The first time I met the fashion savvy Cory Weaver was at a meet ‘n greet event held at Pint this past winter. It was a chance encounter; just a bunch of the JC gays meeting, greeting, drinking, and being social. Cory ended up at my table, and besides being super friendly and über cute, I couldn’t help but notice his keen fashion sense and how well put-together he was. That’s why it really was no surprise when Chicpea personally scouted Cory out to be featured as a Stylish Peep for the blog. So, without further ado, please meet the perfectly coiffed, impeccably dressed, Cory Weaver!

What do you do for a living?

I do public relations for a wine and spirits company; E & J Gallo Winery. It’s actually the largest family-owned wine and spirits company in the country.

You get free wine?

I do get free wine.

We’re best friends now.

Perfect! You and the rest of the neighborhood!

So, bestie, are you familiar with the blog, ChicpeaJC?

I’m very familiar with the blog.

How does it feel to be personally scouted out by Chicpea herself as a Jersey City Stylish Peep?

It’s always really flattering anytime somebody thinks that you’ve got good style or pays you a compliment, but I think to be recognized on her site and for her to think that I and my style are even remotely worthy of taking up digital real estate on her site is quite an honor and very flattering.

How would you classify your style?

If I had to give it a title, I think I would call it, “Classic Cory.” If you look at my style, I take really typical, classic silhouettes of men’s style and I infuse it with fun colors and different patterns. It’s just a fun and whimsical take on the business wear I would otherwise be in for my white collar job.

Do you have any inspiration or influences when it comes to fashion? Any favorite style icons?

Right after I came out in high school, I was watching Queer Eye for the Straight Guy a lot, and Carson Kressley was always very bubbly and bright and funny and he always brought color into typical, regular wear. I think that has always stuck with me, but more so my influence for my style comes from my past history, I was a college professor and I’ve spent time at television news stations and things like that, so it’s just a very straight-laced, white collar uniform those institutions follow and I always wanted to stand out a little more. The way to do that for me was to wear those types of things but in different ways with different colors, different patterns and different accessories.

What’s your favorite color to wear?

My favorite color is green, hands down. My favorite color to wear is still green, I don’t know if that’s the most flattering color on me, but it’s my favorite color to wear.

What’s your favorite article of clothing to wear?

That changes all the time. Blazers, certainly statement blazers, are a lot of fun; bright-colored pants and shorts. I also really like a fun take on accessories like lapel pins, bracelets and different types of glasses. Wherever I can add a bit more sparkle.

Were you voted Best Dressed in high school?

I was voted Best Dressed in high school.

So, you’ve always had a knack for fashion then?

In high school, I was very much an Abercrombie boy. I frequented Abercrombie & Fitch a lot. I started to model and replicate my outfits off of the mannequins to a certain extent. That’s what taught me layering.

How can someone get the Cory Weaver look?

It’s really just looking at what you wear everyday and figuring out the little tweaks and changes you can do to punch it up and give it more of a sparkle. If you’re wearing a navy suit and tie every day, rather than wearing a white shirt underneath it, maybe pop that up with something pink. It’s about taking risks and not being afraid of color. I view fashion kind of like a game where it’s a puzzle every morning; putting things together and seeing if they work. And sometimes the things that I put together don’t work and sometimes they do. It’s all a matter of playing with what you have and figuring out a new equation for your outfit of the day.

So you know when it’s not working?

I try to know when it’s not working. I try.

What was your worst fashion faux pas?

I was living in Hawaii back in 2005 with very limited funds, but I was shopping at a store that carried all the Ed Hardy clothes, Christian Audigier, and those Von Dutch trucker hats. The sales associate showed me an Ed Hardy sweater and said, “Look at this magazine, it shows Britney Spears shopping in the same sweater!” It was this crazy-tattoo-panther-roses-skulls pattern and I guess I thought I had no other choice but to buy it. So, on limited funds, I spent $300 on this sweater and my parents would kill me if they knew that.

I am fairly certain there will be plenty of readers who want to know the answer to this—are you single?

I am single and very ready to mingle!

Let’s find you a man! What kind of guys do you like? What are you looking for?

Well, I think people assume that I would want someone who dresses well, but that’s not the case at all. I don’t really care as much about how someone dresses. I’m very much attracted to intelligence and manners; a sense of humor and the ability to engage in really good conversations. Handsome doesn’t hurt.

If you get a boyfriend as a result of this interview, I will gladly accept a box of your finest wine as a thank you.

If I get at least a two-karat ring from this interview, I will supply you with wine for an entire year.

That’s on the record! Ok, back to business, where are you originally from?

Southern California.

How did you end up in Jersey City?

That’s an interesting story because after graduating high school, I went to college in Hawaii for my undergraduate education. After that, I thought I would want to go into journalism, so I went to St. Petersburg, FL to attend the University of South Florida and get my Masters in journalism and media studies. While I was there, I taught elementary, middle and high school journalism and I realized I wanted to continue on the track of teaching. I moved up to Syracuse, NY to attend Syracuse University to get my PhD. While I was there, they had me teach a PR class and I absolutely fell in love public relations. I got very jealous of my students who were all going off and getting these amazing internships and jobs. Once I finished with my PhD, and I was done being a professor there in Syracuse, then I moved to Atlanta to work for a PR firm there. One day my mom called me and said, “I found your dream job. It’s up near New York City and it’s in wine and spirits. And I know you like wine.” I applied and got the job. The job is based in New York City, but I had come here to visit a friend a couple of blocks away actually and I absolutely fell in love with Hamilton Park. The second we took a stroll around Hamilton Park, I said, ‘This is where I’m moving. It’s done. Signed, sealed and delivered, I’m yours, Jersey City.”

How long have you lived here?

Today is my one year anniversary.

Today is my two year anniversary!

We’re twinsies! Cheers!

Do you love living here?

I absolutely adore living in Jersey City. And I don’t say that lightly considering I’ve lived all around the country. Living in JC, and particularly in my neighborhood, it’s so friendly. I’ve enjoyed everybody I’ve met so far.

Do you shop for clothes locally in JC?

I don’t. I shop for food here though! I’m incredibly busy that most of my shopping is done online to be honest. My work day typically ends at around 8 or 9 pm since my company is based on the west coast, so I don’t get much time to run around. I’m not sure there are any places here that cater to my particular aesthetic, but there are so many cute places that I need to try. I’m still pretty fresh here. I know there’s a really amazing vintage store on Erie across from Torico’s that I desperately need to try out. It looks adorable. It’s my mission for my second year of living in Jersey City to really explore all of those options.

What are you go-to sites when you shop online?

There’s a really great Korean site called YesStyle. I particularly like that one because I don’t fit well into a lot of the clothes that are made for American, corn-fed men. My body type works a lot better with the Asian and European cuts of clothes. I also shop on the J. Crew and J. Crew Outlet websites. They always have good deals. I use apps a lot like ASOS, Topman, Guilt, Zappos, and Zara.

What are you favorite Jersey City hotspots?

Pint is probably my number one. I like how casual and welcoming it is. It’s very much got a Cheers vibe to it and very much come-as-you-are. And you could probably find me at Two Boots after Pint.

Follow Cory on Instagram! @cjweaver

Friend him on Facebook! www.facebook.com/coryjweaver