The popular Tumblr "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Falioutfit.tumblr.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">What Ali Wore</a>" documents the sharp sartorial stylings of Ali, a man who passes by the cafe where Zoe Spawton works in Berlin, Germany. Her posts also provide a window into their growing friendship. In her <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Falioutfit.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F46457822623%2Fi-feel-as-though-ali-might-have-had-an-inkling%23_%3D_" target="_blank" target="_blank">March 28 post</a>, after telling Ali that her Tumblr had gone viral, she posted this image of him with the caption, "I feel as though Ali might have had an inkling that there would be a few more people seeing his photo today; this is quite the outfit!"
'What Ali Wore' —
The popular Tumblr "What Ali Wore" documents the sharp sartorial stylings of Ali, a man who passes by the cafe where Zoe Spawton works in Berlin, Germany. Her posts also provide a window into their growing friendship. In her March 28 post, after telling Ali that her Tumblr had gone viral, she posted this image of him with the caption, "I feel as though Ali might have had an inkling that there would be a few more people seeing his photo today; this is quite the outfit!"
courtesy Zoe Spawton
Like a true fashionista, Ali rarely repeats entire outfits but he mixes and matches pieces, riffing on a few themes, such as what Spawton calls his "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Falioutfit.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F35631225755%2Fali-has-been-known-to-wear-a-monochromatic-look%23_%3D_" target="_blank" target="_blank">monochromatic look</a>."
'What Ali Wore' —
Like a true fashionista, Ali rarely repeats entire outfits but he mixes and matches pieces, riffing on a few themes, such as what Spawton calls his "monochromatic look."
courtesy Zoe Spawton
Spawton looks forward to seeing what Ali comes up with each day but this one stands out as one of her favorites. "I think this has to be one of Ali's coolest outfits. He looks like he just stepped out of an add for G Star Raw or something!" <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Falioutfit.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F34774742055%2Fi-think-this-has-to-be-one-of-alis-coolest%23_%3D_" target="_blank" target="_blank">she wrote in a November 2012 post</a>.
'What Ali Wore' —
Spawton looks forward to seeing what Ali comes up with each day but this one stands out as one of her favorites. "I think this has to be one of Ali's coolest outfits. He looks like he just stepped out of an add for G Star Raw or something!" she wrote in a November 2012 post.
courtesy Zoe Spawton
A language barrier prevents Spawton, who is Australian and the Turkish-born German Ali from carrying on in-depth conversations. But she says he has told her he is a former doctor now working as a tailor who has lived in Berlin for 44 years.
'What Ali Wore' —
A language barrier prevents Spawton, who is Australian and the Turkish-born German Ali from carrying on in-depth conversations. But she says he has told her he is a former doctor now working as a tailor who has lived in Berlin for 44 years.
courtesy Zoe Spawton
Ali doesn't allow Spawton to take his photo every day, she said. But usually, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Falioutfit.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F33706286002%2Fafter-wednesdays-great-pose-ali-declined-to-have%23_%3D_" target="_blank" target="_blank">the wait is well worth it</a>, she said.
'What Ali Wore' —
Ali doesn't allow Spawton to take his photo every day, she said. But usually, the wait is well worth it, she said.
courtesy Zoe Spawton
Spawton said she usually takes Ali's picture as he's on his way to work as a tailor in Berlin's Neue Kirche district. She declined to give his last name citing concerns for his privacy.
'What Ali Wore' —
Spawton said she usually takes Ali's picture as he's on his way to work as a tailor in Berlin's Neue Kirche district. She declined to give his last name citing concerns for his privacy.
courtesy Zoe Spawton
Scrolling through the Tumblr feed is also like watching a slideshow of Berlin's evolving seasons. Though Ali used to allow Spawton to photograph him in his outerwear, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Falioutfit.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F34716889376%2Feven-ali-has-to-sometimes-forego-the-sharp%23_%3D_" target="_blank" target="_blank">as he did in this image from November</a>, he now usually takes off his jacket for his shoot if it doesn't complement his outfit.
'What Ali Wore' —
Scrolling through the Tumblr feed is also like watching a slideshow of Berlin's evolving seasons. Though Ali used to allow Spawton to photograph him in his outerwear, as he did in this image from November, he now usually takes off his jacket for his shoot if it doesn't complement his outfit.
courtesy Zoe Spawton
Spawton said she had no reason to suspect Ali was going anywhere but to his job as a tailor on <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Falioutfit.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F30863306144%2Fhe-is-on-his-way-to-work-at-a-tailor%23_%3D_" target="_blank" target="_blank">the day he dressed in head-to-toe camo</a>.
'What Ali Wore' —
Spawton said she had no reason to suspect Ali was going anywhere but to his job as a tailor on the day he dressed in head-to-toe camo.
courtesy Zoe Spawton
Ali has told her that he has more than 80 suits so it's not unusual to see new ones, Spawton said.
'What Ali Wore' —
Ali has told her that he has more than 80 suits so it's not unusual to see new ones, Spawton said.
courtesy Zoe Spawton
Spawton <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Falioutfit.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F43578769905%2Fhes-back-ali-has-been-in-turkey-for-the-past%23_%3D_" target="_blank" target="_blank">took this picture in February </a>after not seeing Ali for two months while he was vacationing in Turkey. "Needless to say, going to work has been a little dull. What a delight it was to see him! He brought me a bracelet and a large bag of hazelnuts."
'What Ali Wore' —
Spawton took this picture in February after not seeing Ali for two months while he was vacationing in Turkey. "Needless to say, going to work has been a little dull. What a delight it was to see him! He brought me a bracelet and a large bag of hazelnuts."
courtesy Zoe Spawton
Spawton said she was not looking for a subject to document. Ali just came to her and became her inspiration for starting a blog. Now, she considers him a friend. "There's something nice about it that feels so simple, just a friendship where we enjoy seeing each other for brief periods at a time."<br />
'What Ali Wore' —
Spawton said she was not looking for a subject to document. Ali just came to her and became her inspiration for starting a blog. Now, she considers him a friend. "There's something nice about it that feels so simple, just a friendship where we enjoy seeing each other for brief periods at a time."
courtesy Zoe Spawton