Style Icon - Kanye West

My published editorial - www.thestyleking.com

 Kanye West. Lyrical genius, music producer, American Dream success story, style icon, and soon to be (or not, as the case may be) one of Central Saint Martin’s best – we salute you!

So far Mr West is our most contemporary  icon of style and his fast track to fashionable success has proved too great to ignore.

Starting off as a record producer and discovered by Jay-Z, Kanye started a music career all of his own which has seen him reach lofty highs. Collaborating with musical greats Alicia Keys, Ludacris and Janet Jackson, his five US number one albums all went platinum (receiving 14 Grammies in total) and he even founding his own record label GOOD Music with such artists on its books as John Legend.

It’s not just soulful gangster rap and electro pop that’s putting West on the map, and we shouldn’t dismiss Kanye West’s credibility as a true bastion of fashion because of his apparently rejected application to enrol on the prestigious Saint Martin’s MA course in fashion design.

His recent internship with Karl Largerfeld at Fendi and his strong presence on the front row of the world’s fashion shows has led to a fashion designing splurge. West has announced he is to stick with fashion, designing a collection of scarves inspired by his current album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in collaboration with the French design duo M/M.

His fascination with fashion has a deep rooted connection with the attention to detail he pays to his own image and style, which is nothing short of floorless. Kanye squarely has his feet in the two different camps; Modern American Dandy and cool kid, Casual (but never sloppy) Gangster Chic.

Not afraid of the finer fabrics and accessories of dressing like a gentleman, when Mr West wears a suit he’s rarely seen without a pocket square, neck tie or scarf and favours sharp crisp tailoring. He has also given new energy to the bow tie proving formal attire isn’t reserved for royalty or the stuffy establishment. Kanye, wouldn’t be Kanye without his modern twist on formal style – his signature eyewear. Whether it’s something more traditional with vintage flare, or his slatted plastic lenses he’s made face furniture his own.

On the other hand, he’s perfected the casual lounge wear favoured by R’n’B hip-hop moguls all over the globe. Sports jackets, varsity jackets, joggers, fur trim and jumped up high tops are a must!

What’s really key, of course is his self assured steely cool attitude and confidence whilst still being the upmost gentleman. Kanye has successfully conquered every challenge and career path he’s taken on and has proven to be the king of cool as well as a maverick of style.

By Sam Outing

STYLE ICON - CARY GRANT

My published editorial - www.thestyleking.com

Few men can match Cary Grant’s status as a man so perfectly turned out that he looks effortless and natural.

With a successful career spanning more than three decades he was named the second Greatest Male Star of All Time and he starred in some of Hollywood’s finest and most iconic films; The Philadelphia Story, Arsenic and Old Lace, An Affair to Remember and To Catch a Thief to name but a few.

Cary Grant also appearing next to some of the worlds most beautiful and sort after women include Katherine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly proving on screen his looks and style made him a Hollywood heartthrob.

In front of the lens, as well as behind Cary Grant portrayed him self as the British dandy and Casanova of the golden age. Oozing with charm and charisma with that devastating ability to woo his way into any screen sirens heart, his sharp, well assembled style of tailored suits and his own take on the popular, new trend of American ‘casual sports wear’ of the 1930’s did nothing but give added confidence and appeal to his effortless image.

Never seen in denim or jeans, he boasted his own take on casual, choosing chinos, slacks and plus fours with brogues and colourful socks. As well as the casual leisure wear of Los Angeles he also scrubbed up well, favouring blazers and sports jackets with an open neck or a tight high knotted tie, (No lazy knots and undone top buttons here) taking his formal wear seriously and often sported a pocket square or neck-a-chief, adding a flare of colour. Grant also popularised the masculine long formal trench coats and trilby hat. Whether it be on the decks of cruise ships or at the top of the Empire State building he posed as the embodiment of gentlemanly sophistication.

To perfect Mr Grant’s look would be to become the embodiment of the Sauvé leading man of legend; handsome, virile, charismatic, effortless and above all charming. You never know, it could lead to your very own affair to remember.

Style Icon - Bryan Ferry

My published editorial - www.thestyleking.com

The Style King has, of course, its style icons. And Bryan Ferry, British pop’s eccentric charmer, is the first to be championed.

From his introduction to fame with Roxy Music, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, right through to his solo-career years, Ferry’s cool demeanour and sense of style has never faltered.

As Roxy’s confident, slick-haired, leather-jacket-wearing vocalist, he led the band to three Number One albums and 10 Top Ten singles. He went solo in 1973, while remaining a member of Roxy, and is still a music guru and respected lyricist today. His latest album, Olympia, was launched in the autumn.

But Ferry isn’t known for his musical talents alone; his well-honed effortless style and his love of menswear have given him plenty of fashion credentials, too. In the Seventies, his edgy look influenced that of the flamboyant New Romantics and he quickly became an icon of steely cool, relaxed masculinity.

Now, aged 64, Ferry is still, arguably, as influential an arbiter of style as he was back then. Though he has now ditched the drainpipe jeans, open-necked silk shirts, zebra prints and military brocading in favour of more gentlemanly attire, he still stands out as someone with a sophisticated sense of style. Even though he may whip out a sequined blazer from time to time, he wears it with enviable finesse.

For those wishing to follow in his fashion footsteps, think floppy hair, white shirt, tailored jacket, black brogues. And don’t forget the most important ingredient: a tie. Ferry believes that what you wear contributes to how you perform, and is said to record all his albums wearing a tie. Adopt his look and you never know, it might even help you in your music endeavours, too…