Jim Rockford is Awarded 14th Best Dressen Man on American Television

The 14th Best Dressed Man on TV: Jim Rockford of the Rockefeller Files

The Rockford Files was one of the most popular television shows to ever exist, much due to the fact that the title character’s appearance stuck out in ways that are difficult to imagine today. Indeed, during the show’s heyday, Jim Rockford (played by James Garner) was a veritable fashion icon, and rocked a look that can only be described as mid-70s chic. While the show may be long gone, Rockford’s style has had a lasting impact throughout the years, making him one of the best-dressed television characters of all time. This style may not be as easy to pull off today as it was decades ago, but this is not to say that you can’t do so if you take the time to learn as much about how to dress this way as possible. The following are just a few elements of Jim Rockford’s look that made the character who he was; just be careful with how you implement them to avoid looking like a caricature of yourself.

Embrace The Hounds-Tooth Check Blazer
If Rockford is remembered for anything at all, it was his ability to pull off the hounds-tooth check blazer in ways that other people simply could not. This is a look that takes a serious amount of guts to pull off, as it turns heads immediately. Rockford made it a staple part of his appearance, though, and often incorporated a great deal of loud colors into the look at the same time. If you have any interest in wearing a hounds-tooth check blazer, you can get a lot of mileage out of shopping at thrift stores. Thrift stores not only tend to sell these blazers, but you can usually grab one for a song given the fact that they’re not exactly popular any longer. A quick shopping tip: Make sure the jacket fits on the shoulders, has the right length, and has sleeves that are not too short (too long is always better since it can be altered for a $10-$20 at a local tailor). Try pairing this item with chocolate-brown slacks for that ‘70s look that just won’t go away; and why should it?

Get the Wing-Collared Shirts
The shirts that Jim Rockford tended to wear on the show were just as loud as one might expect, and those who are looking to get this style need to consider the wing-collared shirt above all else. Rockford’s wing-collared shirts tended to be light-blue in color, although he wasn’t impervious to wearing a variety of other colors as well. More often than not, he kept the top buttons of this shirt open, exposing his chest in a way that screams “1975.” While you might want to avoid the latter technique, you can still get a lot out of wearing this shirt, and like the hounds-tooth check blazer, you can very often find wing-collared shirts at thrift stores for exceptionally low prices.

Consider Tan Loafers
Every guy should have at least a few pairs of loafers in his wardrobe, but a lot of people don’t think “tan” when loafers come to mind. That said, tan loafers can be quite effective, and are perfect for anyone who is trying to embrace the look of Jim Rockford. Rockford wore tan loafers with an air of confidence that simply made them work, and you must too if you intend to wear them even semi-regularly. After all, tan loafers tend to stand out and turn heads, and if you aren’t ready for this, you’ll likely want to hide in the corner.

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