The star of Don Jon is not just handy in front of the camera and behind it, he knows how to put together a decent outfit too
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has never really strayed too far from the public consciousness after he first appeared on our screens as Tommy in the hilarious 3rd Rock from the Sun, but he when he appeared in 500 Days of Summer and Looper, he was suddenly back on the A-list for Hollywood, and he looks set to continue that success as he makes his directorial debut with Don Jon, which opens this week.
We always like to look smart here at JOE, so we’re going to take a few tips from the impeccably dressed star of The Dark Knight Rises and Inception ourselves by having a look at him as one of our Style Icons. We’re sure he’d be delighted to hear the news, of course.
When we met Joseph earlier this week he was pretty well-dressed as always, but the mainstay of his wardrobe is a solid three piece suit, something every man should own, and a favourite of a range of stars from Bradley Cooper to the ever well-dressed über-football-genius Pep Guardiola.
Don’t get us wrong, you can’t beat a t-shirt and jeans combo for a Saturday night out, but sometimes you have to up your game a bit to make an impact.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s clean look all starts from the top down, so get yourself a good hair cut. This means getting a barber who’s happy to make a recommendation to suit you and what shape will be best for your face. This might mean taking a bit of a chance and changing your usual style, but if your barber can’t suggest something, then give your current barber the boot and get someone who knows what they’re at.
Speaking of boots, ditch the boot cut and get something fitted. Now, we’re not talking about incredibly skinny drainpipe jeans that you have to sleep in because you can’t get them off once they’re on, it means that they’re properly fitted to you, just like it says on the tin.
If you’re not sure what size you need, don’t be afraid to ask a member of staff, they’re always good for helpful advice. And look for a slim fit on the leg that doesn’t get too wide at the bottom and cover up your shoes too. In terms of colour, opt for grey, as this will make the whole suit easy to match to other items. The waistcoat inside the suit also creates a layered look, which is comfortable and keeps you looking your best. JGL (as we like to call him) knows what colours suit him, and grey is pretty classic too. For us Irish, navy is a good bet, or a rich blue, while black can often be too dark for our lighter colouring.
A good smart white shirt is a wardrobe essential for every man, no matter whether or not you really wear suits that much or not. You can match it with a jumper and jeans, and don’t be afraid to up the cost on this a bit. It’s important to get something that looks nicely tailored on the shoulders, which makes all the difference. Throw in a plain navy tie and you’ll be as dapper as Joseph in no time.
Get a more relaxed look by slapping on some jeans instead of the suit slacks and ditch the jacket. Roll up the sleeves but keep the shirt and tie. Even if you’re not going anywhere fancy, it makes a good impression to look like you might need to run out of a room and give the final seal of approval on an important business deal at any minute. It’s also a handy way to get a few outfits out of one piece. It’s all about rotation, as any football manager will tell you.
When it comes to shoes, you have a couple of options. A modern take on a brogue in brown will go well, or if you want to be a bit more adventurous, why not go for blue (not so suede) ones.
All together you can scrub up pretty well and have a couple of versions of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s look without breaking a sweat or breaking the bank. If there’s one key to putting together a good outfit it’s that you need to be comfortable in what you’re wearing as well as having the confidence to pull it off. Red velvet suit? Not a problem for Jospeh, who wears it with style and panache, even while lip-synching.
Remember, a well dressed man will always get the girl too, as evidenced by Joseph being a favourite with the ladies, including the very lovely Scarlett Johansson, his co-star in Don Jon.
Don Jon hits cinemas on Friday the 15th of November
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