Paris might be the home of croissants and romantic architecture, but the French capital also conjures images of louche and laid-back suiting, dynamic colourways, leather loafers and taut lines. And when it comes to the Parisian aesthetic, all eyes are on a certain power trio of men's style icons… Despite not actually being French, no one gets it quite so right as a certain Bond villain, ex-Directioner and Hot Priest.
But what do we love most about the wardrobes of Rami Malek, Niall Horan and Andrew Scott? They're approachable. When we're admiring the red carpet ensembles or talk-show looks of this trio, we're not talking ruffled shirts, pearls and platform boots. This “Polished Parisian” look is all about sleek silhouettes, clean lines and rich tones. It's attainable fashion for the everyday man, but elevated.
So, if you're looking to emulate Parisian chic in a more prêt-à-porter fashion than haute couture, here we've dissected the looks of messieurs Malek, Horan and Scott for five chic style moves that are ripe for the picking.
1. Swap biker for blouson
When we say “leather jacket”, we don't mean motorcycle leathers and studded collars. The Parisian approach to leather is one of minimalism. Take everyone's favourite Fleabag beau for example, donning a blouson leather jacket with a wide, aviation-style collar over a striped shirt on the red carpet of the Vanity Fair x Amazon Studios Awards in 2020. Andrew's approach to leather is simple but impactful, with just a dash of 1970s flair. Put plainly, c'est magnifique.
When it comes to getting the look for yourself, Mr P has created its own blouson jacket that mimics Mr Scott's with uncanny precision, from its structured shoulders and wide collar to its zipped fastening and smooth texture. Crafted by Tuscan artisans, this piece is differentiated by its hand-painted raw edges and carved horn buttons, with authentic, top-quality AMF stitching on its internal facings (£2,250. mrporter.com).
Alternatively, if you're a little more price-conscious, Jack & Jones offers up a faux-leather option with less likeness to Scott's, but it gives the same, suave feel. Made a little more tough-luxe with silver-toned hardware, this jacket maintains Scott's European energy with its spread collar and straight hem, but adds a twist with its faux-shearling trim (£56. At asos.com).
An honourable mention (and a comfortable middle ground, price-wise) comes from Schott in the form of a waxy delivery jacket, with the same wide collar and zipped fastening as Scott's. This option contrasts its Mr P and Jack & Jones counterparts with its chest pocket and boxier cut (£620. At ssense.com.){: rel="nofollow" target="_blank"}).
2. Polos, but ‘knit’ like you know them
Knitted polos aren't exactly new on the scene, but they have been reclaimed from retro PE kits into a much more stylish realm. Styled by Rami Malek in an earthy olive green for a sit down with Jimmy Kimmel, the Golden Globe winner elevated the polo to dapper, smart-casual status, wearing it with black tailored trousers and polished formal shoes, finished with a sleek leather wristwatch. And we must say, oh-la-la.
To emanate this style for yourself, we've selected a long-sleeved, retro-inspired option from Sasquatchfabrix and a short-sleeved, budget-friendly pick by Marks & Spencer. Sasquatchfabrix's offering contrasts Malek's pick with a little extra detailing and some added pockets, the outlining of which pays homage to the label's founder, Daisuke Yokoyama, and his background in graphic design (£375. At matchesfashion.com). Marks & Spencer's pick is decidedly more basic, but its sage-green hue and knitted style combined with its sub-£20 price tag makes it a surprising, cost-effective dupe for monsieur Malek's (£19.50. marksandspencer.com).
3. Suit trousers, as far as the eye can see
Having broken free from the restraints of the two-piece set, suit trousers are now making a name for themselves as part of everyday casualwear and leading the suit trouser revolution is Niall Horan. Horan's choice of tailored trousers epitomises the Parisian aesthetic. Often styled with comfortable cardigans and striped T-shirts, he favours loose fits and pleated finishes, often in muted earth tones with a certain je ne sais quoi about them.
Closely mimicking Horan's wardrobe, the Officine Générale trousers we've selected offer the same rich chocolate-brown tone and pleated detailing, while adding a belt and turned-up cuffs, bringing with them a retro touch reminiscent of The Talented Mr Ripley's Dickie (£395. At matchesfashion.com). For a lesser price, Moss London presents a charcoal-grey pair of suit trousers that are given a more fitted feel that's best for nighttime looks (£34.95. moss.co.uk).
4. A penchant for patterned shirts
Promoting Fleabag took our favourite clergyman all over the country and beyond and it was at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation that Andrew Scott wore a laid-back, mostly black ensemble punctuated with a salmon-pink tropical-patterned shirt peeking through his zipped bomber jacket. If there's one thing the Parisian man stands by, it's a good pattern.
Our picks for making this look work for yourself plays on a more autumnal colour palette, with this warm-toned shirt from Song For The Mute. Printed with a multicoloured portrait design, this shirt echoes Scott's with its buttoned closure and captivating print, but strays from his springtime colour scheme… though we also think this would be brilliantly styled with a good bomber (£845. At ssense.com). Bringing kaleidoscopic energy (and just a touch of va-va-voom) to this trend, Ted Baker present the budget-friendly option in the form of this marble-print long-sleeve shirt with its waving, monochromatic design (£99. tedbaker.com).
5. Finally, top it all off with a boxy car coat
As the name might suggest, car coats were originally introduced into wardrobes for wear in automobiles, donned with a reliable pair of loafers and some hardy driving gloves. Nowadays, these versatile coats are characterised by their clean-cut and sleek silhouettes and are, therefore, the perfect choice for the dapper, yet edgy, gentleman, such as Mr Rami Malek.
Worn out and about in London while promoting No Time To Die earlier this autumn, Malek's car coat takes a navy-blue hue and a mid-length. Imitating these characteristics, Mr P have created an eerily similar piece, differing only from Malek's with its pinstripe pattern and slightly longer cut. Crafted from a blend of virgin wool, merino wool and silk, this durable pick will maintain its shape, meaning you can rely on it year after year (£895. mrporter.com){: rel="nofollow" target="_blank"}). If you're looking for a more short-term investment, this navy option from Asket captures the same feel of monsieur Malek's, made instead from an organic cotton twill weave in a shorter, boxier silhouette (£250. asket.com).
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