published. I’m working on another book at the moment. Cufflinks, Paul Smith

I always wear Ray-Bans. The photos in the kitchen are all mine, except for Snoop Dog - Anthony Mandler shot that. I love Snoop Dog. Sunglasses, Ray-Ban

I got these at Undefeated in LA. My sister, Naomi calls them my "Smurf" boots. It hurts me, but perhaps they are a bit smurf-like. Shoes, Nike

I made these hats for a promotion for my first book and I gave them away at a gallery opening that I had. Hats, Ben Watts

My agent in Australia made this for me for my 40th birthday. It is everything I'm about -old world meets new world, old thinking meets new thinking. It?s iconic. I don?t know whether she knows it or not, but she is so inspiring. I customized these watches and gave them as Christmas presents this year. I bought them at Harrods in the airport. They looked at me and I looked at them. We chose each other. Watches, Harrods customized by Ben Watts

Jackets (Left to Right): Etro, Pretty Green, Etro; Bowtie, Ralph Lauren Jackets (Left to Right): Etro, Pretty Green, Etro; Bowtie, Ralph Lauren

Some of these pictures are mine and some are by people who have worked for me. Ties, Various Designers

The hairdresser that I work with got these shoes custom made for me for Christmas. I love them. Shoes, Custom Nike

These pictures are from Montauk and Hawaii. I have been using bright colored neon tape for years, so I find it funny that it just became popular again. Shorts, Unknown Designer