Twelve of Keith Richards' strongest looks to embrace this year
I wasn’t looking too good,’ he sang on ‘Before They Make Me Run’, ‘but I was feelin’ real well.’ If ever there’s ever been an understatement in the annals of rock and roll, it’s this. Even at his most wasted and decrepit, there wasn’t a single being around — man, woman, or otherwise — who didn’t want to look, act, and live like Keith Richards. In this respect, not much has changed, despite the fact that he turned seventy-five in December. Mick Jagger may have the moves, but it’s Keith who, for the past fifty-something years, has reigned supreme in terms of style and swagger. His riffery aside, his looks and attitude in and of themselves have inspired countless figures past and present in music, fashion, and even film. He may not be God, as one tabloid back in the day reported the Pope to have declared, but some would argue that he sure comes close. Here are twelve iconic Keith looks — and how to get ’em.
Shutterstock1/12The late sixties marked a turning point for Keith in more ways than one. 1969 saw the death of his quondam partner-in-crime (and Rolling Stones founder) Brian Jones and the arrival of six-string prodigy Mick Taylor. It was also during the end of the decade that Keith really became Keith, stylistically speaking. By 1968, he’d let his hair grow into his signature ‘rooster’ ’do, and could be seen strutting around not-so-sleepy London Town in these same sumptuous snakeskin boots and similar velvet trousers, which, when paired together, are as menacing as they are plush. The tinted shades he’s wearing here at the Isle of Wight Festival lend a psychedelic air without veering into hippy-dippy territory, as does his tastefully tied scarf. And don’t even get us started on this gorgeous example of colour-matching…
Getty Images2/12If you try sometimes, you can detect a whiff of innocence in the guy’s eyes, traces of the honey-voiced choirboy who once sang for the Queen. In 1964, the Stones had just begun penning their own tunes, thanks to manager Andrew Loog Oldham who came up with the brilliant idea of locking him and Mick Jagger in a kitchen until they knocked something out. But we digress: what’s brilliant about this mid-sixties look is that it still works today, being so simple and timeless. You really can’t go wrong with a fitted polo (buttoned to the neck, of course) and slim cords; and, for more of a rock and roll than a Uniqlo vibe, throw on a textured waistcoat and perhaps slip on a bit of bling. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Getty Images3/12‘I’m happy to be here’, Keith once said. ‘I’m happy to be anywhere.’ Well, maybe anywhere but in the slammer. Taken just after the infamous Toronto heroin bust of ’78 that nearly saw Mister Richards locked up and the end of the Stones, Keith here shows us just how far a simple scarf can go in jazzing up an outfit, and what a thing of beauty a proper double-breasted blazer can be. Despite the heat under those stage lights and the man’s need to move about, he’s done the double-breast justice by keeping it buttoned up. He’s not a total fashion victim, though; who says you can’t roll up the sleeves when you need to get your hands dirty with a killer riff? We dare say it makes him look like even more of a stud.
Getty Images4/12Ah, the prototypical rock and roll star, the blueprint, the paragon. All roads lead to ‘Keef’ — ‘the world’s most elegantly wasted human being’, as a nearly equally elegantly wasted Nick Kent once called him. Sure, the ultimate musical wellspring is Chuck Berry, but without Keith’s image and attitude, there would be no Patti Smith, no Chrissie Hynde, and no Johnny Thunders, nor would there be much to write home about in Johnny Depp’s case. Hell, the man even inspired the creation of Murdoc Niccals, an animated character. We don’t recommend you try to be like Keith in his grungy heyday, and the man himself strongly advises against it — ‘Don’t do as I do’ — but we do suggest emulating this look. The Sanskrit scarves Keith still loves can be nabbed on the cheap at any old Tibet store, and you can pop into John Varvatos for a worn-looking striped tee. As for the funky leopard-print blazer, a decadent red one from Tom Ford’s women’s AW18 collection can be yours, shoulder width permitting.
Shutterstock5/12Here’s Keith redefining the term ‘rake’ once again. Just over fifty years ago in December 1968, the Stones hosted the Rock and Roll Circus with a little help from their friends. While all the Stones dressed up for the carnivalesque occasion (yes, even Charlie), Keith’s piratic ringmaster getup — which he donned to introduce the Who and a fire-eater — was, hands down, the most rocking. It goes without saying that, given the context, you need not sling on an eyepatch or standalone collar, but do consider of some of the other details, like how he’s paired his blazer with a low-cut top instead of a predictable button-down shirt, as well as his subtle and spot-on use of guyliner that adds depth to his peepers without making him look like he’s raided Marianne Faithfull’s dressing room. For added dissolution, throw on a top hat and light a stogie.
