10 Essentials: Rainn Wilson

No longer Dwight Schrute, The Office star talks about sexy custom vans, sad men with guitars, and Vitamix

Rainn Wilson's tastes tend toward the moody: indie singers, burnout actors, film noir. Not what you might expect from the man who for nine seasons starred as Dwight Schrute, the nitpicky, egomaniacal assistant manager on The Office. Or the funny guy whose media website, SoulPancake, hosts a talk show where he asks actors things like, "If you had a magic bus, where would you go?" and, "Draw a picture of your soul." Wilson's site is also home to the Internet's favorite child politician, Kid President—the black third grader who met Obama in the Oval Office—and a slew of other original content. So Wilson's creativity will clearly outlive Dwight…but in what form?

Wilson is reticent to say. Now is a fresh phase, and he's excited to do something new. There are indie film projects he's involved with, and he starred in a pilot for the CBS crime drama Backstrom, as an offensive criminologist whose only commonality with Dwight is that he's also a curmudgeon. He'd also like to get back to New York theater, where he got his start in acting at NYU. But in the meantime, the former Mr. Schrute told us about Orson Welles, swaggy custom vans, and his mini-guitar.

1. 1970s Custom Van
"When I came up with the idea for Metaphysical Milkshake, it was mostly an excuse for me to make a custom van. I've been in awe of them ever since I was a child in the '70s—there's such an air of mystery, like, 'Wow, anything could go on in the back of one of these things.' We're not completely done, but I love it. It's an awesome feeling to tool around town in this mysterious, sexy custom van, and we use it for the talk show."

10 Essentials: Eddie Huang

The chef and Baohaus founder shares his favorite threads, caps, vaporizer, and more

If you've followed the world of food this past year, you'll recognize Eddie Huang as the next big celebrity chef. The former lawyer turned Baohaus founder becomes a memoirist this month with Fresh Off the Boat, his story of growing up Asian-American. As sharp as Anthony Bourdain (a man he's often compared to), as marketable on TV as Guy Fieri (a man he'd rather not be), he's fresher than both, with a backwards-cap swagger and no doubt of what's dope and what's dumb. After shooting him a direct message on Twitter, Eddie got on the phone with us to talk about the ten things that are Huang-approved.

10 Essentials: Tommy Fazio

PROJECT president and fashion director Tommy Fazio is out to change the scope of trade shows. After working as fashion director at Nordstrom and as an executive at Bergdorf Goodman, Calvin Klein, and Simon Spurr, Fazio's first order of business since taking over PROJECT in November is to make PROJECT feel less like a traditional tradeshow and more like a retail floor.

"We're taking a highly merchandised approach," Fazio said. "I want to create this really compelling destination where innovation, commerce, and service converge, and I want to bring a really strong editorial point of view to the show through trend forecasting and helping the newer, younger brands with how they should present their clothes to the retailer."

Starting today, PROJECT NYC will be held for the first time at Pier 92, and Fazio is looking to implement his vision even more fully at PROJECT Vegas in February. We spoke with the fashion world veteran about his daily uniform, his favorite book, and what he drinks to keep himself energetic and health

1. Prada Navy sport coat
"Two years ago I was in Milan and I lost my luggage. I was on my way to Fashion Week and I needed a navy sport coat, so I ran to the Prada store, slipped one on, and it was like putting on something you've had your entire life. It's a very simple two-button navy sport coat, and it's lightweight wool, so you can wear it up until it's really hot in the summer. It's become the staple of my wardrobe; I never leave home without it."

2. Raleigh Denim Jones Original
"The Jones Original style are the most comfortable skinny jeans made in America. It's raw, unwashed selvedge, and it's the most well-crafted jean I've ever had on my body. I've worn raw denim from a lot of different brands, but you know how when you wear raw denim, it's sometimes really stiff and uncomfortable? This one is cut so that it's not like that at all, and somehow it doesn't turn your hands and chairs blue."

3. Thom Browne white oxford
"I've been wearing Thom Browne white oxfords for about 10 years now, and I probably wear a white oxford five out of seven days of the week. These shirts are all about craftsmanship, quality, and comfort, and you can dress them up or wear them sporty."

4. Hermes blanket
"I've had it for 10 years, and it goes back and forth from bed to sofa, depending on where I am. It's like my security blanket."

