David Beckham
The term khakis come from Hindustani and Urdu and literally mean “dust, ashes colored”. Khakis are a type of fabric or the color of such a fabric. Khakis came from India around 1840s when British Army officers soaked their white uniforms in mulberry yellowish juice in order to blend with landscape. The United States Army adopted khakis during Spanish American War in 1898. Khakis stepped into civilian life in the 1950s when many writers and intellectuals started to wear them and popularized khakis as must have item. Since then khakis never go out of style as casual look, easy care and comfortable menswear staple.
Daniel Craig
Alain Delon in "Le Samouraï" (1967)
Steve McQueen in "Bullitt" (1968)
Thomas Burberry successfully pitched trench coat to the UK War Office as an addition to the service uniform, albeit other British company Aquascutum’s claim is dating back to the 1850s. Anyway only officers in British Army during First World War were allowed to wear it and the waterproof, knee-length coat became an essential military staple. After war just a few officers were willing to give up the coat. Trench coat officially entered civilian life as demand was getting high especially among businessmen and women alike. It seems each era has put their own spin on coat, changing colors, styling and fabrics without altering its integral structure. Trench coat is timeless piece every man should have in his wardrobe.
Brad Pitt wearing a trench coat
Hawaiian shirt is an expression of positivity and currently the most famous export item of the Hawaii textile industry. These colorful and wacky printed shirts with floral patterns and Polynesian motifs were regarded mainly as tacky souvenirs until Alfred Shaheen raised them to high fashion using by high quality materials and printing techniques. He opened his first store in 1948 and by 60s he had more than 400 people working for him. Elvis Presley wore Shaheen’s shirt on the album cover for the Blue Hawaii soundtrack in 1961.
Harry Truman wearing a Hawaiian shirt
Elvis Presley
Wayfarers were designed by American optical designer Raymond Stegeman for Bausch and Lomb in 1952 (Ray Ban parent company) and have been manufactured by Ray-Ban since 1956. Wayfarer sunglasses (originally intended to be marketed to men only) became one of the most desirable style icons of 20th century albeit at the beginning of the 80s were almost discontinued due to low demand. Product placement deal between Ray-Ban and Unique Product Placement guaranteed wayfarers to show up in more than sixty movies and television shows per year. Tom Cruise wearing wayfarer in Risky Business started the craze that lasted till 1990s. Popularity rose once again in 2000s when Ray-Ban re-introduced original wayfarer sunglasses design in 2007.
Roy Orbison
Bob Dylan
Clarks Desert boot created then young Nathan Clark who was serving in Burma during World War II. He noticed that many of men wore suede boots with crepe rubber soles that were produced by local tradesmen in Cairo’s Old Bazaar for British officers of the Eighth Army. Nathan Clark then spotted the huge potential market for these boots albeit his brother with the board of directors of Clarks Shoes Company rejected it and refused to believe that the boot would sell but Nathan Clark thought otherwise. After further design work he took some pairs to the Chicago shoes fair in 1949 where he re-created a desert oasis with belly dancers presenting the boot on a silk pillow. It became absolute hit and appreciated as part of the preppy look. Altogether with Esquire endorsement, the large volume sales followed. After 15 years, Lance Clark started to sell them in Europe. By the 1960s Clarks Desert Boots were found everywhere. Steve McQueen wore them in „The Great Escape“(1963), many celebrities favored them as Beatles or Bob Dylan. The simple design with rubber crepe soles and just two eyelets for lace has remained unchanged for 60 years. Desert boot became an icon.
Bold Jack is devoted to timeless men's style and serves as an inspiration for everybody interested in classic menswear and design.