Shutterstock6/12Though he’s arguably most well-known in terms of accessories for his signature skull ring and handcuff bracelet — permanent fixtures on his person since the late seventies — that’s not to say that they’re the only gewgaws Keith has tinkered with throughout the years. The military brooch gracing his blazer accentuates its lines and contours, while his natty bejewelled cravat evokes sartorial class and refinement without bringing to mind a grinning Hugh Hefner. Keith’s tousled hair really completes the look here, adding just the right amount of scruffiness to an otherwise respectable getup.
PA Images7/12There are few septuagenarian rock and rollers who don’t look like accountants or cartoon versions of their former selves, and Keith Richards is one of them. In terms of accessories, he’s kept things to a tasteful minimum, showing that it’s worth investing in timeless quality pieces that last a lifetime and come to possess a few stories along the way. What’s also great about Keith is that he deals with what he has and makes the best of it. Sure, his mane isn’t what it used to be back in the sixties, but he works the situation to his advantage with his emporium of headbands and bandanas that even Harry Styles has worn in imitation. And let’s talk about that snakeskin blazer: although super-cool, it’s rather loud and meant to make a statement, so only wear one if you have the bravado to accompany it. A wiry frame helps, too, unless you want to look like the python that swallowed an elephant in The Little Prince.
Getty Images8/12Hullo, I’m Keith, a.k.a. ‘the human riff’. I think washing, let alone combing hair is for squares and spotty herberts (what do you think I am? A Beatle?); I often pair things like vibrant paisley scarves with more understated wardrobe staples (such as this classic leather jacket) to add extra depth and dimension to my look; in terms of metals, I accessorise almost exclusively with silver (the more oxidised, the more the bee’s knees).
Getty Images9/12This rough ’n’ romantic look is another seventies Keith classic. In the late seventies and early eighties, Keith frequently paired black waistcoats with loose, flowing button-down shirts, typically in light solid colours. To nail the look, opt for lightweight shirts (in cotton or viscose, for example) whose sides freely hang when unbuttoned. You also want to find one without any sort of tapering, and that doesn’t feel too tight. And, while collarless shirts like the one Keith is wearing are ideal, collared ones are okay, too, so long as they aren’t stiff or meant to be buttoned down. As for the sleeves — the longer they are, the better (just look at McQueen SS19), and make sure to wear them unbuttoned. Pair them with blue jeans, or, even better, black ones, but just ensure they’re on the skinnier side, as the best way to make a hash of this look is to pair a loose top with a loose bottom. Think of your trousers as a sort of foil to what’s happening above, and, likewise, keep your waistcoats nice and tight without any room under your arms.
Getty Images10/12He might wear them less frequently now, but back in the day, Keith was a sucker for double-breasted blazers. This is a perfect example of one done right in the context of a suit. Linen is a great material for such blazers, as it not only adds a bit of casualness, but also makes them look fine undone (and wrinkled), which they seldom do. That said, given its light composition, you can keep it buttoned up even in warmer temperatures in which you’d typically toss aside a blazer at the first opportunity. Rock one with a simple crewneck tee to further lighten things up, or, if you’re feeling particularly confident, a low-cut one, which, thanks to the double-breast structure, can make it seem like you were brazen enough to wear nothing underneath.
Shutterstock11/12He’s a softie at heart, but still — you don’t ever mess with Keith Richards. Chunky overcoats, as Keith shows, can add a badass air to whatever’s underneath, particularly if it happens to be a sublime suit. Wear ’em like you don’t care, preferably draped over your shoulders like an accessory when you really don’t need the extra warmth. In this case, it’s more about style than function, with the proviso that, as much as we dig Keith’s overcoat, we’d opt for faux fur, or even another material altogether. To rake things up a notch, don a wide-brimmed hat and some well-heeled kicks.
Getty Images12/12Who’s the best-dressed man in Babel? We needn’t say. During the Bridges to Babylon tour of the late nineties, Keith gave young and old alike a masterclass in ageing gracefully. There wasn’t a hint of Grecian Five on the man’s well groomed mane, and he flaunted his whites and lines with pride and swagger aplenty, as he still does today. As well, he still indulged in the things he liked, like leopard-prints, but in a more mature and refined way. His layering of jungle-themed patterns underneath this overcoat harking back to the seventies is sublime in that every element is in harmony with the rest, making for a dynamic whole that’s still easy on the eyes. Also notice how he’s opted for simple skinny black jeans so as not to detract from what’s happening on top or over-complicate things. And, to get back to this overcoat we can’t unglue our eyes from — what also makes it work so well is its length. There’s just something about longer overcoats that imparts maturity and sophistication, making it perfect for younger Keith wannabes and older men alike.
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