Seersucker means never having to say you’re sweaty.
On what would have been Ryan O’Neal’s 85th birthday today, read more about his spring-ready seersucker suit, silk knit tie, and screwball-informed specs as musicologist Dr. Howard Bannister in Peter Bogdanovich’s 1972 comedy What’s Up, Doc?
Yearly post of Gertrude Michael singing ‘Sweet Marijuana’ in Murder at the Vanities (1934). Happy 4/20!
Born today in 1918, William Holden’s wardrobe as successful yet cynical Frank Harmon in Breezy (1973) becomes brighter and more colorful through his relationship with Kay Lenz’s titular hippie hitchhiker—illustrated by the shirts under his navy shawl-collar cardigan during their trips to the ocean.
The thirty-year-old computer game Titanic: Adventure Out of Time is set aboard the famous liner that struck an iceberg 114 years ago tonight on April 14, 1912.
Characters from Andrew Conkling to Colonel Zeitel dress in a range of fashions that suit the setting and their respective class and role.
The cult classic Jackson County Jail was released 50 years ago today on April 11, 1976, starring Tommy Lee Jones as petty crook Coley Blake—dressed under his brown leather jacket in American iconography sporting his faded red henley, blue jeans, and sneakers with white rubber toe-caps and outsoles.
Western icon and bona fide cowboy Ben Johnson died 30 years ago today, leaving a screen legacy that includes memorable roles like Tector Gorch in The Wild Bunch (1969)—dressed with rugged intention in a black vest (made by ripping the sleeves off a work jacket) with requisite cowboy hat and boots.
Sweet Bird of Youth (1962) is set over Easter weekend in Mississippi, where gigolo Chance Wayne (Paul Newman) returns to his hometown dressed to impress in a cream raw silk sport jacket with a brown silk knit tie, monk shoes, and nearly ubiquitous sunglasses.
Born 65 years ago today on April 3, 1961, Eddie Murphy made his stylish screen debut in 48 Hrs. (1982)—dressed by costume designer Marilyn Vance in an Armani Prince of Wales check suit with a double-breasted notch-lapel jacket, pink pinned-collar shirt and slim printed tie, and white loafers.
On the first anniversary of his death, read about Val Kilmer’s quasi-Indiana Jones-informed style of a brown leather flight jacket, khakis, and suede boots as singer-turned-spy Nick Rivers (NOT Mel Tormé) in his 1984 screen debut, Top Secret!
Born 113 years ago today on March 29, 1913, Paul Genge’s tough-guy roles included the hitman “Ice Pick Mike” in Bullitt (1968), whose functional yet nondescript wardrobe helps him both blend in and hide his Winchester ‘97 takedown shotgun in the deep pockets of his beige Burberry raincoat.
Happy 60th birthday to Michael Imperioli!
His style as Cartier-wearing mobster Christopher Moltisanti grew more sophisticated across The Sopranos, as tasteful sports costs like this brown, olive, and black houndstooth jacket supplemented his usual tracksuits and leather jackets by the sixth season.
Born today in 1930, screen legend and style icon Steve McQueen wore double denim as a Texan ex-con rockabilly musician in the 1965 drama Baby the Rain Must Fall: an indigo denim western-yoked Wrangler snap-front shirt and dark blue denim Levi’s 501 jeans.
Happy 80th birthday, Timothy Dalton!
In the actor’s first movie as James Bond, The Living Daylights (1987), Dalton’s smart, subdued wardrobe included a tan gabardine Benjamin Simon suit with an open-neck cream shirt while confronting Soviet General Pushkin in Tangier with his trademark Walther PPK.
Released today in 1998, Wild Things stars Matt Dillon as shady high school counselor Sam Lombardo, who pairs his sun-faded polos and corduroy shorts with Persol aviators and a Rolex Submariner Date.
Born 72 years ago today, Craig Wasson’s smart casual wardrobe in Body Double (1984) tactfully blends the western-informed informality of a denim snap shirt and tooled leather belt with sporty Adidas Stan Smiths—all united by the timeless versatility of a tan corduroy sport jacket and khaki slacks.
One Battle After Another (2025) stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a burned-out ex-revolutionary wearing a red-and-black plaid bathrobe (a “revolutionary robe”, if you will) with layered T-shirts and Altra Lone Peak trail-running shoes.
