If you want to increase your style quotient, it pays to study the fashion choices of some of history’s style icons.  Here’s a tribute to a two of the best dressed men in the history of fashion.

Gianni Agnelli

Son of the founder of the once-great Italian automaker Fiat, Agnelli was the richest man in modern Italian history before his death in 2003.   Esquire magazine has placed Agnelli near the top of their list of the Best Dressed Men in the History of the World.  Known for his impeccable bespoke suits and dress shirts and slightly eccentric personal touches, he is credited with originating the Italian art of sprezzatura, which translates as adding something imperfect to perfection.  He made the difficult look easy by appearing to make mistakes in his choice of accessories.

Some of Agnelli’s unique fashion choices included wearing his wristwatch on top of his shirt cuff, leaving the buttons on a button down collar unfastened and wearing hiking boots with a custom-tailored business suit.  Nicknamed “The Rake of the Riviera,” Agnelli has been an inspiration for countless fashion designers and stylish men all over the world.

James Bond

Secret agent James Bond is a legendary fictional figure who has been embodied by a series of manly actors.  Each one of them
has added to the stature of James Bond as a style icon.  The Bond film oeuvre has spanned more than four decades yet has always given us a leading man who is in tune with his time.

Daneil Craig as James Bond

Mostrecently, Daniel Craig was James Bond for the 21^st century.  In addition to well-cut suits and top-of-the-line dress shirts, he sported a variety of casual looks, all the while carrying an air of understated elegance. But for sheer style impact, it’s hard to beat Sean Connery’s classic James Bond 007 in a white dress shirt and perfectly cut tuxedo.  As Bond, his well-groomed good looks and
high-quality wardrobe bestowed a sense of effortless elegance and supreme self-confidence.  For many, Sean Connery is James Bond.

Sean Connery as James Bond

What’s the key to dressing like James Bond?  Buy the highest-quality garments you can afford and invest in classic suits and dress shirts, then throw in a good dose of self assurance.