Businessman Jay Ruiz fighting the cold in a sportcoat on Evergreen Avenue and Cook Street. Click for more. — Photos by Nicole Wasilewicz.

Cold weather and the inevitable blizzard made finding a well-dressed neighbor quite the daunting task this week — due mostly to my reclusive behavior in the Siberian chill, as well as the excessive use of bubble coats (isn’t there a figure-friendly alternative!?) — until I spotted this dapper fellow dashing toward his car. Besides, I’ve wanted to photograph someone on this cobblestone patch for what seems like, well, the two years I’ve lived around the corner from it.

Jay Ruiz, 41, Businessman

Mr. Ruiz perfectly exemplifies a working man’s standard known as smart-casual — polished, intelligent, but also totally nonchalant. This is a look that represents a certain kind of put-togetherness that is respectable without being stifling, although in a lot of ways it’s just an adult version of a flannel and skinny jeans — the “hipster uniform.” In addition to his excitement about the young local fashion, Jay managed to score some extra points when I caught a peek at the shearling coat hanging over the seat of his car, which he was quick to point out was, indeed, vintage.

Do you think what you’re wearing represents the neighborhood style?
Maybe in 20 years. The neighborhood now is more relaxed, and I think that’s because of the state of mind of the people that are living here. The new generation is definitely more relaxed — the wave of dressed-down Fridays has become a permanent staple in Bushwick. But I think the nuts and bolts of success, perhaps, comes from having a diversified style. I like to dress down also, but when it comes down to it — you’ve gotta look presentable.

What’s your favorite thing to wear?
My tailor-made suits — they remind me of my trips to the Orient. I had the great opportunity to make a number of business trips to Hong Kong and I got hustled into a shop by a really great salesman. He sized me up and I left with a brand new suitcase filled with suits, shirts, and ties. They bring me the most pride because they come with memories. This jacket is, in fact, one of them.

Fashion-wise, what would you say is quintessentially New York?
Individuality. I hate seeing people wearing the same mundane stamped out clothes. I like seeing fashion — it doesn’t even have to be good, it can even be ugly, but it has to be different. I think people have more options here.

Do you think there is a fashion dichotomy between the people who have lived in Bushwick for a long time and the young kids just moving in?
I think the younger generation really don’t give a crap about what everyone else is wearing because they’ve developed a certain kind of strength in numbers, whether it’s trendsetting or not. I think what was here before are probably people who are less interested in fashion and probably more interested in survival, because at the end of the day clothes are just a necessity. I grew up directly across the bridge in the projects on Delancey Street, but it was a different world then. Manhattan somehow has always been associated with a monochromatism. Here you have the Latinos, here you have the Hasids, here you have African-Americans, it’s so diverse but everyone is wearing black.

When I was 15 I worked at Syms, selling suits and ties — structure was more respected. You almost couldn’t permeate the work force without these predetermined rules of how you should look. Now it’s more broadly accepted to have a guy with a tattoo on his face in marketing, or design, or whatever, because he’s good at it and the tattoo is irrelevant. If you have a brilliant mind, the corporate world is more willing to accept that now. Whereas before, there was no way. Some people might say it’s a lack of certain values, but I think it’s groundbreaking — and most importantly, hopeful.

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