5. The Tipping Point
"Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point sits next to my bed every day. It's an inspirational book, and it kind of drives me in my career. It motivates me to keep pushing forward and to try new things and take chances in life. I've circled my favorite line several times: 'You never know unless you try."

6. L.L.Bean camo tote bag
"When you carry the L.L.Bean camo tote bag everyone is like, 'Oh my god, that bag is so chic, what is it?' And you're like, 'It's L.L.Bean. It's $22.' Everyone thinks its Trussardi or something because it looks so good. I have many versions of it all over my house, including one with the GQ logo and one with my initials on it. That is just a carryall that you can pack up to go to work, to the gym, or as a carry-on on an airplane."

7. Smythson writing folder
"My Smythson is black leather grain, and it has a notebook inside and a place for your business cards and pen. It goes everywhere with me—even if I go to dinner I bring it, because if I have an idea, I write it down. I also started last year to print out my week's calendar and put it in the folder, because sometimes I'd rather look at paper than at my phone."

8. Henry
"My number-one essential in my life is my English Cocker Spaniel, Henry. He comes to work with me every day and he's super, super personal—he's like a human. He sits on the chair next to me, and sometimes I think he makes decisions for me."

9. Organic Avenue shots
"When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is I walk Henry, and the second thing I do is go to Organic Avenue and have a ginger and wheatgrass shot, every morning. The ginger helps to keep you from getting a cold and it gives me a lot of energy, and the wheatgrass is great for clarity and it has great essential minerals and vitamins."

10. Max at Chelsea Barber
"I couldn't live without Max. I've had a shaved head for almost 18 years now, and Max has been my barber for 10 of them. I was walking through Chelsea one day and I thought, 'You know, I'm not going to go all the way across town to get my head shaved.' I walked in and this young, lovely gentleman said 'You're next,' and I sat down and it was the perfect, perfect shave. I've never stopped going back, and I sometimes go twice a week."

10 Essentials: Avicii

Swedish DJ Avicii—real name Tim Bergling—has gone from tooling around on his MacBook to becoming one of the biggest electronic music makers in the world, all in the span of a few years. Not too shabby for a 23-year-old. In 2012, his mega-hit "Levels" can be heard everywhere, he was nominated for a Grammy, started remixing for the likes of Madonna, and became the face of Ralph Lauren's Denim & Supply line. He'll head back into the studio this fall, collaborating with some top-secret artists, but not before he finishes up a summer of gigs across the globe. Here, he shares with GQ the ten things he couldn't live without on the road.

 1. Headphones: V-moda Crossfade LP2 headphones

"These are the only headphones I've seen that look that good and still have amazing sound. They're the perfect mixture of style, quality, and performance. I use them both onstage and off, when I'm watching movies."

2. Denim & Supply plaid shirts

"I've always worn a lot of Ralph Lauren, and plaid shirts in general have been a signature piece for me. With plaid, you can look super-relaxed or you can look a bit dressed up. I was introduced to these Denim & Supply ones even before we partnered up, when they sent over a couple from the new collection. I always have problems with finding the right fit: A lot of shirts fit okay, but there are a few that really fit perfectly, and all of these just do."

3. 15-inch MacBook Pro

"It's an easy computer to bring out quickly, easy to put down and pick up. It starts quickly and never has any performance issues. It's incredibly light for the performance of it, especially the new model. Even running Boot Camp Windows on it for my music, it works, like, amazing."

 4. Oral-B medium toothbrush

"I like to brush my teeth. I don't know how much information is needed for a toothbrush."

5. iPhone (black) and Mophie Juice Pack Air Case with rechargeable battery
"I've tried plenty of telephones. I tried to get into the Samsung Galaxy and the Blackberry, but the iPhone is just too easy to use. The camera takes clear pictures and the phone itself looks great. Like all Apple products, it kind of just makes sense.
I travel with a bunch of battery packs because I don't always have time to charge my phone at the hotel room when I'm traveling. I always change them so I never run out of battery."

6. Berocca vitamin C

"It's a vitamin supplement that I try to take every day that really helps with the traveling. I don't really eat well all the time, so this kind of helps keep my immune system up."

