When discussing celebrity style, it’s imperative to note that it’s easy to dress well when you’re conventionally attractive. Most clothes are designed to look good on dudes who are already handsome as hell: broad shoulders, trim waists, and square jaws. Everything looks better on them, from tailored tuxes to Carhartt jackets. This is all to say that, even considering this advantage, the late great Robert Redford — who passed away this week at the age of 89 — had that shit on.
Redford’s legacy will, obviously, first and foremost come down to his unprecedented career in Hollywood. One of the great movie stars of all time? Check. Academy Award-winning director? Check. A pioneer of independent cinema after founding the Sundance Film Festival? Check. You can’t say this often, but he’s a guy whose contributions to the film industry genuinely cannot be overstated. To say that modern film exists his image would perhaps do a disservice to how intentionally invisible he kept himself throughout the decades. When his work in the field paid off, Redford used his platform to spotlight and mentor independent filmmakers rather than taking a lengthy bow in the spotlight.
More to the point, Redford was also that rare movie star who looked as good — if not better — offscreen as he did on it. Redford’s knack for putting together a great outfit was uncanny. Suit and tuxedo jackets draped off of his shoulders like a superhero cape. Hardly anyone has ever looked better in snap-button denim shirts. Whether he was at a black-tie red carpet or playing ping pong shirtless with Paul Newman, Redford dressed the part.
Part of his fashion prowess can be credited to what was, at the time, a fairly innovative approach to building a wardrobe. Redford was (and remains) one of the best-dressed screen icons of all time, and he was savvy enough to simply carry that costuming over into everyday life. He’s one of the most famous clients of Anto Shirts, a legendary shirting service located in Beverly Hills. Anto began as a bespoke service for costume designers, crafting dress shirts for actors. As one of those clients, Redford was among the first to approach Anto with the idea of making pieces for his personal wardrobe in addition to his professional one. From there on out, nearly every shirt Redford wore had an Anto label sewn into the collar.
Sartorially speaking, Redford seemed most in his element out west, especially after his move to Utah in the ’60s. The dude could wear Armani on a red carpet with the best of them, but — for those familiar with his game — Redford’s most memorable looks likely involve denim, fur-lined coats, and well-worn boots. In the current moment of Hollywood’s obsession with fashion-friendly western dress, Redford is a reminder that the best western fits aren’t all hat, no cowboy.
It’s not just that Redford wore his clothes well — it’s that he wore them well and never stopped. It’s legitimately difficult to think of many better-dressed men in history. Even after his movie star days, Redford stayed impeccably dressed. Let him serve as a reminder that you’re never too old to throw a fit. We can all spend the rest of our lives chasing the highs of Redford’s style. If anything, he should serve as a reminder that clothes look best on someone who isn’t being too precious about them. Wear your clothes hard and wear them well. That’s Redford’s way.
