Introducing Dries Van Noten Fall 2024 Men's Collection

Meet Aaron Russell, Director, Edge Network Infrastructure at Meta, whose innate sense of style and significant community impact make him our ideal McMullen Man. We had the pleasure of sitting down with him to explore how he would wear our Dries Van Noten pieces and to learn more about his style journey and his amazing work. 

Tell us something we can’t Google about you?“8 years ago, I thought it would be fun to keep track of all the countries I've ever visited. I’m currently at 82, and look forward to exploring more of the world."

Who were your style icons growing up? “My father was probably the most influential person in developing my sense of style and fashion. His bold style was reflective of his personality, and would project his presence. He never missed an opportunity to dress well, and was always confident and cool. He still is! In terms of media personalities, I’d probably say Shemar Moore, Daniel Craig, and Will Smith were all people that I thought of as style icons.” 

What is your favorite piece in the Dries Van Noten collection?“I felt an instant connection to the Dries Montay Jacquard Cardigan. Upon trying it on, I fell in love with the piece. The Fall collection is perfect for the Bay Area climate and I look forward to wearing it often.”

How did you get your start in Tech?“I started my career as an investment banking analyst after graduating from college. After roughly two years in the industry, and gaining exposure to a wide range of emerging tech companies, I decided to make a career change and join a small tech company based in Winter Park, Florida. This was a unique opportunity for me to learn a new trade, and ultimately develop a strong passion for network engineering and internet infrastructure. Facebook discovered me in 2014 after networking at an industry conference, and the rest was history! I have enjoyed being at Meta for the last 10 years, and have had the opportunity to create and lead some of the largest infrastructure projects in the world, connecting billions of people.“ 

Tell us more about your film you produced? “I executive produced a horror feature titled Fear that premiered in theaters back in January of 2023. Fear was actually filmed during the height of the pandemic in 2020, and one of the very few films shot that year, so the title was truly fitting! I had an opportunity to work with a number of talented creatives, that include: Terrence J, T.I, Joseph Sikora, King Bach, Annie Ilonzeh and many more. While I have both produced and executive produced a number of short films, Fear was my first feature as an EP. I am both grateful and humbled to be given the supremely talented Director Deon Taylor.

How does fashion influence your daily life and career? “Fashion is intertwined with my daily life. One of the most amazing aspects of the culture at Meta is that the company encourages people to bring their authentic self to work each day. My style is a reflection of my personality where I have an opportunity to express myself, whether it be a quiet confidence, or an expression of my creativity.”