7. San Miguel Premium Beer
"I think it reminds me a lot of my first summer in Ibiza, and every time I see it there or I drink it, it kind of brings me back to a lot of good memories. I've always loved the taste of it, too. I try to get it whenever I can; it's not something you can get all the time, but I try to get it as much as possible."

 8. General Snus smokeless tobacco

"A long time ago I used to smoke, but I stopped maybe six years ago. I'm starting to really like the taste of Snus—it's sweet—and the convenience of it. I don't like smoking, and obviously what it does to you...who likes that? I can have this on, like, a half-an-hour flight, when I can't smoke on the plane"

 9. FL Studio
"I wouldn't make music if it weren't for this program. It's the one I use to make all my music and the program that I've used from the start. I've tried everything else, but I haven't found anything that makes me want to change. It's a very logical program for me to put down ideas quickly, since I'm not very patient. One of the downsides is that mixing and mastering is harder, since you have to use external plugins like compressors. But for working with a lot of melodies and putting stuff down quickly, there's nothing that can beat it."

10. Tumi "Sierra" passport case
"I always used to travel without a passport case, and because of it I think I'm four passports in. I bought this small Tumi case to protect my new one, and it works really well, not just for protecting it but also for keeping credit cards and small stuff. I just throw it in my bag when I'm traveling, as opposed to stuffed in my pocket."

10 Essentials: Ben Gorham

It's safe to say that Ben Gorham is the only guy to go from pro basketball to cooking up fragrances. After a quick stint in the Italian league, Gorham attended art school and, in 2006, launched Byredo, a Stockholm-based line that specializes in scents crafted out of stripped-down, earthy ingredients like juniper, caraway, and leather. Each scent recreates a specific memory—like the smells of mom's hometown in India and the fragrance his father used to wear—some surprisingly sensitive stuff coming from a 6'5" tall guy with inked arms. On the verge of releasing his newest spritz called Mr. Marvelous, we chatted up the renaissance dude about all the things he swears by.

1. The Food Stalls in Bademiya, India

"These foods stalls are legendary! They're located on a tiny street behind the Taj Mahal Hotel and have some of the best grilled foods I've ever eaten. They sell tandoori and tikkas—all traditional Indian stuff. The area has the most amazing scents, both good and bad—all extremes. And if you're lucky, you might even run into a Bollywood star."

2. Dark Double-Breasted Tailored Suit from Bauer & Co.

"I have all my suits tailor-made from Bauer & Co. in Stockholm. They've been around for more than 150 years and they're the only real bespoke tailor left in Scandinavia. The latest addition to my collection is a dark double-breasted summer suit. It's made from a 1950s dead stock fresco fabric that I found at a Scottish mill."

3. Silk Socks from New & Lingwood

"The ultimate dressy sock for a formal event. They work really great with patent leather slippers, the equivalent of male ballerina shoes. It's a little weird when you first put them on, like you're wearing women's stockings, but it all makes sense when you get in the shoes."

4. White Short-Sleeved Shirt by Dries Van Noten

"A super-crisp white short-sleeved shirt made with super-thin cotton—it's the perfect summer garment. Without the jacket, it becomes quite casual with the short sleeves and my tattoos. Still, there are times where I leave it on, because the tattoos scare some people."

5. Generic Boy Jeans by Acne

"Acne's actually bringing these jeans back now. When I heard they were going to discontinue them, I bought three identical ones. I've literally been calling the office requesting them for years to bring them back, so I'd like to take credit for at least part of their return."

6. Moustache Comb from G. Lorenzi in Milan

"Only for serious moustache growers. This beautiful shop located at Monte Napoleone sells you the best hand crafted shaving equipment, combs, and knives. I didn't even know moustache combs existed until I went there. It's in the shape of a manta ray, and using it becomes some type of fixation, like smoking. It's kind of like an afro pick—same idea—except you never leave it in there."

7. Aman Sveti Stefan Resort, Montenegro

"Iconic Montenegro destination in combination with one of the best luxurious get-aways. It has an unbelievably historic feel and impeccable service. They take care of anything you need, whether it's calling concierge for swimming trunks at 4 a.m. or having your eggs boiled a certain way. The island reminds me of the Adriatic side of Italy and the water here is incredibly clear because of the rocks at the bottom. The icing on the cake: they serve great, locally-caught seafood, too."

