The Runway to Reality Edit with Poland-Based Model Youssef Sharaf
At 25, Egyptian model Youssef Sharaf has walked for Dior, Bottega Veneta, and Diesel—just a few of the heavyweight names on his impressive résumé. With contracts across Paris, Milan, London, Barcelona, and Hamburg, he's making his mark on the international fashion scene, but modeling wasn't always on the cards for him. In fact, before getting scouted on Instagram in 2019 by a representative of UNN Models, Sharaf hadn't even considered a career in fashion.
In December 2022, he walked the Dior Pre-Fall menswear show at the Pyramids—his industry breakthrough. Now, with six years in the game, a growing global presence, and a few top-secret projects in the works (Argentina and Spain might ring a bell), Sharaf is comfortably carving out his place in European fashion.
His personal style? A curated mix of blokecore, heroin-chic, and Y2K, believing that personal style is a form of self-expression rather than a price tag. 'I'm a firm believer in thrifted, upcycled clothing and vintage wear,' he shares to SceneStyled. 'Nothing beats the thrill like finding a designer piece at your local thrift store for a fraction of its price.'
In this Selects, he breaks down five looks—each a fun spin on his influences, from football culture to nostalgic streetwear and gothic corporate aesthetics—turning high fashion into something you can actually wear every day.
Look One | Bruised Banana
'This outfit is inspired by my unexplainable life-long love for Arsenal Football Club,' he says. 'I built the look around my favorite Arsenal kit of all time—the iconic 1991-93 'Bruised Banana' away kit.'
Arsenal x Adidas | 1991-93 Away Kit
Julius | Thorn Flared Jeans in Black
Onitsuka Tiger | Mexico 66 Yellow/Black
Raf Simons | FW 1998-99 Distressed Knitwear Sweater
Look Two | Neo-Sharm El Sheikh Dad
'This look is a tribute to every dad who vacationed in Sharm El Sheikh in the 2000s—my father included,' he shares cheekily. 'I took that classic coastal dad aesthetic and gave it a luxury streetwear twist.'
Hard Rock Cafe | Oversized Hard Rock Cafe Sharm El Sheikh Shirt
Shabab Intl | Gotham Raglan Long Sleeve
Jaded London | Cadet Camo Baggy Shorts
Gallo | Wool Knee Socks
MM6 Maison Margiela X Salomon | ACS Pro Sneakers
Look Three | Street Urchin
'This is my everyday style distilled into an outfit—something I would've worn in my late teens or early twenties while hanging out in the streets,' Sharaf unveils. 'The Converse are intentionally worn out and DIYed, with patchwork and hand-drawn illustrations.'
Cop Copine | 90s Vintage Long Sleeve Top
No Faith Studios | Heavy Wave Denim
Givenchy | SS23 Grey Crocodile Leather Belt
Converse | Chuck Taylor All Star High-Tops
Look Four | Night Shift
"This look is a gothic, avant-garde take on office-wear, like if you were heading to your corporate job at Rick Owens.'
Tatiana Palnitska | Avant-garde Black Distressed Knit Snap Front Cardigan
Bottega Veneta | Shiny Leather Tie In Burgundy
Rick Owens | Men's Burgundy Geth Jeans
Dirk Bikkemberg | Fall 1996 Bungee Cord Boots
Look Five | Snowy Day
"With this look, you'll stay warm no matter how low the temperature drops,' the Egyptian model tells SceneStyled. 'It's a fiery outfit for a snowy day, put together with the help of my friend Zeina Soliman.'
Walter Van Beirendonck | Graphic-Print Crystal-Embellished Face Mask
Stone Island | Ice Knit Thermo-Sensitive Sweater
Moncler | Grenoble Tecka Jacket
Rosetta Getty | Chocolate Brown Wide Leg Leather Trousers
Canada Goose | Glacier Trail Sneaker High
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