The Daily Telegraph - Features
Stephen Doig Man Friday Anthony Hopkins leads the charge on silver style for men
The cult Spanish luxury house Loewe, steered by British designer Jonathan Anderson, which counts cool young things Jodie Comer and Josh O’Connor as “faces of ” the brand, has enlisted Sir Anthony Hopkins as its new campaign star. At 84, Sir Anthony is one of the oldest to pose for a fashion house, doing so to grand effect in sleek black sweaters and a studded black coat with doughnut-print T-shirt, giving any Gen Zedder a run for their money.
Never mind Harry Styles in his Gucci catsuits and gender fluidity; these are the stylish mature men – slicks of grey hair and love-worn lines only adding to their raffish charm – to take a cue from now. If this is ageing sign me up.
1. The tailoring tour- de-force: Bill Nighy
Nighy, at 72, is a masterclass in refined elegance and sticking to a tried-and tested-formula. It has served him well; the actor makes the most of his reed-like frame in those pin-sharp Dunhill suits, alongside a shirt with a proper, serious collar – none of your wilting linen variations – and those distinctive shades. It’s an approach that’s made him one of the most stylish men in Britain; no wonder Anna Wintour is enamoured.
2. The peacock: Sir Elton John
No one shakes those tail feathers like Sir Elton, and in his seventh decade he shows no signs of slowing down, donning showman ensembles even in his down time in the South of France. Are we suggesting you head to the local golf club in head-to-toe hifalutin neon? No, but taking a tip from his knack for donning a bold, patterned shirt will add a touch of vim. Jazzy spectacles optional.
Leave it to Mick Jagger to continue his rocker stance well into his 70s; the whippet-hipped Mr Jagger plays to his strengths in how he dresses, making the most of that youthful frame in narrow jackets (most recently by Celine and Saint Laurent) and silky shirts.
4. Working the shirt: Jeff Goldblum
The actor’s devotion to Prada shirts – sometimes matching alongside his wife Emilie Livingston – has become something of an internet sensation. And rightly so; he enjoys and relishes dressing up and playing with fashion when most men are settling into safe-safe territory.
5. Don of hats: Samuel L Jackson
Again, like the aforementioned Bill Nighy, consistency in your style is key, and Samuel L Jackson sticks to that approach in his devotion to hats. From fluffy beanies to Kangol caps, as well as a handsome array of flat caps and lightweight panamas, the 73-year old star uses his most trusty accessory to add a dash of personality. A sartorial calling card, if you will.
6. Knows his holiday attire: Rick Stein
The chef, at 75, occupies an affectionate place as the nation’s favourite foodie grandad, and his faintly crumpled linen shirts and shorts are part of that charm. It’s an informed choice for the older man – less starched and upright than cotton, easy and lightweight. Linen also has the added bonus of being a tad less precious, handy when the coq au vin is bubbling furiously.