As the actor and multi-talented businessman turns 80, we look back at his most iconic styles.

Actor, director, producer, philanthropist, Mr Robert Redford can now add “octogenarian” to the ever-expanding string of epithets connected to his name. Yes, the legendary Hollywood star, who skyrocketed to ubuiquitous idol-dom in films such as 1969’s Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, 1973’s The Way We Were and 1976’s All The President’s Men and went on to become one of the best-dressed men of the 1970s, is 80 years old as of today. Obviously, in honour of this fact, there’s plenty to be said about Mr Redford’s outstanding contribution to cinema, including, in 1981, his foundation of the Sundance Institute – one of the film industry’s most influential supporters of upcoming talent. But, also obviously, we’re going to instead take the occasion as an excuse for a recap of some of the great man’s most successful outfits. Because that’s, really, what we’re here for. Scroll down for our thoughts on three classic looks from Mr Redford’s cinematic past.

Mr Redford’s unique hair colour – a sandy, red-blonde – was the perfect counterpart for the earthy oranges and browns that were so prevalent throughout the 1970s. When it came to 1976’s All The President’s Men, it transpired that the shade also worked very nicely with a beige trench coat and, as illustrated here, a corduroy suit. If you fancy trying something similar in 2016, look no further than the latest Etro collection, which features an analogous blazer in a pleasing, wide-wale brown corduroy. Unfortunately, we can’t sell you a pair of piercingly blue eyes to go with it though. Sorry.

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Here is Mr Reford during the filming of 1979 movie The Electric Horsemen. Could he have known then that Saint Laurent’s Hedi Slimane would be proposing the above denim jacket, with a contrast corduroy collar, as a key piece for the AW16 season? No, of course not. But he obviously knows how to wear it well. Mr Redford, who was particularly good at playing cowboys, is naturally a key reference point for the season in general, given the widespread tendency towards Western-wear that we seem to be seeing at the moment. One caveat: only wear it with the hat if you actually have a horse to talk to while doing so. Otherwise it all just feels a bit too Crocodile Dundee.

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In 1973’s The Way We Were – widely considered to be one of the best, and most bittersweet romantic movies of all time – Mr Redford played Hubbell Gardiner, a young preppy gentleman with a natural facility for writing, but a rather lazy approach to both his life and the world around him. But though the character may have had serious character flaws, he also had a rather nice selection of clothing, in particular the above geometric sweater, which reminds us a lot of some of the appealing patterned examples that have recently landed on MR PORTER. Wear yours, like Mr Redford, with a white shirt, and feel every inch the romantic anti-hero.

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