Movies are an endless source of inspiration for style, featuring both modern and vintage sartorial flair. Below, we’ve picked our top 10 films this year, from a tailor’s perspective. Say what you will about the films, but there’s some great costume design. The most noteworthy films also have their own breakdowns for more detail. So, without further ado, the nominees are...


Kingsman
Harry Hart – Colin Firth

The film revolves around a team of spies operating out of a tailors on the world famous Savile Row in London. The combination of English spies and the location being the Mecca of suit makers has unsurprisingly produced a film with some of the sharpest looks of the year. Firth’s character can be seen making double breasted suits look the height of modern sophistication. Along with the double breasted cut, Firth sports stiff collared shirts, perfectly polished monk strap shoes and accessorizes with an umbrella (it is London, after all). A classic English gentleman look to give James Bond a run for his money. Check out our full breakdown here.

Focus
Nicky - Will Smith

Three piece suits and plaid patterns are the key looks Smith’s character, con-man Nicky, can be seen wearing. Details such as bright, contrasting silk pocket squares add further character to the single breasted, single button suits. Perhaps not the ideal suit for someone who wishes to blend in, like you might imagine of a con-man! And as much as we love three piece suits, the fit isn’t quite right here. Lesson being to visit a tailor for advice and fit guidance before stepping into your next con...

Mr. Holmes
Sherlock Holmes – Sir Ian McKellen

Yet another version of the world’s favorite and most famous eccentric detective, Sherlock Holmes. This time, portrayed as an elderly version of the character, set post war, in 1947. Sir Ian McKellen can be seen wearing a thick brown three piece suit. As is fitting for the time period, the waistcoat is high, with 6 buttons and trousers with a wide leg and flat front. In keeping with the eccentricities of the English detective, he accessorizes with a double Albert insert chain for his pocket watch.

A Most Violent Year
Abel Morales – Oscar Isaac

Mob story in 1981 New York. The double-breasted suit is featured as the definitive suit of the decade. Isaac’s character alternates teaming his suit with a white shirt and a black turtleneck sweater. While the turtleneck is a throwback, it also has a modern flavor with pared down suits currently ruling the catwalks. Along with the suits, notice the long double breasted, camel colored overcoat that Isaac’s character uses to fight the harsh NYC winter. The striking color and long fit create the overall hardman look without forgetting Italian heritage and an appreciation for fine tailoring.

The Age of Adaline
Clarence James Prescott - Peter J. Gray

This wonderful story follows the life of Adaline, a woman who remains 29 years old for over 8 decades. Due to the amount of time that the film spans, a variety of styles and fashions are included in this film, suits being no exception. One of the beautifully tailored looks can be seen in the 1920s style worn by Peter J. Gray who plays Adaline's husband, who wears the suit slightly toned down, without the jacket and with rolled up shirt sleeves. Key to a 1920s suit was the thick pinstripe pattern and the high waist, wide cut of the trousers.


50 Shades of Grey
Christian Grey – Jamie Doran

Doran plays a billionaire young businessman, aptly donning suits in varying shades of grey. While the shades vary, the general style remains consistent, with the single button jacket and thin peak lapels being the favored cut. The thin lapels work to accentuate broad shoulders. This, teamed with the slim fit and muted color palette produce an astounding and very up-to-date, clean cut look.


Legend
Ronnie and Reggie Kray – Tom Hardy

Reggie and Ronnie Kray were two of the most notorious gangsters in London during the 1950s and 1960s. The film focuses on the rocky relationship between the brothers, paying particular attention to the life of Reggie, who spent much of his time trying to keep twin, Ronnie, who was rumored to be a paranoid schizophrenic, in check. Hardy plays both of the infamous Londoner twins, differentiating the looks of the characters by style of suit. The character of Reggie can be seen in simpler suits compared to the character of Ronnie. Reggie wears single breasted suits with a variety of block colored ties, complete with tie pin. In contrast to this, the character of Ronnie wears three piece suits, with a double breasted blazer. The strictness of the suits Ronnie wears compared to the simpler, less tightly wound style that Reggie wears goes some way to display the differences in the personalities of the characters.


Mortdecai
Mortdecai – Johnny Depp

Depp plays a debonair, aristocratic British art dealer, eccentrically styled from the tongue-in-cheek luxury suits to the over-the-top grooming. Not only are the blazers beautifully cut, they come is a variety of bright shades and interesting fabrics from velvet to tweed. The adornments are bold, such as the silk cravats and contrasting pocket squares. While the suits in this film are excessive, the individual elements are striking and the boldness is refreshing in a year where clean cut and conservative are the order of the day.


The Loft
Vincent Stephens – Karl Urban, Chris Vanowen – James Marsden, Luke Seacord – Wentworth Miller, Marty Landry – Eric Stonestreet, Philip Traunder – Matthias Schoenaerts

5 city slicker, married men living debaucherous lifestyles going through the dramatic nightmare of figuring out which of them had something to do with the dead woman found in their shared loft. Stressed and intentionally looking worse for wear (with the exception of Wentworth Miller’s character, Luke), they still manage to look reasonably slick. Miller’s character maintains a polished look in his 3-piece suits, exposed shirt cuffs and properly done up ties. The main look for the other characters is slightly more disheveled but they do rock their trench coats.


James Bond: Spectre
James Bond – Daniel Craig

Throughout the decades, the James Bond character has undergone several transformations, however, being one of the sharpest suit wearers is not one of them. This year, Craig can be seen wearing his staple single breasted, two buttoned suits, fitted to perfection. He wears these with a kent collar shirt, done up to the top with a tie. Alongside his sharp daytime suits, don't miss the inevitable tuxedos, which Craig wears with the finesse and elegance we have come to expect of James Bond. Check out our full breakdown here.

If anything from the silver screen has caught your eye, don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll work with you to re-create your favorite cinematic outfit. For more inspiration, read on here...