There are some pretty great life stories out there, but Hugh Hefner has to be one of the better ones. So we’re understandably excited to hear that someone’s finally thinking about the movie version.

In an interview with Comingsoon.net, Hef gives some details on the project including attached director (Brett Ratner) and hopeful star (Robert Downey Jr.). Although Hef claims Iron Man has nothing to do with it, it’s hard to ignore Downey’s recent take on Tony Starks as a techier version of the Playboy magnate. As for Ratner, we assume he’ll go easy on the car chases.

More on Hef: The Movie»

Photographed by our fearless lensman, Patrick McMullan.

There are few things as entertaining down Hollywood way as Robert Downey Jr. in full wackjob mode. His cinematic comeback was that much more compelling because of all the guns, drugs and jail time he slogged through to get there. Now making waves with his blackface tour de force Tropic Thunder—and still sporting the ’70s ‘stache he grew for the role—he showed up to the flick’s LA premiere the other night looking like a cross between George Harrison and Robert Goulet.

More on Downey’s getup»

INFDaily via Jezebel

We’ve known about Guy Ritchie’s upcoming Sherlock Holmes movie, but the fine ladies at Jezebel were kind enough to draw our attention to this picture of the leading man (the inestimable Robert Downey Jr.) in full costume.

Unfortunately they were more interested in his coffee cup than his ascot, but we’ll call this one a victory without seeing another frame. Between the striped waistcoat—which has a touch of Mr. Smith about it—and the finely checkered pants, we’re ready to declare Dr. Holmes the unlikely style icon of the year.

Plus, bowlers are coming back in a big way. And the usual double-brim is so last century.

AskMen just put up its list of the 49 most influential men of the year and, naturally, we’re furious we didn’t make the list. Of course, we would have been the only blogger other than Kanye…

Now that we’ve gotten over the initial shock, we have to admit it’s pretty good work. It’s got its share of our favorite movie stars—The Cloon (22) and Robert Downey Jr. (4)— mixed in with who-the-hell-is-that picks, like Jonathan Ive (23), the design mastermind behind the iPhone, and Rob Kay (8), the brains behind Guitar Hero. On the style front, Kempt favorites Thom Browne (43) and Tom Ford (4) also weigh in, although we’re surprised Ford is so high and Browne is so low. Maybe the accountant look isn’t as popular as we thought.

But any list that puts Kanye two spots ahead of Ben Bernanke can’t be all bad.

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.

The trailer for Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes just made it to the internet, and while it’s not quite as bowler-heavy as we’d hoped, it’s enough to get us excited. Although we don’t remember quite so many hammer fights in Mr. Doyle’s version…

See the trailer»

It would appear the neckerchief is once again at the throats of the stylish populace. Don’t say you weren’t warned…

The Cut just shined a spotlight on a new line of western cravats out of Brooklyn, and took the opportunity to call “trend.” Of course, Mr. Ford was on this particular tip long before Williamsburg caught on, and Robert Downey Jr.’s Zodiac look included a well-placed foulard before just about anyone. But we’re crying foul on this particular retro kick for one simple reason: the weather.

The Brooklyn-based gentlemen of leisure are using the neckerchief to protect their neck and collar from summertime sweat. It’s rooted in function and comfort, making it a much better idea than most trendspotters realize. The problem is, it’s August, and while it’s still gross out there, nobody’s going to be gearing up for a neckerchief purchase until next spring. There’ll be a lot of options waiting for them after the thaw, but it’s a little early to start making predictions.

Also, Six Other Women: Nine just gets better and better. [Style.com]

The Augmented Interview: Eighteen surprisingly intense quotes from Robert Downey Jr., courtesy of Esquire’s latest hi-tech issue. [Esquire]

Moc Trial: After declaring war on the half-zip sweater, the new kids of style blogging shine a light on Arrow Moccasins. [Put This On]

I Have Not Yet Begun to Twee: A discourse on airports, sketchily rendered in colored pencil. [The Awl]