When pinning down your personal style, it pays to take notes from the icons that came before. From big-screen legends to rock and roll icons, these are the guys who defined the sartorial landscape of their time. They blazed new trails in menswear, and their innovative outfits look just as good today as they did back then.
Harrison Ford’s Relaxed Summer Style
The whip-cracking badass himself (Indy over Han all day long), Harrison Ford showed up to the 1982 Cannes Film Festival in this timeless, laid-back getup consisting of some chino shorts, a long-sleeved knit top, and some beat-up boat shoes.
A perfect look for spring, shorts and a sweatshirt, sweater, or long sleeve tee gives off an effortlessly put-together vibe. To get the same degree of cool intentionality as Indy, finish the look with a timepiece and your best pair of shades.
Harrison Ford rocking a killer “knit top with shorts” combo at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival.Image Source: Jadran Lazic
Connery’s Camp Collar Combo
A paragon of poise, class, and sartorial panache, 007 is responsible for some of the most influential movements in menswear through the decades. For our money, the OG Bond, Sean Connery, is the best-dressed of the bunch.
Seen here in 1965’s “Moneyball”, Connery is rocking a close-fitting camp collar shirt paired with casual linen pants. As evidenced by how damn cool he looks, this one-two punch is the perfect combo when beaches, waves, and sunny days are on the roster. When wearing an outfit this simple, the addition of a classic timepiece is a total must (extra points for a dive watch.)
Image Left: Sean Connery sporting a camp collar shirt as 007 in 1965’s “Thunderball”
Mick Jagger Reclaims The Rugby Shirt
A perfect example of rebellious subcultures reclaiming mainstream collegiate styles, Mick Jagger takes the classic rugby shirt (previously reserved for college jocks) and turns it into a casual icon.
With its distinctive contrast collar, the rugby shirt offers a touch of polish while retaining the casual wearability of a long-sleeve tee. Rugbies pair perfectly with selvedge denim jeans, chinos, or (when weather permits) shorts.
Layer Like Cool Hand Luke
Few pieces of outerwear are as versatile as the classic French chore coat. From rugged workwear looks to smart casual styles, the unstructured yet put-together silhouette and functional feature set make them an absolute must in every wardrobe.
Need more convincing? Look no further than the legendary Paul Newman in “Cool Hand Luke”, showcasing not only how effortlessly badass a chore jacket can look but also how much better any garment looks after it’s been around the block a few times. The lesson here is to definitely pick up a chore coat of your own, then wear it often to achieve some killer patina.
You can layer these over just about anything, but we think Paul’s choice of a classic button-up shirt is a great place to start.
Paul Newman rocking a classic chore coat in 1967’s “Cool Hand Luke”
The Understated Panache of Steve McQueen
Of all the names on this list, Steve McQueen is probably the first name that comes to mind when you think of menswear style icons. A master of elevating the simplest of outfits, McQueen could often be found rocking a plain white tee, a pair of jeans, and some comfortable kicks.
While we can’t all be as effortlessly cool as The Bambino himself, any guy can benefit from this winning recipe for spring and summer. For the full “McQueen effect”, finish the look with some solid shades and sport it with confidence.
The King Of Cool proves how powerful a simple white tee can be.
The Denim Stylings of Robert Redford
When it comes to casual outerwear, a classic trucker jacket is hard to beat. Thanks to its unlined design and close-fitting silhouette, this style is perfect for spring days and cool summer nights.
Whether you wear it open over a tee shirt or buttoned up with the collar popped like Robert Redford, a trucker jacket will take you far and look better with every year of wear. Pair this bonafide icon with chinos, cords, or (for a timeless denim-on-denim look) your favorite pair of jeans.
