The Brands That Classic Menswear Style Icons Used To Wear

Clothes make the man. It’s an expression that’s been repeated by everyone from the ancient Greeks (who, despite popularising togas, said ‘the man is his clothing’) to William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. But nowhere is this adage truer than when talking about the history book’s most stylish and oft-referenced menswear maestros. But who made the clothes that made the men? From the products that pumped up Elvis the Pelvis’ pomp to the suits that gave Sinatra swag, these are the brands that style icons wore. James Dean was not only one of the most promising actors of his generation, but he also was, and remains, an undisputed style genius. In just 24 short years and with a modest body of work – Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden and Giant – Dean became the poster boy for teenage rebellion and a lingering cultural icon. Of all Dean’s looks, one more than any provided the blueprint for countless men who followed. “His signature white bound neck T-shirt, classic rider jeans and Harrington jacket, as worn in Rebel Without a Cause, are as relevant now as they were over six decades ago,” says Debenhams head of design Julian Fuller. See more at Fashion Beans.