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The Dandy Men

A look at the dashing dudes topping our style stakes

David Beckham

From highlights and Mohawks to slicked back hair and even a questionable bleached blonde do in 2008, Beck’s style has always been consistently — even entertainingly — experimental. But whether perfecting the Don Draper look at the Royal Wedding (you know the one we’re referring to!) or modelling underwear for Georgio Armani, he has managed to make men everywhere think twice before walking out of the house wearing crumpled tees picked up off the floor. The retired footballer launched his Bodywear line in collaboration with H&M earlier this year, but if trade speculation is to be believed and he launches his own label soon, he will be truly cementing his title as one of fashion’s most influential men — and about time too.

Johnny Depp

Perfectly unpredictable in his style choices, Johnny Depp is best known — apart from his memorable performances on screen — for his fabulously eclectic fashion sense off it. Most often, his picks seem to somehow be influenced by the characters he plays in movies (fedoras and skull rings, anyone?) but whichever way he goes, whether American Indian or boho chic, he gets our vote as the epitome of street cool. Recently awarded the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s prestigious Fashion Icon Award, it’s a mark of his personality — or should we say, his many personalities — that he manages to pull every one of them off with élan: purple-tinted glasses, dead crows et al.

Giorgio Armani

The man just turned 80 this summer and yet manages to look bang on trend every time. Despite his humble beginnings, the Italian designer’s inherent sense of fashion has been his trademark since he opened his first store in 1975. Today, more than 40 years later, everybody who is somebody continues to go to him for his customised designs. The celeb factor not withstanding though, even his personal style is impeccable. The fashion scion’s embodiment of minimalism and dark, crisp suits has us fervently hoping the rest of us will be as chic and style-savvy when we too ease ourselves into the twilight years.

Tinie Tempah

With two studio albums and five Number 1 singles under his belt by age 25, 
the English rapper certainly has done well for himself on the world stage. However, when they’re not talking about his music, they’re talking about his appeal as a style savant. Typically dressed in edgy prints and bold colours (a tribute to his origins in Nigeria), Tinie is a regular at the front rows of fashion shows. The Burberry and Dior fan is best known for his trademark Malcolm X glasses (which has more to do with making a statement than diminishing eyesight) and the absolute confidence with which he pulls off everything from double-breasted coats to parkas and slip-on deck shoes.\

Rahul Gandhi

The magic of this Congress politician’s dressing style lies in its simplicity. Suited and booted to perfection when required and dressed down in the humble kurta pyjama when lunching at, say, a local Dalit’s house — the Indian leader sure knows how to charm the masses. He is rarely seen in anything but the kurta pyjama these days, but we know he has it in him to step up to occasions — even if it’s a casual tee and designer shades for an IPL match — as the need may be.

karen@khaleejtimes.com