He wore black velvet

For this holiday season there's nothing more elegant and retro looking than a velvet suit or jacket. Reaching its peak in the late 60s and 70s, every stylish man owned at least one velvet jacket, from the rock stars to Hollywood. In recent years velvet has made a comeback and can be seen in the latest Gucci collection among others.


Shown below is Jack Nicholson with then wife Angelica Huston attending the Cannes Film Festival in the mid 70s. Despite the fact that this photo was taken in May, Jack managed to pull off the velvet suit perfectly. Angelica is wearing an off the shoulder dress, which seems to have made a comeback recently too.


I would recommend two looks using Velvet for this season, one would be the black velvet suit with a more discreet necktie or a skinny tie (some slippers would be ideal); and the other one would be a black velvet jacket paired with a white shirt and a good pair of jeans.






Photo: GQ

Travelling with Romy & Alain

In 1969 Romy Schneider and Alain Delon costarred alongside Jane Birkin and Maurice Ronet on "La Piscine", a film by Jacques Deray. Besides the intriguing plot, what was special about this film was the fact that Schneider & Delon were seen together on screen after having ended their relationship years before.


I suppose the photo below was taken during a promotional trip for the film. On it we can see Alain Delon wearing a black shirt, a leather jacket (ideal for this Fall/Winter), an original thick leather belt, and clear trousers. Romy Schneider is wearing probably a knee length dress with a waist belt, and a head band.




Photo: Flickr

Draper...Don Draper

"Mad Men" can be considered among the best and most successful TV series of the second half of the 00s. I guess most of you, my readers, have watched it or at least heard/read about it. The series' plot focuses around the life of Donald "Don" Draper (Jon Hamm) and those who work at Sterling Cooper, an advertising agency in Madison Avenue, hence the name "Mad Men".


Set in the early years of the 60s in New York City, besides the great storyline one can be amused by the settings (they've pretty much recreated the early 60s with perfection), the soundtrack, and of course the fashions. It's like bringing the early 60s to present day TV with HD. The beauty of characters like Betty Draper, Peggy Olson, and Joan Holloway must not be missed.


Below the always stylish Don Draper enjoying some moments of relaxation from his bustling life.







Photo: Flickr

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood, best remembered for his roles in movies such as: "The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly", "Dirty Harry", and "Million Dollar Baby", was photographed somewhere along the early/mid 60s wearing some black trousers, a red shirt, a white knitted cardigan, and a leather strap watch.


His sweater somehow reminds me of Alain Delon's fall jacket shown in a previous post this Fall. It's worth putting attention to the button area of this item. An ensemble that can be worn as a whole or without the sweater this Fall/Winter and on the first days of Spring when the air is still cool.



Photo: Lital.com

David Bowie

David Bowie can be defined with two words: everchanging chamaleon. He is one of music's icons and an artist who has changed his look many times within the last four decades. From the Mod look he wore in the 60s, to the paisley shirts, to Ziggy Stardust, to sleek suits in the 80s and 90s, Bowie has influenced men's fashion.


Below we can see Bowie sporting a hairdo that's a mix between the "Mod Bowl" and a "Mullet" in 1966.





Photo: Flickr

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra, known to many as "Ol' Blue Eyes" and "The Voice", was one of the greatest musical performers of the 20th Century. Starting his career in the 40s during the last years of the Big Band era, he reached the peak of his career in the 50s and 60s, and was a living legend in the 70s and on. Songs such as "Strangers In The Night", "My Way", "Something Stupid", "The Way You Look Tonight", among others are part of his musical legacy.

Below he is shown during a recording session in the early 60s wearing an outstanding grey suit paired with a navy blue tie, cufflinks, pocket square, and matching fedora. A look that has made its comeback in the last two years, and looks stylish now as it did back then.


Photo: Flickr

Taylor Burton

Long before the Hollywood couples of today, there was Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton, they were perhaps "The Couple" of the 60s. Their love story began on the set of "Cleopatra", one of the biggest productions in cinema history. They got married years later, Richard gave Elizabeth the "Taylor Burton" diamond in 1969, then divorced, then remarried and divorced in the 70s, and remained close till Burton's death in 1984.


From Hollywood to Monaco, to St. Tropez to London, to Mexico; they always caught the attention of photographers. During the shooting of "The Night Of The Iguana" in Mexico, famed photographer Henry Clarke (the one responsible for some of the most iconic fashion photographs of the 60s) snapped both Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton leisuring on set. He is wearing a matching light colored turtleneck jersey and trousers with some suede shoes, while Elizabeth appears to be wearing a kaftan.


To end this post, I'd like to wish all of my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving!




Photo: Corbis