8. Fish and Chips from Room Service at the Connaught

"I love indulging in simple British food in a luxurious setting after a long day of meetings. Here's the best version of that."

9. Tea Trolley by Alvar Aalto for Artek

"I love the drink trolley designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek in 1936. He's my favorite Scandinavian designer and one who was all about function. Plus, it's just fun to wheel the trolley around and around whenever you're entertaining guests."

Tommy Hilfiger 10 Essentials

We give a lot of leeway to the men (and women) who report back on their 10 Essentials for GQ.com. Some prefer to put together a playlist, others tick off the contents of their overnight bags. But few have captured such a fantastic spectrum of their own mythology like Tommy Hilfiger, who crafted today's list. By now, 25 years into his career, his style is firmly a part of this country's fashion narrative, as All-American as the flag—the colors of it are quite literally stitched into the lining. His reputation precedes him a little bit, so forgive him for taking a moment to set the record straight. You think you know what Tommy Hilfiger is all about? Buddy, your credit card limit does not even go that high. Here, Mr. Hilfiger lets us in on the 10 things that make his life a little more, well, rich.

1. Aston Martin DB7

"British racing green. It's my only Aston, yeah, but I think you only need one. I think the Aston has better performance [than a Jaguar]. I mean, I like an XKE, an old Jag. But for today's use, Aston has a lot of pep. I've gotten it up to over a hundred. My Ferrari I've gotten up to about 200, on a track up in a Canada. But it's an Enzo, so it's as close to an F1 car as you can get. And I don't take it out very much because it's very low to the ground and the weather has to be perfect. I take it in the backwoods of Connecticut when I do drive it. The Aston is a little more practical."

2. My house in Mustique

"It's on the beach. I've been going to Mustique for 25 years and I've owned the house for 15 years. I built it from a redo of a beach shack, and I built it in coral stone so it would withstand the weather and the salt and the sand. I have a very large family, lots of children, brothers and sisters, relatives, so we have beach cottages right next to the water. It's a tropical paradise, but it's about, you know, barefoot elegance. "

3. Tommy Hilfiger Prep World Tuxedo Blazer

"It's sort of a quasi-tuxedo jacket with the shawl collar, but to be worn with shorts, or beach wear, which makes it a little bit different. You dress it up or dress it down. It's not too serious—nothing should be too serious."

4. Tommy Hilfiger Boat Shoe

"They come in a lot of great colors. These are sort of a grass-green. I love nautical accessories. I'd wear these with madras trousers. "

5. The Whitney

"I love American contemporary art. And the Whitney has celebrated American contemporary art for many years. So, I look at the Whitney as being a very important museum in the city. I go at least once a year—and that's not frequently enough. Anything Warhol, Basquiat, Kuhns. I like John Currin, Jasper Johns. But Warhol and Basquiat are my favorites. And I love [Johns'] White Flag. It's my favorite piece in the world."

6. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

"Mark Twain wrote many of his books in Elmira, New York, my hometown. He spent his summers up there. And thinking that someone like Mark Twain was from Elmira, New York was very inspirational because I thought, you know, someone that talented and that well known could come from Elmira, New York, maybe it wouldn't be so hard to be a person with aspirations and dreams coming from Elmira."

7. The iPad

"I take it all over. I go to my email or I go to newspapers, magazines. But GQ, I like in the hardcopy—the real thing."

8. Midnight Cowboy

"Dustin Hoffman was genius in it. And Jon Voight. I also love the music—Glenn Campbell. There's a scene where Dustin Hoffman is walking across 43rd and Broadway, coughing and lost in traffic—his acting was genius. It was brilliant. I also loved him in The Graduate."

9. Vintage Rolex

"The new one is too new. The vintage has the patina, the history. I like the Daytona. My father used to be a watchmaker, and he loved Omega. I don't own one, but I like Omega, too."

10. Tennis on grass courts

"I play tennis on clay courts, also. But I like grass because I think it's just such a thing of the past. You don't really find it any more. But, you know, I play on clay and I play on Har-tru. But grass—I have a grass court at my home in Connecticut. And it's sort of like going back in time. It's a slow bounce. I play every weekend with a group of friends. I only win when I'm lucky."