No one quite mastered the Seventies lean, louche style like Mick Jagger. While David Bowie made the case for gender-fluid glitter and Freddie Mercury paved the way for flamboyant fashion, no one has stayed at the forefront like Jagger.
As soon as The Rolling Stones burst onto Britain’s countercultural scene in the Sixties, it was clear that they were going to move the needle for music across the globe, and for their frontman, clothing was an integral way of achieving that. One quick sweep over their extensive archive of outings affirms that Mick Jagger knew how to utilise the power of fabric, on both stage and street – the OG peacock.
Sure, he continues to shimmy up in eye-catching attire, but it’s really his style from the Seventies that we’re here to celebrate. Cord jackets, leisure suits, exaggerated collars, crop tops, and not to mention bright leather kecks – his sartorial selections throughout these years consummated his iconicity in the creative industry.
To this day, they’re still serving us with some vital lessons on how to dress with elegance, skill and statement. So today, as the lead singer of The Rolling Stones celebrates his 79th birthday, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to source his best looks from the Seventies that should inspire your fits today.
The most obvious hue to match the brightness of summer is, in reality, the one you’re least likely to embrace. That is unless you’re Mick Jagger. Back in the summer of ’78, his Seventies style was well and truly mastered through this pastel-yellow cord blazer. Double-breasted (but left unbuttoned – he did need to dance, after all) and boasting shawl lapels with a striking black trim, it was like he was channelling a super-chic bee with a penchant for leather trousers.
Sure, Oxford collars are classic and poplin is pretty, but Seventies Mick Jagger makes it clear: it’s all about the unbuttoned spear. In other words, the bigger – and the pointier – the better. Often layered over a leisure suit, the styling stands as a hallmark of the Seventies, and Jagger embraced it early and uniquely. The key to it was contrast; a bright white open shirt resting atop a deep velvet jacket was almost as cool as the voice of the man wearing it. Almost.
We all know Mick Jagger’s wardrobe was more often than not a walking rainbow. But at this gig, he really pulled out all the stops: those diamond-covered rugby trousers – half reminiscent of Britain’s Argyle knitwear, half reminiscent of the frontman in a circus – are the only suitable accompaniment to a cropped pink vest and a mostly-open-with-a-cheeky-knot shirt.
Who said tailoring has to be totally formal? Not Mick Jagger, who proved the power of a tee beneath a woollen suit. White often works best, but to keep things interesting, a subtle graphic stamped on top isn’t going to hurt. While we’re here, let’s talk about that belt – traditionally a bit of a fashion faux pas in the world of tailoring, but when did Jagger ever abide by old-school style rules? In fairness, he’s making a rather good case for it, probably down to his perfect modelling of “smart casual”.
If you’re in search of an outfit that will look as stylish now as it did 40 years ago (as it would another 40 years from now, to be frank), this is it: Mick Jagger in a Viennese park, sporting beige straight-cut trousers (zero flare required here), blue shirt, Panama hat and two-tone bowling shoes. Two finishing detail tips to take from it: test out the turn-up this summer on both your bottoms and shirt sleeves and, if you dare, brave some white socks with your summer shoes. This is some serious elegance that works well during a July heatwave. As for that timepiece? Looks a lot like Tudor’s Black Bay Chrono. Into it.
This is a prime example of Seventies suiting from Jagger, and with it, he served a fair few lessons in how grooms should be dressing. The setting was St Tropez, the year was ’71, and the look was served by one of our favourites: Edward Sexton. Jagger was a loyal customer of the Savile Row cutter, and it’s not hard to understand why. Sexton’s sartorialism was – and still is – iconic; a blend of poise, flamboyance and exaggeration all at once. Balanced with a bold shirt and baseball shoes, this suit became a vital moment in marital history. Lend us those lapels, Mick?
Before there was Rick Owens and his gothic grunge garments, there was Mick Jagger and his billowing bin-bag style attire in ’75. It may be down to those extreme sleeves or it may be down to the finishing touches – a wraparound leather belt, statement silver jewellery and, of course, that all-important microphone – but here Mick Jagger establishes, once and for all, what a rock star looks like. If there’s one thing to take from this extravagant outing, it’s to go hard or go home. Oh, and whatever oversized clothing you’re wearing, paint it black.
This entire ensemble reflects elegance, whether it be through Jagger’s pleated trousers (silver button: good shout), basic collared shirt (still sharp as ever) or gracefully draped jacket (top points for that alignment between his collar and lapels). As this styling proves, timelessness still translates to iconic. The one-tone outfit may be a styling manoeuvre most men were (and still are) a bit afraid of embracing, but approach it like Jagger and you’ll be sorted for the dog days of summer.
If there’s one thing to take from Jagger’s Seventies wardrobe it’s that overt masculinity doesn’t have one uniform. You can be comfortable in yourself and look just as much as a man in tight leather trousers as in a suit. Paired with a slashed pink tank top and embroidered waistcoat (hello, Metallica), this look defines him as both a modern rock star and sex symbol. Classic Jagger effect. We will admit that it’s a bold look to embrace, but festival season – the perfect excuse to try something out-there – is still in full bloom. Just make sure you don’t pull a Ross Geller at the end of your night.
