GOTSTYLE Blog

 GQ has crowned British rapper Tinie Tempah as the Best Dressed Man in Britain for 2012.

Unlike many of his fellow rappers, Tempah opts for a smart look of slim fitted pants, graphic colour blocking, and crisp lines.

There was a major shake-up in GQ’s best dressed list for Britain, a lot of new names and a lot of men have dropped off the list. GQ’s voting panel listed Tempah’s true passion for elegance and proportion as the main reason he was awarded the top spot.

Keeping proportion in mind goes hand in hand with looking elegant (which is not just a term for the ladies anymore). It all goes back to buying clothes that fit your body.

Tempah opts to keep his accessories simple, making him known for his ever-present thick RayBans. We love his ability to keep it simple and let his clothing choices speak for themselves. This is how to pull off effortless  style, also known as elegance.

Even his casual looks are still fitted (but a little more relaxed) and stylish looking, opting to wear his shirts buttoned to the top, avoiding looking too casual.

For formal events, chose suits with details like contrasting lapels or side taping. If you’re going with a detailed jacket (or top ensemble like Tinie’s outfit on the left), keep your pants solid. The one button blazers and jackets work great to keep his shape slim.

Canadians don’t get a global reputation for being the most stylish people. But for young, urban, aspirational guys in North America, Canadian rapper Drake is one of the most stylish celebrities.

It’s all in the details for Drake. His casual style includes Tom Ford Baccarat sunglasses, and his event outfits have included velvet loafers with tassels.

Recently, we’ve seen him take more risks with fashion, like the blue silk tuxedo jacket pictured below. He’s put the days of baggy jeans and sweaters behind him (for the most part) and has grown into a cleaner, more mature look.

To get Drake’s style, the key is to invest in quality pieces and look for things with a twist. Whether it’s asymmetrical zippers and details on jackets, jeans with a more tapered fit, or unique textures. Drake loves high price designer items, but you don’t have to break the bank. Many mid-range designers have amazing and unique accessories that will easily give you look an urban edge.

When you’ve got the basic leather jacket, jeans, henleys, preppy sweaters and sneakers in your wardrobe, start looking for varsity bomber jackets, sunglasses, and of course, sweaters.

Having a lot of casual wear is key. We only ever see Drake really formal for red carpet or big events, so his casual wear often goes into the night.

Horizontal stripes are preppy and can dress up a casual outfit. Like many of his heartfelt songs he often goes against the grain of other rappers. Make the preppy look younger by including jeans and sneakers.

 British guitarist and songwriter Sergio Pizzorno lets his creativity out through both music and fashion.

If you’re a creative type, this is a great way to show it. If you don’t have a formal dress code at work (or you work for yourself as an artist), and your social events give you the freedom to go beyond suits, having a wardrobe full of unique pieces and visual interest will convey your creativity.

To get Sergio’s look, mix basics with bright colours, patterns, and eclectic finds. Stocking up on scarves is key, too. Also notice how he chooses to use one or two (maximum) pieces as the centrepiece, keeping the rest solid and simple. Combining too many eclectic pieces looks messy, not creative.

Because this is such an eclectic look, keeping the fit slim will ensure that it’s you wearing the clothes and not the clothes wearing you. To balance out the patterns, colours, and textures he plays with on top, he always keeps his pants simple with skinny black pants or jeans.

He definitely stands out from fellow musicians in a light neutral jacket with green scarf. I love seeing guys wear light colours!

Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade is a man of athletic talent and style. This isn’t news, though. He’s been featured on People’s 50 Most Beautiful people list, named the NBA’s most well-dressed player by GQ, and has held the title of Esquire’s Best Dressed Man of the Year twice. We loved him and his suit choices in this GQ article we featured in our last Runway to Reality post.

He always looks clean and dressed to impress. As a tall guy, he knows the importance of a well-tailored suit. He’s also able to play with colours and still look dapper and impressive, which helps him command attention in a very mature way.

He offers some great style advice in Men’s Fitness. My favourite piece of advice is to stand out:

“Last year during All-Star weekend I took a risk by wearing a bow tie and glasses. People had fun talking about it, but that’s the reaction I wanted.”

You wouldn’t expect to see a professional athlete, or any 6’4″, 220-pound man, wearing a bow tie and glasses. But that’s what fashion’s all about, pushing what’s accepted. And his clean, dapper looks have landed him serious praise from men’s style magazines.

He’s always been a trend starter, but we prefer the trend of bow ties to Band-Aids.