Famous Fits: Fiction's Best Dressed
The moving mood boards of film and television are the most fertile ground for sartorial inspiration.
Choosing the right role models in life can be a tricky business lest they put a foot wrong and become a social pariah, taking you down with them. Choosing your style icons from the world of make-believe, however, is a much safer bet. Frozen in time, these characters are immune from doing something embarrassing to make you regret ever associating with them. It allows you to separate the art from the artist - the art, of course, being very well dressed.
Good, bad or downright villainous: let's look at some of the best-dressed characters of all time.
Akeem Joffer: Coming to America (1988)
Prince Akeem Joffer's style epitomised timeless elegance with a modern twist. As the heir to the Zamundan throne, his attire effortlessly blended traditional African patterns, regal motifs, and contemporary, tailored silhouettes. Even when he traded in his royal duds to cosplay as a commoner, he still managed to nail every fit he put together.
Carlton Banks: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996)
Askewing tradition by opting for Carlton over Will, we're kicking off the list with the underrated fashion star of everyone's favourite extended family. Bursting at the seams with madras, cable knits and more pairs of hard-bottoms than YG, Carlton's preppy credentials were unmatched and probably the precursor for some of the streetwear/prep sensibilities of contemporary faves like Noah and Aime Leon Dore. Give him his flowers.
Dave: Dave (2020-Present)
When rapper Lil Dicky (real name Dave Burd) conceived of a series loosely based on his rapid ascent to fame, the world expected a barrage of dick jokes, general hijinks and a few laughs. What came as a surprise, however, was the unrelenting stream of covetous clothing that the character Dave trotted out on a weekly basis. His go-to combo of luxe leisure suits and breezy camp collars elevate, and are just eye-catching enough to give Dave a mention on our list.
Fran Fine: The Nanny (1993-1999)
Fendi, Gucci, Moschino. A generational talent with a generational wardrobe whose influence is still felt today on designer mood boards and social media feeds alike. You may not have watched the show, but you have definitely seen the clothes, or the clothes that the clothes inspired. What made Fran iconic, apart from her voice, of course, was that her style was at once singular and universal. Most of what appeared on screen would be considered costumey today, yet it doesn't stop the fashion obsessed from wondering at the possibility of pulling off any of the out-there outfits featured on the show.
Tyler Durden: Fight Club (1999)
The eccentric and chaotic Tyler Durden was more than a messenger of anti-capitalism: he was a fashion icon in his own right. Grungy yet put-together, his colourful tropical button-ups and vibrant t-shirts clashed so much with the omnipresent crimson leather jacket that it actually looked good. Brad Pitt's effortless look went against the hyper-masculine grain of the nineties, a bold choice for the era that resulted in a timeless and much-copied aesthetic. We don't mind the popped collars and red sunglasses, which are both having a resurgence.
Dickie Greenleaf: The Talented Mr Ripley (1999)
Looking like Jude Law definitely doesn't hurt. Still, more is needed to explain the complete mastery of Playboy style as displayed by The Talented Mr Ripley's Dickie Greenleaf. Some have speculated that being so well dressed distracts from having a name so silly. Whatever the reason, if you plan to look wealthy, laid-back and cool for the entire summer season, look no further than Dickie’s drip.
Words by Tshiamo Seape for Letterhead