Harry Potter has given us a style icon
I think I've stumbled across a new style icon without really realising it.
The silver screen has offered us a fair few sartorial leaders over the years. Names that spring to mind include Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair - and everything else, Anne Hathaway's Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada, Audrey Hepburn in everything, Cary Grant in North by Northwest, the casts of The Talented Mr Ripley and Call Me By Your Name and all of the various James Bonds. But there is one hugely popular film series which has offered us little in the way of stylistic guidance - until now.
Harry Potter is many things. It is the most influential cultural creation of our generation and has billions of fans the world over. JK Rowling's book series has spawned films, comics, fan-fics and a new series of movies to add to the universe.
But it has never really boasted a character whose look you wanted to emulate. The Weasley jumpers were iconic, Jason Isaacs and Gary Oldman got some swish looks as Lucius Malfoy and Sirius Black, but they are not people you might dress like in realy life. Well not unless you have a rather extravagant dress sense. But I humbly submit this has changed with the introduction of the latest lead character to join the Potterverse, Newt Scamander.
Now, I'll admit this, Newt Scamander has an advantage over his Potter colleagues because he is played by the eternally stylish clotheshorse Mr Eddie Redmayne. That even probably gives me a bias because I've previously discussed Redmayne's place as one of the best-dressed men in the world, but stay with me. In a world of flowing robes and mis-shapen sweaters, Newt Scamander is a guiding light. In fact, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was easily the most sartorially pleasing of the Potter films. Colin Farrell looked razor sharp as Percival Graves (bonus points for a great name) and the general 1920s look is hugely stylish.
But the beauty of Newt is that if you take his basic approach, it applies today.
I was actually put on to this by my sister's throwaway comment the other day when she compared my new case to "the one the guy in the new Harry Potter film has". For the record Newt carries a Globetrotter suitcase, inspired by Redmayne's own, and I am using my new Buckle & Seam case which I got for Christmas and am more than a bit in love with.
But subsequent to that I realised Newt's look is very applicable to modern day work style. Think about the staples: well cut overcoat, smart brown leather boots, herringbone suit, dark skinny tie. Even the accessories game is on point with a long scarf and stylish leather case.
If you are looking for a way to blend functional, smart and useful after hours I would suggest you could do far worse than taking tips from Mr Scamander.
In fact, I think the Fantastic Beasts series could offer Potter fans plenty of sartorial guidance in the coming months. Photos from the new film, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald, show Jude Law's Albus Dumbledore dressed in what appears to be an impeccable grey three-piece suit. Law, of course, is styled by the truly brilliant William Gilchrist, a man we could all learn a lot from, so it is no surprise he looks sharp.
Over the years Harry Potter has taught our generation a lot about growing up and how to deal with life's challenges, now it is teaching us to dress too.
Photos from the Fantastic Beasts Twitter account. Jude Law photo from Warner Bros.