Men's Style Icons: A Closer Look at Richard Avedon's Style

Men's Style Icon Richard Avedon

Ask a lot of people if they know who Richard Avedon is, and you’re bound to end up with some relatively blank stares. While he may not exactly be a household name, those who keep up on fashion and its history know Avedon as being one of the most influential fashion photographers to ever live. During his time behind the camera, Avedon was able to change the way people view fashion, and had a lasting impact on the industry that exists to this very day. Many people don’t realize, however, that Avedon was actually a very fashionable man himself. After all, you’ve got to have a strong sense of how to dress if you have any intention on photographing it in an effective way, and Avedon knew this. If you’re unfamiliar with the way Richard Avedon would dress while either at a shoot or walking across town, take these following elements of style into consideration.



The "Slim" Look
Slim-fitting suits are considered by most fashion-forward individuals to be the absolute height of modernity, as the “boxy” designs of old have all but gone out the window. This being said, Avedon was ahead of his time in that he wore slim-fitting clothing throughout his entire career; it didn’t take long for him to realize that this was truly his look. The “slim” approach was taken to every type of piece he would wear; his shirts were just as slim-fitting as his pants, and it helped to articulate his rather lean physique. While they were slim fitted, they were not too overly tight. It is a perfect blend of fit, style, and comfort. Perhaps working in the fashion industry brings out one’s urge to dress in slim-fitting clothing; it certainly did for Richard Avedon.

Simplicity with Color
To put it simply, some people take the concept of incorporating color into one’s ensemble and go quite overboard with it. Richard Avedon knew that this was seldom the right route to take, and instead went stark whites and blacks almost all of the time. A white button-down shirt paired with black slacks was one of his favorite combinations, although the black turtleneck would also make an appearance more often than not. His thick-framed black glasses helped to add an accent to his ensembles, as did the slim black ties he would often pair with his dress shirts. The results were almost always the same; clean and refreshing in a way that simply cannot be achieved with color.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
If you want to take anything away from how Richard Avedon dressed, it should be the fact that he emphasized clean lines and simplicity above all else. Sometimes color can get in the way, and there’s no need to let that happen. The pieces he chose also tended to be rather slim in style, which is perfect for modern men to incorporate into their look. Vintage fashion is huge at the moment, so you may wish to look for vintage pieces such as those that Avedon would have worn when he was alive. The more you experiment, the closer you can come to getting this look. In terms of ties, we suggest simple designs such as solids or very subtle textured weaves. Skinny ties (narrower than 3.25 inches) should be worn if you want to emulate this look. Tie bars and clips are also a perfect accessory along with solid colored pocket squares, simple cufflinks, as well as button studs.

Other Featured Style Icons:
A Look at Style Icon Gianni Agnelli
A Closer Look at 1920s Style Icon Al Capone

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