Recently, GQ revealed whom they believe to be the most stylish men in the world right now. Without throwing too much shade, the list was, well, let’s just say that the choices wouldn’t have been my first pick.
The fact of the matter is: do “best dressed” lists really even matter anymore? The answer is: no, they don’t. With the fashion industry’s ever-rotating swath of interests, it’s not a matter of what a person wears that deems them stylish, but rather the conviction in which they wear it.
Literally anything can be considered cool these days, and while we all have our favorite brands and personal style icons, true swag is defined by self-assurance, taking risks and an “IDGAF” attitude towards how someone may perceive your look.
That being said, we all still enjoy lauding (or condemning) a person’s sartorial efforts, be it a friend, coworker, relative or celebrity. So without further ado, here’s a list of people who we think are leading the style game right now. Don’t agree? Well, I’ll see you in the comments section.
Young Thug
One of contemporary rap’s more eccentric figures, Young Thug has won over the masses thanks to his avant-minded rapping style, brazen stage charisma and outlandish way of dress. A self-proclaimed “impeccable” dresser, Thug’s steez not only defies gender stereotypes, it flips the way hip-hop defines black masculinity on its backside.
When he’s not donning floral lace Gucci tops, Vivienne Westwood cardigans or black nail polish, the rapper can be seen wearing an armor of gold chains, Versace boxer briefs and skintight ripped denim.
A$AP Rocky
Pretty Flacko has professed his desire to model more times than we can count. Maybe he’s in the wrong profession? If songs like “Fashion Killa” are anything to go by, it’s clear where Rocky’s heart is. His experimental dress sense, penchant for wearing the latest buzzy designer before they’ve been dubbed “cool” and squad of fashion scene friends have many believing the hype; especially since with Rocky, there’s never really a sartorial certainty. He’s just as likely to turn up in his GUESS collaboration or his VLONE line as he is to be suited and booted in a legendary maison’s latest.
Marc Göhring
You may not know his name (yet), but you’ve definitely seen him in nearly every fashion week street style report scattered across a slew of style blogs (including ours) each season. A stylist and fashion editor at Berlin-based magazine o32c, the formula for Marc Göhring’s style includes a dash of high fashion, a dusting of streetwear’s finest and a sprinkle of ratchet – in the best possible way, of course.
Often seen sporting progressive labels like HBA, Vetements, Gosha Rubchinskiy, MISBHV and the like, Marc’s fleekiness is only heightened by his unusual sartorial choices (Tripp pants, cybergoth boots and barb wire necklaces are just the tip of the iceberg) that evidently beguile nearly every street style photographer that crosses his path.
Luka Sabbat
What he lacks in age, he makes up for with an astutely on-point fashion sense. At just 18-years-old, influencer and model Luka Sabbat is perhaps the pack leader among this new wave of barely-legal youths who are taking over the internet with their irritatingly effortless cool factor, celebrity cohort and budget-busting wardrobe filled with today’s most sought-after garms.
A purveyor of “rock and roll chic” a la Hedi Slimane’s Saint Laurent, Sabbat’s getups tap everything from leather jackets and chelsea boots to vacuum-sealed trousers and oversized hoodies, recalling something that Jimi Hendrix probably would’ve worn if he was styled by Kanye West.
Kanye West
While Kanye may be one of the most polarizing entertainers in the biz, his ability to slay in the style department remains unchallenged. Since he first entered the limelight, the volatile Chicago-bred emcee has made some of the boldest and most influential sartorial choices ever to grace the hip-hop world.
Ever the style icon, Kanye’s endeavors in fashion have not only been controversial, they’ve literally been an undying topic of conversation everywhere; with everyone from sneakerheads to high fashion’s uppermost pantheon weighing in on all things YEEZY-related.
When he’s not repping his own clothing imprint, ‘Ye can be seen strutting in a bevy of fresh-off-the-runway looks on any given day. The potency of Kanye’s style influence has proven unparalleled, meaning that a brand cosign from the rapper equates dollar sign symbols in the eyes of a designer.
