A gender-neutral style icon is a rare find. But despite his beginning as a preppy, teen idol, the recent fashion manifestations of One Direction’s Harry Styles prove that he is capable of offering audacious style inspiration to both men and women. Most notably, his penchant for statement shirts provide us with a visual guide as to how to pull off bold, alternative prints with a reckless, cool flair.
Four Press Junket
SNL Appearance
With the beginning of the promotional appearances for the band’s last album, Four, came the first instances of Harry’s new, more distinct style and the ‘shirt mania’ that characterised it. For the main press junket, he donned a coffee coloured shirt with a black, gothic, floral pattern .The Gucci creation, which looked like a pale shade of burgundy in some lights, was loaned a splash of careless panache by having the neck buttoned down to the mid-chest and the sleeves rolled up. Styles turned to this colour scheme again for the group’s Saturday Night Live appearance; opting for a Saint Laurent shirt of rust, cream and brown paisley print. On both occasions, the shirt is made the statement piece of the outfit by being paired with black, skinny jeans. With these two looks, Harry demonstrates how old-fashioned prints and dim, earth tones can be exceedingly modern and striking when they are styled in an effortless way and are made the focal point of the ensemble.
Jimmy Kimmel Live
However, Styles also illustrates a refreshed take on the more traditional monochrome shades and patterns. He arrived at the filming of Jimmy Kimmel Live in a black and white, speckled, short sleeved, Saint Laurent shirt. And he performed on the X-Factor in late 2014 in a loose, black long-sleeves-rolled-up number with a white pinstripe. For members of both sexes who possess a more reserved taste, these style exhibitions exemplify how chic prints can revitalise a minimalist colour scheme and can allow you to seem funky and subtle simultaneously.
The Today Show
As we reach the most courageous examples of his statement shirts, we uncover the main proof of why Harry Styles deserves his fashion credentials. His ability to pull off ridiculously crazy prints while still managing to maintain a sense of collected coolness is quite an accomplishment. An interview on America’s The Today Show gave us a design that it is difficult to describe in words (but I will try nevertheless). The bold, unique creation combined clashing check and abstract floral, geometric, square patterns in shades of lemon, brown, white and a variety of other colours. The recording of Band Aid 30 saw Styles channel a less complicated, yet equally distinctive print in the form of a crisp white shirt covered in different coloured motorbikes. Finally, Harry marked the boyband’s X-Factor final performance with Ronnie Wood in December 2014 by donning a black shirt imprinted with pale pink flamingos. By wearing these three Marc Jacobs, short sleeved spectacles buttoned down half-way and with the same signature black skinny jeans as those mentioned above, Styles exemplifies how to extract the full potential of the statement shirt. He verifies that extraordinary patterns need not appear fussy or excessive when they are used as the main feature of an outfit.
Band Aid 30
The X Factor Final 2014
Therefore, guys and girls alike can look to Harry Styles for instruction and inspiration when deciding to tackle a patterned shirt or blouse. I suppose with a surname like that, it would be a dreadful shame if he didn’t exude any ‘style’ skills!
*This article was originally published in The UCC Express in March 2015.
The Vagabond Quarters 