The best fashion lessons, we find, tend to come from older generations. In the film world, one group of men in particular stand out, namely the Hollywood icons of the 1950s. Think James Dean with his Harrington jackets and American blue jeans, John Wayne with his Western attire and Cary Grant with his stellar suits. Across the decade that was, all levels of menswear flourished and the guy who arguably owned the casual side of things was Marlon Brando.
Rising to fame for his role in 1951's A Streetcar Named Desire, Brando's wardrobe instantly elevated the basic essentials most men take for granted: crewneck T-shirts, long-sleeved jumpers, slim leather belts. But elsewhere he also made the case for bolder pieces, such as the leather motorcycle jackets he immortalised in 1953's The Wild One.
So here, on what would have been Brando's birthday, we reveal the seven items you need to kickstart a wardrobe inspired by the man himself…
When: January 1951
Why it works: When Marlon Brando rose to fame following the release of A Streetcar Named Desire in 1951, it was (slightly) in part due to his brilliant wardrobe. The reason it was so good? A good bunch of classic basics, at the pinnacle of which stood the white T-shirt. Embrace the crewneck style (a little fitted for full Brando effect) with loose trousers and pumps and you'll be winning the simple style game.
When: January 1955
Why it works: Sure, Brando was a master of the white T-shirt, but he also knew how to turn the jazzy dial up. Enter his brilliant shirt collection, our favourite of which is this polka-dot embossed piece. Tucked into his trousers (a signature style move, FYI) and left unbuttoned, the result was nonchalance at its finest (and proof you can embrace print while still looking cool).
When: January 1955
Why it works: Continuing on the formal side of things, Brando's accessory collection was equally stellar. Our favourite move of his? Got to be his white moiré braces, finished with a stripe and hooked onto the band of his brilliant high-waisted trousers. Atop a head-to-toe black ensemble (and nicely broken up by a tucked-in, polka-dot tie), he confirmed you can't go wrong with the the most classic suit companion.
When: October 1949
Why it works: Brando was all about the basics, even before his characters sported them on screen. Here he is visiting his grandma's house in 1949, wearing his favoured type of kecks (loose and linen, FYI) with a knitted crewneck jumper. Tucked into trousers, the knit worked wonders, so invest in a similar style today if you're in search of real effortlessness. Simple works best, after all.
When: January 1955
Why it works: The closest thing you'll see to trainers in Brando's wardrobe is his battered canvas pumps in A Streetcar Named Desire. The rest of the time, he opted for leather designs: case in point, these black derby brogues. With a nice chunky sole, traditional wing-tip brogue punching and lace-up finish, they were the perfect base to his super-wide suit (shoutout to the zoots).
When: September 1952
Why it works: You've probably gathered by this point that Brando's tops were always tucked in. It's an easy (but winning) style move; not only does it allow for full display of the natural silhouette, but it also gives you the excuse to loop a skinny leather belt through your trousers or jeans. Stick to simple colours (black or beige, Brando would say) and make sure it's sealed with a square buckle. Simple as this may be, it's still unbelievably elegant.
When: March 1953
Why it works: Looking to update your outerwear game? Turn to Brando in The Wild One for some solid inspiration. Playing the leader of a motorcycle gang, his respective uniform brought a lot of popularity to rockabilly clothing, which he wore with bulky black boots and low-rise denim jeans (cuffs turned all the way up). To emulate his classic look, invest in Schott NYC's “perfecto” design – that's the one Brando is wearing here.
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