Jerry Lorenzo
Much of streetwear’s obsession with all things rock music-related can be traced back to Fear of God founder, Jerry Lorenzo. The designer’s LA-based label, a favorite among Kanye, Justin Bieber, A$AP Rocky and counting, has been championing flannel shirts, gratuitous layering, graphic tees, ripped denim and side-zips within the menswear landscape for a minute now. Given the brand’s recent partnership with mall retailer PacSun, we don’t expect Lorenzo’s beloved grungy aesthetic going anywhere anytime soon.
Travis Scott
No other rapper has been rocking this recent #grungewave fad harder (or better) than Travis Scott. Graphics, graphics and more graphics, the Houston-bred emcee’s style is perhaps louder than the tinnitus-inducing decibel levels of his shows, and we’re low-key obsessed with it.
Scott is almost always seen draped in oversized band tees, tattered denim, camo print and enough gold to tap out a California Gold Rush, and his ventures into fashion have been equally up to par – he recently dished out an insanely dope line of tour merch and has collaborated with OG streetwear label maharishi.
Motofumi “Poggy” Kogi
Motofumi “Poggy” Kogi, the creative director of Tokyo’s UNITED ARROWS & SONS, is no stranger to being papped on the streets. Often spotted wearing his trademark brimmed hats, Poggy’s getups, which mix classic streetwear staples with traditional tailoring, are aways eye-grabbing but never veer on distasteful peacocking.
When he’s not globetrotting at various fashion weeks and tradeshows, Poggy’s lending his taste-maker chops to a number of collaborative projects with Daniel Arsham, GREATS, Filling Pieces, MH40 headphones and Las Vegas’s Liberty Fair tradeshow.
Skepta
Before “normcore” was a thing, grime legend and founding member of Boy Better Know, Skepta, was candidly sporting his fashionably anti-fashion tastes. Sure, he had an Ed Hardy phase and a momentary lust for designer goods, but throughout it all, tracksuits, activewear and crisp tees remained consistent.
His easily replicable sartorial sense has cemented his place as a fashion icon among his devotees. You can also find him walking the runway at London Collection: Mens, launching a collaboration with Uniqlo and landing on “best dressed” lists on both sides of the pond. Y’all better recognize the power of the tracksuit and trapper hat.
Keith Ape
Korean internet sensation Keith Ape has been swooping up fans all over the globe with his outré rapping style and hype-tinged swagger lately. Harking a street-meets-east aesthetic, the buzzy blogosphere mainstay can be seen sporting any number of face masks, metal tees and streetwear staples – Palace, BAPE and Supreme, in particular – all while clutching a bottle of makgeolli.
Ape’s steez has also been a point of fixation among the fashion community; the rapper made his New York Fashion Week debut at the VFILES SS16 show where he performed his worldwide call-to-fame single, “It G Ma.”
Jason Dill
Lauded skate veteran Jason Dill is perhaps one of streetwear’s most recognizable figures, due in part to his regular cameos in Supreme campaigns. The head honcho behind skate labels Fucking Awesome and Hockey, Dill’s carefree yet oddball swagger is what lands him on this list, always managing to catch our eye with the bombastic ways he styles Supreme’s more unusual pieces.
Jun Koo
Strike two for South Korea, Seoul-based photographer Jun Koo is perhaps a leading example of someone who has mastered the art of street-style peacocking. Often seen flaunting nearly every hyped brand in the game, Koo’s sartorial rotation of rare Supreme goods, face masks and Willy Wonka-esque goggle shades have been key in fueling the photographer’s notoriety both behind and in front of the lens.
Justin Bieber
Last year, I turned myself over to the darkside by becoming a newfound Belieber. So, after begrudgingly admitting how the Biebs has managed to creep his way into my iTunes library, I’m going to begrudgingly admit how he’s managed to creep his way into my style inspo folder.
Say what you will about the reformed tearaway pop star, but Bieber’s fleek factor fits all too well with today’s style zeitgeist. Recently starring in Calvin Klein’s Spring 2016 #mycalvins campaign, we’ve seen Bieber transform from suburban mall kid to full-fledged hype machine, often cloaked in token pieces from the most au courant brands around (Supreme, OFF-WHITE, Saint Laurent, FoG, Rick Owens, just to name a few).
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Main Image:
The Washington Post