Boston Uncommon: Meet Alberto Espinoza-Cervantes

I love cool people, and contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of them hanging around Beantown. Sure, sometimes they’re hard to find among the sea of boat shoes, Irish flag tattoos and Red Sox ball caps, but believe me, they exist. With Boston Uncommon, I’ve sought to identify Bostonians with a certain je ne sais quoi and get a glimpse into their lives, wardrobes and what they love about our lovely city.
Listen, I’m not interested in the “look at me, look at me” guys and gals who try to buy personal style – I’m on to those folks. So if you catch the ball I’m throwing, and know someone who’s haute in the Hub, please, send him or her my way. My readers need to know their secrets. Just consider me the curator of Boston’s cool. You’re welcome.

Herewith, DTRH’s first uncommon Bostonian:

Meet Alberto Espinoza-Cervantes. Isn’t he handsome? Alberto hails from Santa Barbara, but calls the dirty Dot home. Currently a makeup artist for Giorgio Armani, Alberto was featured in last month’s Elle magazine. A self-proclaimed expert on how not to be lame, Betto (friends call him this, so you’re certainly not allowed to) has quite a few things to say about being hip in the Hub.
Q: Finish this sentence: Faneuil Hall is a place you go when…
A: You feel hopeless.

Q: It’s 6 p.m. and the girl/guy of your dreams just called and wants to go out for a post-workday beverage. You tell her/him to meet you at…
A: Definitely Tico. It is a great atmosphere surrounded by the condescending Back Bay crowd. Basically it’s a mixture of lost souls, pungent perfume, overpriced cocktails and the typical "Sperry" sport in a suit. Heaven.

Q: When I’m not working (for the weekend) you can find me…
A: Tough one, I am a busy man, but you most likely will find me drinking Scotch in a dingy dive bar in Southie or Dorchester. I do enjoy people watching - especially the townies. Boston certainly has a lot of that to offer.

Q: Favorite Boston moment:
A: Riding the MBTA. Well, that was an easy question.

Q: Tell me about your neighborhood:
A: Umm…can we skip this question?

Q: This is a fashion and style blog after-all, how would you describe your personal style? Who/what can we find you wearing?
A: Music inspires my mood, so it depends on what I'm listening to. You can never go wrong with a pair of Doc Martens and a leather jacket (but that's when nostalgia levels are peaking). I'm a laid back sort of guy, Ferragamos and a nice Armani shirt to get in the mood. Oh, and don't forget the nice sunnies. CHANEL always hits the spot when it comes to eyewear.

Q: Speaking of music, what’s on your IPod these days?
A: Fink, Trust, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Empire of the Sun.

Q: Where do you shop locally?
A: Saks and Bloomingdales. Does drunken online shopping count?

Want to learn more about Alberto? Check out his profile in April’s Elle magazine. Or, if you’re sick of reading, check out this Boston Globe photo of him silently judging a coworker while at a Boston charity event. Typical.
Do you know an uncommon Bostonian who would provide witty answers to the questions above? If so, drop Rhi a line at [email protected].