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A blog dedicated to the interesting, scandalous, useful and cutting edge in the world of men’s style, fashion and grooming.
Kempt bids a fond farewell to Sydney Pollack today, a filmmaker who made his name on restraint, subtle humanism and consummate professionalism. In short, a man in full. As his recent co-star George Clooney put it, “Sydney made the world a little better, movies a little better and even dinner a little better. A tip of the hat to a class act. He will be missed.”
One of the startling things about Old Hollywood photographs is how comfortable all the stars are with elegance. Gary Cooper made his living playing tough guys, but when he put on a suit, he didn’t forget details like the pocket square, and he didn’t fall into knee-jerk simplicity. He wasn’t afraid to dress up.
We’ve gushed about Cooper before, but this time we got a little better peek at his wardrobe. The pic comes from an exhibit at the International Center for Photography, spanning from 1923 to 1937. We aren’t surprised Cooper made the cut. During those years, he may have been the most glamorous man in Hollywood.
Any McQueen comparisons are purely coincidental…
Old Hollywood is a glamorous enough style, we’re surprised no labels have tried to revive it. (Chaplin, anyone?) This picture of Buster Keaton, his director Edward Sedgwick, and simian companion Josephine holds almost a dozen style lessons, including the proper form for the newsboy cap, the nonchalant smoking break, and the hardest look of all: the shoulder-mounted monkey.
If you’re really trying to nail the Old Hollywood look, a bit of tweed should help.
This Bentley Tweed cap harkens back to a time when London was still a fashion capital, and the occasional non-fur-lined earflap was still acceptable. It may seem like an unlikely style revival, but when Robert Downey Jr.’s take on Sherlock Holmes comes out in November, it may seem a whole lot likelier.
via benhastenContinuing with our Old Hollywood obsession, we ran across this picture of Walt Disney.
The Bixby beltline is in full effect—this was the 30s, after all—but what caught our eye was the loose button-loops on the placket of his polo. It’s a look you might be more used to seeing on Errol Flynn (or Robin Hood).
But we wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where Walt picked it up.
via BenhastenAlthough he may occasionally find himself at a loss for words, a gentleman is always ready for new customs. Even if it means adapting to a world in which women light cigarettes for men.
There’s plenty of changes afoot, but you’ll never get anywhere if you don’t try them out.
