While many men struggle with finding their own inspirations for living a fashionable and fit life, Daniel of The Modern Man blog has found the perfect formula of being a modern man – dress simply but with style, keep fit and always be yourself.

With 2 million followers on his Instagram account @magic_fox, the blogger, social media influencer and lifestyle guru, has been inspiring men from all around the world with his views of fashion, fitness and lifestyle. From basic looks to fitness routines, we find out more about the ultimate modern man.

Tell us about the blog. What inspired you to start it? How often do you blog?

The Modern Man is a lifestyle blog for men. I started the blog together with my two best friends Kosta (@kosta_williams) & Sandro (@sandro). I write about topics such as men’s fashion, fitness and other lifestyle topics such as tech and about the events we attend. We started The Modern Man in the beginning of 2016 and we try to upload two blog posts a week. However, sometimes this is difficult because we travel a lot.

Who does your amazing photography?  Can you tell us the process of how the photos and videos come about?

We take all our photos by ourselves. In the past few years, we’ve gotten very experienced in taking photos and have also gained a lot of knowledge in getting the best photos.  We shoot all our photos with DSLR cameras. Quality photographs are very important for a good Instagram profile and blog.

How would you describe a modern man?  

He is self-confident but also very modest. He knows how to dress and express himself. He takes good care of his body and his health. He has life goals and does his best to achieve them.

What does a day in the life of Daniel look like?

I wake up at 7am. After eating a good breakfast and drinking my coffee, I head to my office. Normally I have to do jobs during the day, which means different photo shoots. Then I prepare for the following shoots and create blog posts. I travel to other countries or cities majority of the month, so I have to do all this work when I travel too. Exercise is also very important for me. I exercise every day, mostly in the evening, but when I am travelling, I also exercise late at night or in the morning.

The Modern Man advocates simplicity and affordable styles. Why is this important to you? 

I think people care too much about brands and how much an outfit costs. It’s more than about feeling comfortable in what you wear. It’s not about copying someone. It’s more about getting inspiration and combining it with your own style. This is not about buying the most expensive clothes just because Gucci or whatever is written on its label. You can also look  good in H&M or other basic brands. If you feel comfortable you directly beam confidence.

What is your personal style?  

I prefer a simple, casual style, like putting on a biker jacket, Chelsea boots or sneakers with jeans. It’s a classy look and is also one of my all-time favourites. For me, the most important thing is to feel what I wear and not be someone else or imitate someone.

Do you have any fashion rules when putting on an outfit together?

Keep it simple but significant. I always try to keep it simple with some nice details.  

What made you decide to start the fitness journey? Who inspired you do to so?

I have been playing sports my whole life. I started very early with soccer. At the age of 18, I started getting into fitness. I have been doing my daily exercise for the past 10 years. I don’t need an inspiration for sports or being fit. I just want to beat myself and be better than yesterday. I am always motivated to work on myself.

What are the challenges you face as a fashion, fitness and lifestyle blogger? How do you overcome these challenges?

The challenge is to create content every day that inspires and also helps people. The key is to never lose your own style and authenticity.

You’ve been invited to many events in different countries, including the GQ-Men of the Year award and the 68^th Berlin International Film Festival. How does it feel to be recognised as a blog/platform that helps men get better in fashion, fitness, lifestyle and travel?

It helps me a lot and motivates me when people recognise me on the street and ask for photos. It’s a pleasure and I really enjoy the compliments for my hard work. I give my best every day and it’s good to know that people all over the world are thankful. I really love my community.

What is something that most people don’t know about you?

Most people don’t know that  I studied mechanical engineering and worked all over the world for 5 years as a project leader for big steel plants. I started doing my social media business in addition to my full time job. That was a hard time with lots of work and I often didn’t know how to handle it all. I worked on weekends and often also until late at night during the week.

How do you define success in your life?

Success for me is having a good relationship with my family and my friends. The most important thing in life is to have a family and good friends who always care about you. I also love to inspire people and see that my work can help people. I am very thankful for the life I have and the opportunity to do what I do.

What are your future plans?

I will create more video content and create more content about my fitness routine. So many people have been asking me about this, but unfortunately I had to little time in the past for those topics.

You inspire many with your tips. Who inspires you when it comes to staying fit, looking good and being productive?

I like footballer and icon David Beckham’s style, and model David Gandy is always an inspiration to me.

Do you have any advice for those who want to follow your footsteps?

Be yourself all the time and never try to become anyone else. You can look for inspiration but always combine it with your personal characteristics.