We miss clothes, alright? From accepting that our new work-uniform centers itself largely around a swatch of sweat-pant appropriate textiles to getting to physically cop-a-feel of the latest samples in all their physical glory, our fashionscape is looking pretty damn bleak right about now.
But we believe in adaptation as opposed to defeat, and are therefore nourishing our hunger for a sharply tailored suit or supple-leather jacket in the most deviceful of ways: by watching Hollywood’s leading men star in cinema’s most stylish movies.
From the meticulous zoot-suits of cult-classic Qaudrophenia to Easy Rider’s all American redneck-glamour, we’ve rounded up the most stylish films of all time for your voyeuristic-viewing. Buckle in and get ready to take some serious style cues and future-fashion inspiration for future fits, as and when this all blows over. Unless, of course, you’ve got somewhere better to be? Clue: you don’t. #StayAtHome
picture @jacoporicciardi, Instagram
Quadrophenia, 1973
If you watch this admittedly plot-light story and disbelievingly contest its cult-popularity, then you’ve completely missed the point. This quintesssentially-British film is steeped in style and culture, from costume to soundtrack. Loosely (and we do mean loosely) based around rock-music royalty ‘The Who’’s ‘73 musical of the same name, the soundtrack is just the tip of an exceptionally-stylish iceberg.
A Brighton-based celebration of Mod subculture, expect not just the immaculately slim tailoring and collar pins of Tommy and co., but also the dichotomist leathers and bountiful stud-work of the rival rocker’s fits. Jeans aren’t fitting quite snugly enough? Denim up and into an icy cold bath with you, then. If you know, you know.
picture @tatileinebrecho, Instagram
The Lost Boys, 1987
They may be the lost boys but they certainly never misplaced a single thread when it comes to style-flexes. What the radical film lacked in SFX and coherent dialogue it more than makes-up for in stylish attitude and ridiculously satirical mullets.
From patch-heavy leathers to weighty costume-jewels, there’s a punk sensibility and nonchalant arrogance provided by the wardrobe department that suggests a teenage vampire’s style really does bite. “We were that age, too, once. But they dress better.”
picture @moviemight, Instagram
American Psycho, 2000
In one of his careers most sensational performances, Christian Bale plays the wisenheimer lead, first imagined into fictional existence by Bret Easton Ellis’ brilliant head. Patrick Bateman is a sadistic, psychopathic serial-killer (or if you fall into the film-studies and philosophy camp, an imagined one), so he doesn’t get much points for personality.
His tie collection on the other hand? Full marks. When not dressed in his butchering PPE overcoat, Bateman exhibits an exceptional taste in fat-quarter silks, button-ended suspenders and, of course, an incredibly sophisticated skin care routine.
picture @vintage_style_bologna, Instagram
The Thomas Crown Affair, 1968
A film that stars an actor dubbed the conclusive ‘king of cool’ is going to hold a bit of clout in the on screen style-stakes. Steve ‘the GOAT’ McQueen is joined by Faye ‘the cheekbones’ Dunaway in the original (and in our not-so-humble opinion, superior) Thomas Crown Affair.
The neo-noir thriller’s slick style spills out from the sharp dialogue and sleek cinematography, right into the art-heist architects’s wardrobes. Arguably the springboard for Persol’s folding 714’s enduring popularity, McQueen gives a smooth masterclass in three-piece tailoring that should still pull prestige on your work-wardrobe of today.
picture @firmphotos, Instagram
Scarface, 1983
Tony Montana. Bare Chest. Open Shirt. CHAINS. Need we say more? The only thing that slaps harder than Al Pacino’s acting is his Miami-mentality wardrobe. A dress-code that is making a seeming resurgence in recent seasons, your best bet of recreating a tough-guy sensibility this seamlessly-lackadaisical is with emerging shirt-making hot-shots such as Casablanca and Alister Mackie. Colt AR-15 not required.
picture @_somequeentolovee, Instagram
Bohemian Rhapsody, 2018
In quite possibly the most outstanding casting of the last decade, leading man of Egyptian-greatness – Rami Malek – is Freddie Mercury in this first-rate biopic.
The historical accuracy in no way hinders the flawless execution of BoRhap’s wardrobe department, with bleached high-wasted denim and Daliesque-white pleating leaning into the camp-couture of the worlds’ late (yet still greatest) showman.
picture @groovyhistorypics, Instagram
Easy Rider, 1969
The hallmark of all-American attitude dressing, pre-MAGA, Easy Rider will have you wanting to leather up and hit the road with its counterculture flexes and sublime-suede fits. While the film is the melancholic narrative on the death of the easy come, easy go ‘60s, the style is frankly joyous.
Star-spangled banners, and a hippy-hippy shake sartorialism were instrumental to the cult-status of this remaining classic. While we lost the great Peter Fonda late last year, his style very much lives on. Sleep easy, rider.
picture @firthdose, Instagram
A Single Man, 2009
If you were, say, a betting man, who wanted to put a wager on whether the film they were due to settle down and watch would be one of both style and substance, you’d be feeling pretty lucky in the knowledge that it was Tom Ford who’d directed it.
The deeply-stylised aesthetic that A Single Man offers stretches far beyond the immaculately cut tailoring and into the furnishings, set design and even film-treatment of this stunning, histrionic tragedy.
picture @_nowheregirrl, Instagram
Goodfellas, 1990
The GOATS of genteel-gangster fits, Martin Scorsese’s motley-crew of fictional fiends showcase style-flexes that should be swaggered around the New York suburbs and far, far beyond. Tailoring is key-currency, here, with leather blazers and sateen-finished suiting the foundation for big mafia-moves.
While we fully encourage emulating those outrageously impish dagger-collars, leave the arm-bearing tanks to the Italians. You know, ‘Out of respect’.
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