THE style icon, and I will brook no dissent, is Fred Astaire in the mid-late 1930s. The look of that era is still the basis of elegant male dressing, and no-one did it as well as Astaire. He may have borrowed a few ideas from the POW, but he was largely his own invention and whatever he borrowed he used more effectively. As for current day exponents, many that I like have been mentioned, and all of them derive their style from that golden era. Barbera leads the pack, far and away, as he should given his profession. Similarly, and equally to be expected, RL dresses himself beautifully and his Purple Label and Ralph Lauren lines of tailored clothing, and even the old blue label, afford the RTW and MTM customer the same opportunity. Boyer knows exactly what to do, as does Flusser even though he doesn't always do it himself. Luca di Montezemolo and Beppe Modenese are additional Italian stand outs not as well known here as Barbera. As for someone younger, Sean Combs has the gift, though he often overindulges his Daddy/Diddy side. If, however, I could have the wardrobe of one man, and I could wear it since we're the same size, it would be Ron Rifkin. I knew him as an actor in numerous character roles in film and on stage, but I never was aware of his sartorial skill until my wife fell in love with Jennifer Garner and insisted on watching every episode of Alias. At first the silliness of the show drove me to distraction, but then I found I could entertain myself quite well observing the way Rifkin dressed. Turns out it was all his own taste, which he came by naturally from being in the clothing business (family, like me, I think).
but Tiki Barber's outfit this morning was really awesome
