Most men with any sartorial sense agree that GQ Magazine is the arbiter of tasteful attire, and has been for 50 years (an anniversary they’re marking this year). One of the features on their website (which is packed with advice for what to wear) is a photo gallery of their picks for the “50 Most Stylish Men.” The honorees run the gamut, from Marcello Mastroianni and Yves Saint-Laurent to Kurt Cobain and Jack Kerouac. With each photo and short style bio, you get a bit of advice on how to incorporate their cool into your wardrobe. For example,
Bob Dylan gets a nod for donning Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses: the eyewear choice for everyone who has been hip since, from Muhammad Ali to Tom Cruise. Another honoree is writer Samuel Beckett, who illustrates the need for a black turtleneck in every man’s closet (”perfectly frames your face. Makes you look strong. Just don’t wear one that’s too tight or too high.”) And, of course, the Kennedy brothers, who sported tailor-made suits, Brooks Brothers oxford shirts and preppy pieces like cotton khakis. “It wasn’t the clothes that made these men. It was the subtlety and simplicity with which they wore them,” says designer Thom Browne in the slide show. The photo makes the case: Even though tweed jackets were common for the Kennedys, they look great on anyone - with khakis, jeans, a polo shirt or a V-neck sweater.