@onebattlemovie.bsky.social costume design by Colleen Atwood.
In addition to being a horror classic, Night of the Living Dead (1968) is also a “Daylight Saving movie”, as Ben (Duane Jones) leads a group fighting zombies on the Sunday when clocks spring forward—dressed in Ivy-informed striped button-down shirt, stone-gray slacks, and brown apron-toe loafers.
Justified’s sixth episode “The Collection” established Timothy Olyphant’s off-duty formula as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens: plaid shirts open over henleys with his usual cowboy hat, boots, and indigo Levi’s 501 jeans.
Costume design by Ane Crabtree.
Daniel Craig (born today in 1968) reprised Benoit Blanc last year in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery—working with costume designer Jenny Eagan to follow ‘70s inspo from Yves Saint Laurent in Blanc’s golden windowpane three-piece suits worn with patterned ties, Chelsea boots, and trench coat.
For the 1978 adaptation of Death on the Nile, Anthony Powell’s Oscar-winning costume design included Andrew Pennington’s brown-on-brown stripe half-Norfolk jacket, straw homburg, and a blue shirt with contrasting club collar, worn by George Kennedy, who died 10 years ago today on February 28, 2016.
Born 94 years ago today on February 26, 1932, Johnny Cash took the stage at San Quentin two days before his 37th birthday in 1969—wearing a matching midnight frock coat and waistcoat, sky-blue French-cuff shirt, and striped trousers—to record his second album performed live with a prison audience.
“Diane…11:30 a.m., February 24th, entering the town of Twin Peaks.”
In his Bureau-approved black wool suit with conservative shirts, classic ties, and Buddhist pin in his lapel, FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (@kylemaclachlan.bsky.social) fatefully arrived in Twin Peaks today in 1989.
Released 30 years ago today in 1996, Bottle Rocket launched the careers of director Wes Anderson and actors Luke and Owen Wilson.
As small-time crook Dignan, Owen wears the same vintage terry-lined Jantzen cabana shirt from Anderson’s 1992 short, with white trousers and a black Casio G-Shock watch.
Across the 1st season of The Pitt, costume designer Lyn Paolo dressed Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) for functional—and regionally informed—comfort in his Beers of the Burgh zip-up hoodie with black FIGS scrub top, brown Carhartt work pants, black @newbalance.bsky.social 990v5s, and Seiko SRPG35 field watch.
Déjà Vu (2006) begins on Fat Tuesday as ATF agent Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington) joins a time-warping task force investigating a New Orleans ferry explosion. Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick dressed Doug in a cozily oversized brown suede jacket with sport shirts and a Fortis Cosmonauts Chronograph.
Across the last half of The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, released 50 years ago today in 1976, L.A. cabaret owner Cosmo Vitelli (Ben Gazzara) subdues his typically flashier style with a navy serge peak-lapel suit and mint open-neck shirt—accented with his usual diamond pinky ring and gold wristwatch.
Inspired by actual events and released 40 years ago on Valentine’s Day 1986, The Delta Force stars Chuck Norris as a U.S. commando deployed against a group of aircraft hijackers.
Norris’ character arrives in Beirut wearing a belted khaki safari jacket, black Reebok sneakers, and Timex Camper watch.
Born 100 years ago today in 1926, Leslie Nielsen’s comedic second act took flight with Airplane! (1980) as Dr. Rumack, whose deadpan delivery was as serious as his style: a brown pinstripe three-piece suit with an always-buttoned jacket and coordinated striped tie.
And don’t call him Shirley.
Taxi Driver was released 50 years ago in February 1976.
As loner cabbie and war veteran Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) grows increasingly paranoid, he adopts a more militant image in an olive M65 field jacket concealing his self-rigged system of holsters, dark Lee jeans, cowboy boots… and a mohawk.
Born 85 years ago today, Nick Nolte’s wardrobe in The Good Thief—Neil Jordan’s 2002 remake of Bob le flembeur—could be described as “Bob le flamboyant”, anchored by wild geometric-printed shirts under black leather jackets like this bomber-style blouson plus a hefty turquoise-detailed belt buckle.
