The list of true men’s style icons is surprisingly short. While there are countless handsome and stylish actors, pop stars, and athletes, only a few have maintained a lasting influence, unaffected by changing trends. Among them, three all-American figures stand out: Paul Newman, Steve McQueen—and Robert Redford, who passed away yesterday at the age of 89.
Redford’s death is a significant loss to cinema. In the second half of the 20th century, few actors so fully captured the spirit of American filmmaking—or perhaps even the essence of America itself. Over a decade of defining roles in hit movies, Redford created the blueprint for the modern leading man. He was strikingly handsome and charismatic, yet also rugged, thoughtful, athletic, intelligent, and politically engaged—a movie star who could just as easily fix your car while quoting Walt Whitman.
But his impact reached far beyond Hollywood. For those in men’s fashion, especially the editors of men’s style magazines, Redford’s passing feels particularly meaningful. He was the epitome of masculine cool and a style chameleon, able to embody any look—the cowboy, the wanderer, the polished executive, the coastal intellectual—and make it feel effortlessly authentic.
Redford played with style, moving seamlessly between rugged tradition and the softer, more fluid looks of the 1970s, always with an innate sex appeal.
His breakthrough role came in 1969 as the Sundance Kid opposite Paul Newman’s Butch Cassidy, a film that reimagined the cowboy for a new generation. The pair were clever, rebellious, and sensitive, dressed as much for city life as for the Wild West.
That same year, Redford appeared in Downhill Racer as part of a fictional Olympic ski team, trading rugged Western wear for a clean-shaven look and sharp outerwear. One standout piece was the shearling coat he wore—a garment that, while simple, became iconic because of how he wore it. Style enthusiasts have analyzed its details: pointed yokes, set-in sleeves, and curved welts. But really, it was Redford himself who gave the coat its appeal.
Fashion followers can explore other iconic Redford looks, like the leather flight jacket from The Great Waldo Pepper (replicas are available for over £1,000), the denim trucker jacket from The Electric Horseman, or the navy flannel shirt from The Way We Were.
Redford was also a master of tailored separates, as seen during his “blazered Boy Scout” phase in the 1970s with films like Three Days of the Condor, All the President’s Men, and The Candidate.In each film, Redford battles against some form of systemic corruption, impeccably dressed in tweed, wool, or corduroy—only to shed that tailored look in frustration by the third act.
Redford’s most menswear-focused movie was undoubtedly 1974’s The Great Gatsby. Though it received mixed reviews from critics, it has become a touchstone for those interested in the history of men’s style—or at least a vivid interpretation of it. The wardrobe, largely provided by Ralph Lauren, serves as a sartorial time capsule of the Roaring Twenties, filtered through Hollywood’s lens.
As Redford’s career moved into the 1980s and ’90s, his on- and off-screen presence grew more statesmanlike, and his style evolved accordingly. Off-screen, he blended workwear, western wear, and preppy separates in a way that felt authentic to mid-century America—yet gained extra substance when he wore them. Cowboy boots, blue jeans, button-down shirts, tweed jackets, aviator sunglasses, chunky dive watches… along with a suggestive mustache and that signature strawberry-blond hair. Redford played with style, moving effortlessly between masculine tradition and ’70s androgyny, always radiating innate sex appeal.
With age, his look became more refined: fewer flares and deep V-necks, more sensible sweaters and understated suits. Still, flashes of his dandyish past remained, most notably in the 2001 thriller Spy Game, where he starred opposite Brad Pitt. The film echoed the paranoid spy stories of his earlier career, and with it returned the stylishly dressed Boy Scout—complete with aviators, a preppy tie, tousled hair, and even a tweed blazer.
The movie feels like a cinematic passing of the torch, a transfer of tousle-haired heartthrob status. The two look strikingly alike, but as handsome as Pitt is, it’s hard to imagine him matching Redford’s sartorial—or even cinematic—legacy. In fact, it’s difficult to think of anyone who could come close.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Robert Redfords influence on mens fashion with clear and concise answers
Beginner Questions
1 Who is Robert Redford and why is he important to fashion
Robert Redford is a legendary American actor director and producer He became a major style icon in the 1960s and 70s influencing mens fashion with his relaxed effortless and classic looks both in his movies and in his personal life
2 What is the Robert Redford style known for
Its known for a timeless effortlessly cool aesthetic Think wellfitting jeans simple buttondown shirts rugged outerwear like suede jackets and a general sense of looking puttogether without being overly formal or fussy
3 Can you name a specific movie where his style was influential
Two of the biggest are Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Way We Were His casual rugged outfits in these films became a blueprint for masculine style
4 Did he start any major fashion trends
Yes He popularized the rugged suede or fringed jacket look helped make turtlenecks a stylish casual option for men and championed a more natural livedin aesthetic over stiff formal dressing
Advanced Detailed Questions
5 How did his offscreen style differ from his onscreen roles
It was actually very consistent His personal style mirrored the casual athletic and understated elegance of his characters He was often photographed in wellworn jeans sweaters and practical jackets reinforcing the idea that his style was authentic not just a costume
6 What specific clothing items is he credited with making popular
SuedeFringed Jackets Thanks to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Turtleneck Worn as a sophisticated yet casual layer
Rugged Boots Casual Leather Shoes Moving away from always wearing formal dress shoes
The Undone Look slightly unbuttoned shirts and a more relaxed fit
7 How did Redfords style contrast with other male icons of his era
While others embraced glam rock disco flamboyance or sharp threepiece
