Style Icons #2 : Ed Westwick

Style Icons #2: Ed Westwick

So this week’s male chosen by Matthew is Ed Westwick. I think this is a very good choice (and again another Brit!) who has managed to become a style icon to a lot of younger males here in the UK and in the USA. For someone who is just 23 he seems to have style and elegance way beyond his years. Maybe it has helped that he has played a sharp tailored Chuck Bass in Gossip Girl over the past few years, but I think he manages to find the balance between formal and edgy perfectly, as you will come to see from browsing through his looks below; It might be mixing an icon graphic tee/vest with slim trousers and loafers, or pairing a great biker leather jacket with tailored chinos.

He also has the confidence to try extravagant colours such as berry slim trousers or maroon footwear or (my particular favourite) the orange tailored shirt and pocket square. However they never become over powering within any of his outfits, as he knows how to dress down the rest of the look with neutral tones so they become a focal point, rather than an eye sore.

There are multiple outfits featured below but the first look I’m going to focus on is his normal day look. His day look has roots within the whole indie scene, sticking to his previous role as the lead singer of British band ‘The Filthy Youth’. This composes of V-neck t-shirts, dark tones, icon graphic tees and slim/skinny jeans. But he also mixes all these items with a sharper side to his day wear, such as blazers, loafers and chinos.

Finally, I really do like men who embrace who they are. We mentioned this with George Lamb when we pointed out that he had gone grey early but it just defines his look and he doesn’t try to hide it. For me it just oozes confidence. The thing I like about Ed is that in this instance he has his chest hair on show a lot of the time with his love of deep v-necks and scoop neck t-shirts. With a lot of males reaching for the clippers and getting rid these days, it is refreshing to see someone embrace their body hair and it gives him more of a “manly” presence. I am NOT saying go out there and let your hair grow everywhere, just don’t feel pressured into having to have the smoothest chest around just because boys (and I use that term deliberately) such as JLS and the like are rocking it. Be a man no matter what your age.