How to Dress Like Cary Grant

SHOP THE VIDEO:

To put it simply, Cary Grant didn't attempt to reinvent the wheel with the way he dressed, rather with his simple and timeless attire he formed the archetype for the modern gentleman in terms of both outfit and demeanor. Grant modeled himself after those in Hollywood whom he met, worked with, and idolized personally. For his sophisticated looks and manners, his primary inspirations were director Leo McCarey and playwright and composer Noel Coward. For his more athletic and adventurous side, he modeled himself after the matinee idol of his own youth, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. In the broad strokes, while Cary Grant's clothing was immaculate, it never overshadowed him. Phrased another way, he wore the clothes, not the other way around.

With that said, let's go into a bit more detail with some of Grant's personal style choices and hallmarks.

Many of the custom pieces in Grant's wardrobe were made by tailors from the famed Savile Row in London. He spared no expense as long as he could be assured of the quality buying garments that would last. In fact, when some of his shirts would start to show wear around the collar or the cuffs, as all shirts inevitably do, he would sometimes have them sent back to have the worn portions remade. Why do this when he could easily have afforded a new shirt? Well, he knew that the existing shirt already looked good on him and he wanted to maximize its usefulness and its value. This is a lesson we could take from him and we'll get into that later. His suits and shirts, typically tailored in a British style but at the same time, not necessarily meant to look explicitly regional were often custom tailored at places such as Cifonelli in Rome or Dunhill and Aquascutum in London.

Although he was sometimes seen in alternative and more rustic suiting fabrics such as tweed, Grant was most often seen wearing dark wool suits with either simple accessories or none at all and his shoes were always impeccably polished.

As he wrote in a 1962 magazine article, “some of my suits are 10 to 20 years old, many of them ready-made and reasonably priced.” Again, though he had the money and the taste to have suits made for him bespoke, he wasn't above buying garments off the rack from time to time if he happened to spot something that suited his own personal style well.

He stuck with what he called the middle of fashion, for example, his trousers were never cut to be too baggy or too tight and the widths of his lapels were never too wide or too thin. Everything was fairly centered and proportional on the whole. His philosophy is well encapsulated in this quote “simplicity to me has always been the essence of good taste”

So how can one emulate Cary Grant's famous style?

Number one, fit should always come first. A well-tailored suit will always look better than something bought off the rack but at the same time, an off-the-rack suit made of inexpensive materials that does fit well will still look better than something made of luxurious materials that is baggy or otherwise improperly sized.

Number two, stick with well-made clothing and avoid the super sales. As Cary Grant's father once said “it is better to buy one good pair of shoes than four cheap ones”

Number three, keep it simple. Another piece of his father's wisdom came to him when as a young man he happened to be wearing an outfit with some loud socks. His father said to him “remember, it is you walking down the street, not your socks”.

Tip number four is something we've alluded to a little bit already, avoid unnecessary accessories. It was unusual to find him with anything more than a simple pocket square and a well-made wristwatch and sometimes, he would even forego these elements too.

Finally, number five, sweaters, specifically cardigans, are a versatile staple for any man's wardrobe. Grant had a fondness for multiple types of sweaters and being almost as well known for his perfect head of hair as he was for his outfits, he appreciated that cardigans could be put on without being pulled over the head or mussing the hair.

Over 30 years after his passing, Cary Grant remains one of the true icons of old Hollywood.
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Gentleman's Gazette

#gentlemanofstyle #carygrant #notsponsored

[lanadale]

AN EXCELLENT DRESSER. A Great Actor and a Very Kind Soul. How he is missed!

[JEDiTV]

I like the idea of this being a series, focusing on the “icons of style”, on Gentlemen’s Gazette.

[floyd]

Indiscreet is my favorite Cary Grant movie. His style is undeniable.
2. North by Northwest
3. To catch a thief (because he was very casually dressed in this film)

[remussincu]

Great video! Can you, please, make one about the style of Marcello Mastroianni ?

[kross]

I love all your videos on style icons. Would love to see one on Charlie Watts, who we recently lost and was maybe the most stylish rocker ever.

[schrisdellopoulos]

Nice job fellas. Love to see you stretch yourselves and do a video on the style of Steve McQueen. Baracuta Harrington, desert boots and jeans, to perfectly tailored suits. The King of Cool created a style for the latter half of the twentieth century.

[therealernestdagrosajr]

Celebrities like Cary Grant, James Stewart, Bogie, The Coop, etc. had good sense of style.

[waltski]

Looking good Preston. Superb video featuring a classy man. Awaiting the installment on Steve McQueen!

[Greggory]

Great video! I have always enjoyed Cary Grant's films and believe he was a good looking guy. However, I have never considered him a style icon. But now your video has caused me to see him in a new light. Gene Kelly is a celebrity from that era that I also believe had a great sense of style as well.

[harrykenyon]

Cary grant is my personal icon as I age. I'm in the marketing game with many under 35 and it's a shame that my approach to style gets lost to casual attitude. When I'm in a jacket or a suit, Eben during times when a suit is appropriate, a tie is to much and I'm generally alone. Geography has something to do with that as well, as is very warm where I live.

[supersonique]

Very well done and a great way of introducing 'dressing well' by highlighting the style icons of classic and modern cinema! And who would not of wanted to be 'Cary Grant' in the day? it is said that even Cary Grant wanted to be Cary Grant ! Again, carry on with this theme.

[alshttrbg]

Truly a legend of class and style! Another movie worth noting is "That Touch of Mink, " with Doris Day. Here, Grant demonstrates a gentlemen's wisdom and good sense and manners toward women which is perhaps seen as dated or old fashioned by today's standards and modern generations. However, I feel he always went out of his way to exhibit respect towards peers and those who might be of a different class than himself and he portrayed this attitude extremely well. His mention here is most welcomed!

[Ozzkyz]

I'd like to see a few different outfit ideas for a lite more casual look, something like Cary Grants casual look with some dress pants and a T-shirt :)

[daphnebasset]

If you check...Cary Grant wore black shoes with his grey suits, and they were leather oxfords and wing tips. He wouldn’t have been caught dead in LL Bean-type nubuck brown shoes with a grey suit.

[waltersickinger]

The combinations of loud colours and patterns in your examples contradict everything you advise.

[jamescairns]

More vids like this would be great! How about Alain Delon for another vid?

[MrCooper]

Cary Grant used to buy shirts from Jermyn Street.


I personally would not wear your tie/shirt/suit combo. Makes you too greyish... Maybe an olive tie if you want to have that faded look.


The video is great as always.

[theplasticdesert]

The sixty six people who have this a thumbs down have serve zero purpose on our planet.

[paulcacio]

You forgot Suspicion and Notorious, which were his best movies as far as his wardrobe style is concerned. The best Cary Grant type dresser today? Matteo Marzotto, the best dressed man in the world, in my opinion.

[SmokeRingsPipeDreams]

This young man looks like he could be Cary Grant's son.