They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and, while we wouldn’t advocate it in most areas of life, one where we whole-heartedly suggest embracing it is in your style. For how better to learn what looks great on you, try new looks and push your boundaries than by imitating the outfits of some of the world’s most stylish men? And, while there is much to be learnt from the classic style of the 20th Century's great style icons, the world has moved on and, with it, fashion. From streetwear supremos to those who like their tailoring with twist, meet the new generation of style icons to learn from now…
KJ Apa
Best known for playing Riverdale’s famous flame-haired resident, American actor KJ Apa has something of the young James Dean about him. Even at awards ceremonies you’re more likely to see him wearing a white T-shirt under his unstructured suit than you are a shirt and tie while his off duty style is all about interesting basics. Great sweatshirts, flattering T-shirts, perfectly fitting denim, fun Cuban shirts - this is a man who knows where to find them all. Look no further for weekend wardrobe inspiration.
Austin Butler
Having started his career alongside Miley Cyrus as a Disney child star, Butler’s biggest role to date was as Charles Watson in Once Upon A Time In America - a film in which, it’s fair to say, there were some bigger names getting most of the attention. But, with the title role in Baz Luhrman’s upcoming Elvis biopic on his slate, Butler’s star is about to explode - and luckily he has the style chops to live up to it. Having moved away from his clean cut all-American image, Butler’s style can be characterised as old school Hollywood with edge. Citing Jack Palance, Gene Kelly and Steve McQueen as inspirations, think black suits with razor thin ties, plain white T-shirts with slim fitting denim and sneakers with everything.
Patrick Schwarzenegger
Son of Arnie and scion of the Kennedy dynasty by virtue of his mother Maria Shriver, the style of actor, investor and sometime motivational Instagram influencer Patrick Schwarzenegger falls neatly into two categories. Off duty he’s very much in the mould of a California tech bro - Patagonia fleeces, plain T-shirts, slim fitting sweaters - with the added preppy Ralph Lauren polo or golfing pant thrown in for good measure. On duty, however, Schwarzenegger has never met an unusual suit he didn’t like. Highlights include a pattern clashing Tom Ford number and a ruby-hued Sies Marjan suit worn over a sunshine yellow jumper.
Charlie Heaton
Stranger Things isn’t short on actors who more than carry their weight on the red carpet - even if most of them were little more than children when the show started - but Charlie Heaton has really taken the fashion world by storm. Accompanied by his equally chic girlfriend and co-star Natalia Dyer, the pair are often spotted front row at Paris Fashion Week where Heaton’s ensembles fall neatly into a Venn diagram of 70s rock star, English eccentric and understated Parisian cool. Not bad for a boy from Leeds.
Hero Fiennes-Tiffin
British actor and newest member of the Fiennes family creative tradition, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin has found fame as much through social media (7.7 million Instagram followers and counting) as he has through his roles in Harry Potter and After. It is the style showcased in the former, one imagines, that caught the attention of Salvatore Ferragamo and Dior - just two of the numerous fashion brand Fiennes-Tiffin has worked with. Like his signature buzzcut, his looks are classically masculine - black or white T-shirts with slim cut denim, worker jackets in navy and three piece suits in rich autumnal shades.
Ncuti Gatwa
The breakout star of Netflix’s Sex Education, Ncuti Gatwa takes fashion seriously - but wears it with a mega watt smile. Drawing on his Rwandan heritage, Gatwa doesn’t shy away from bold colours and clashing prints but neither is he averse to a velvet tux or a preppy accent here and there. There’s no denying the difficulty setting is high for many of his looks - ease yourself in if you want to emulate him - but he wears them with such charm and lightness that you barely even notice.
Ashton Sanders
Ashton Sanders was the breakthrough star of Moonlight can be seen in Netflix’s All Day and a Night alongside Yahya Abdul-Mateen II - but chances are you know him better for his agenda setting way with everything from fine tailoring to the hottest streetwear. A man as comfortable in Off-White as he is in Savile Row, it’s no surprise he’s been tapped by everyone from Matches Fashion to Louis Vuitton to front their menswear campaigns.
Levi Dylan
Model and grandson of Bob, Levi Dylan was schooled in style walking the runways for brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger and DKNY. And, just like the brands he’s worked for, Dylan’s style is varied - veering between modern Americana (bomber jackets, short-sleeved shirts worn over white tanks, collegiate sweatshirts) and European elegance (smart tailoring in top to toe black or white and biker jackets worn with skinny-collared shirts). It goes without saying, of course, that he looks good in all of it.
A$AP Rocky
Former Gentleman’s Journal cover star A$AP Rocky has been a seemingly permanent fixture on best dressed lists for years now and proved his fashion credentials when he launched his own clothing line (you can buy it in Selfridges). Rocky’s style is inspired by his Harlem hometown - but with a clear luxe upgrade. Logos, oversized streetwear and jewellery feature heavily but he also knows how to cut a sharply tailored silhouette on the red carpet. Patterned lapels, pastel shades and Western ties have all become formalwear signatures for the star.
Joe Keery
The second Stranger Things star to make our list, Joe Keery’s style leans less into the considered high-fashion looks of his colleague and more into the nonchalant cool of a Jack Kerouac or Kurt Cobain. Informed as much by his musical alter-ego Djo as his acting career, and making the most of the instant vintage vibe afforded to him by his mop of unruly hair, Keery favours graphic T-shirts, cropped jeans, skater sneakers and oversized jackets. He is, in essence, the epitome of enviable effortless style.
Harry Styles
He’s come a long way since the days of those artfully almost matching One Direction outfits. Having been taken under the wing of Gucci design maestro Alessandro Michele, Styles has blossomed into a Mick Jagger-inspired style icon - a status cemented when he was honoured with co-hosting duties at the Met Gala. His is a style characterised by bright colours, unusual fabric (he has quite the collection of corduroy suits) and gender-bending accents. Meet the only man we know who could make a burgundy suit work with Mary-Jane shoes and a string of pearls.
Troye Sivan
Australian singer-songwriter Troye Sivan is not one to shy away from the style limelight - or any limelight now we come to think about it. A quick scroll through his Instagram sees him in experimental outfits including a Dallas-style sparkly red jumpsuit, a feathery blue blouse and a cream brocade harness. We’re not suggesting you attempt these at home - these are stage outfits in the mode of pop music’s finest - but Sivan also does a great line in modern tailoring, printed separates and well-cut basics off the stage. If you’re looking to step outside your sartorial comfort zone, he’s the man to channel.
Timothée Chalamet
Chalamet has been flirting with best dressed lists ever since he had his breakthrough role in one of the most stylish films of the past few decades: Call Me By Your Name. However, it is the red carpet risk taking he’s become known for over the last couple of years that has really earned him style icon status. He is blessed with the kind of androgynous physique which means, like his sartorial predecessor David Bowie, he can wear the kind of looks his bigger, beefier colleagues simply can’t. His twists on traditional suiting (think added embellished harnesses, cummerbunds worn over a silver silk suit and cropped trousers with Western boots) will live on in the annals of style history. Oh - and the fact that his favourite red carpet accessory is his mum.
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