THE JOURNAL

Did anyone remember to give Mr Billie Joe Armstrong a nudge? You know how the lead singer of cartoon punk outfit Green Day is. After a busy summer peppered with festivals, he likes to Rip Van Winkle it through the ninth month, as detailed in the band’s 2004 hit “Wake Me Up When September Ends”. He could invest in an alarm clock like the rest of us, but instead, he seems happy to subcontract out that responsibility.
No matter, while he was slumbering, the fashion world has been far from idle. With summer now officially done and autumn at our backs, those of us who are bravely getting on with our day will feel increasing pressure to dress appropriately. As the weather pivots, the amount of clothing proliferates, which makes September not just a time to get back to work, but a time to turn to what we in the industry call transitional items. You know, layers.
Here are eight men who, unlike Mr Armstrong, managed to drag their weary carcasses out of bed, and did so in style. Whether attending a press event or merely walking down the street, they demonstrate not just what to wear, but how to wear it. See below for the looks of the past month that will keep you on your toes.
Mr Haider Ackermann

Mr Haider Ackermann at the Venice Film Festival, 2 September. Photograph by Mr Jacopo Raule/Getty Images
Born in Bogota, Colombia, and raised by Alsatians – as in his parents are from the Alsace region of France, not… never mind – in countries as far flung as Chad, Algeria and the Netherlands before learning his trade in Belgium, Mr Haider Ackermann is indisputably a man of the world. This outward-looking purview is on show here as he emerges from the five-star Hotel Excelsior in Venice, the hub of the city’s film festival, and gazes onto the promenade. The wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and cuffed trousers, with ample ankle on display, suggest holiday attire, while the shirt, chore jacket, brogues and what looks like a blazer in his hand portray a designer who has not totally clocked off. There’s a strong sense of balance to his look. Layered blues in generous proportions are teamed with tonally complementary accessories. In all, Mr Ackermann has put a lot of thought into this outfit, even though, presumably, he is going to spend much of the day in a dark room munching popcorn.
Mr Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf at the premiere of Honey Boy, Toronto International Film Festival, 10 September. Photograph by Mr Brent Perniac/Press Association Images
A blue single-breasted suit, no socks and brown loafers is a combination that’s known to work. But the rugby-style Gucci sweater – itself in an eye-catching array of competing colours – is either symbolic of a maverick dresser who can’t help himself or of someone with poor management of their laundry basket. However, Mr Shia LaBeouf has frequently demonstrated that he is the former. Previous riffs have included baby-blue Crocs, army boots and skinny jeans and a heavily fringed leather jacket, not to mention a disposable fork hung from his mouth. So, while this particular look, which he wore to the première of his semi-autobiographical venture Honey Boy, might be pushing the envelope for some, it’s rather tame for Mr LaBeouf.
Labrinth

Labrinth at the HBO Primetime Emmy Awards after party, Los Angeles, 22 September. Photograph by Ms Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock
Euphoria, the HBO series Mr Timothy Lee McKenzie (aka Labrinth) scored, wasn’t up for an award for this year’s Emmys due to timing (airing from June, it fell outside the consideration period for 2019). But the British musician embodies an attractive early bid for the show at next year’s ceremony, starting with this confident outfit. The natural-coloured suit paired with a white T-shirt and brown leather sneakers makes for a laid-back take on the Emmys’ traditionally formal, if flamboyant, dress code. Gold jewellery, including two chains and numerous rings, adds some subtle refinement. We wish him luck for 2020 – and with topping this year’s look.
Mr Alex Wolff

Mr Alex Wolff at the premiere of Bad Education, Toronto International Film Festival, 8 September. Photograph by Mr Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
You might have seen Mr Alex Wolff in last year’s exemplary horror movie Hereditary or, if you like, in Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017). You won’t have seen him turned out better than this, however, head to toe in our own brand, Mr P. An actor, director, writer and musician, he is something of a polymath. On this evidence, we can also add snappy dresser to that bulging CV. Attending the Toronto International Film Festival to promote his latest film, Bad Education, his unstructured moleskin blazer and matching trousers draw out the darker navy hue of his rollneck, while the sturdy boots reflect Mr Wolff’s solid footing. The ringlet of hair teased just so upon his forehead is the model’s own.
Mr Dane DeHaan

Mr Dane Dehaan at the premiere of ZeroZeroZero, Venice Film Festival, 5 September. Photograph by Shutterstock
Blue-on-blue warfare sounds like a mishap on the battlefield (or the Tory party conference, which might as well be the same thing), but it seems to be a running theme in the best outfits on show this month. The general rule is to work with similar tones that flatter each other, but here, in the guise of actor Mr Dane DeHaan’s suit and shirt, contrast is key. The deck chair-style stripes of his slightly oversized shirt jut up against the rich blue of his suit. In fact, you’re so focused on the thick lines and rather generous collar that it takes you a moment to notice that he is also sporting an air tie, as in no tie at all. This could be a nod to the TV show he was in Venice to support – a series about drug smuggling called ZeroZeroZero, which also stars Mr Gabriel Byrne and Ms Andrea Riseborough – making this a bold, yet subtle gesture. An outfit that works on many levels, then.
Mr Kit Harington

Mr Kit Harington at the Emmy Awards, Los Angeles, 22 September. Photograph by Ms Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images
You know nothing, Jon Snow. Although clearly Mr Kit Harington does. At the Emmys to help with the haul of statuettes Game Of Thrones was up for, and despite not winning the Outstanding Actor Award himself, the actor was pictured grinning from ear to ear. We could tell because, now shorn of his contractual responsibilities to the show, he’s also – finally – shorn his hair. But not the beard. Sporting a sharp black suit fitted to perfection – note the lack of belt to hold up the trousers, as it really should be – his outfit was either made to measure or he met a really good tailor in King’s Landing. Note the contrasting white shirt against the formalwear, but also the bountiful lapels and collar, with no tie. In fact, no embellishments at all – not even laces. And certainly no stray direwolf hairs.
Mr Claudio Marchisio

Mr Claudio Marchisio in Milan, 5 September. Photograph by Mr Mimmo Carriero/Shutterstock
In a get-up that is perhaps more continental espionage thriller than Italian footballer, Mr Claudio Marchisio appears to be in disguise. Which would be fine if the costume he’d picked weren’t so perfectly put together that it draws attention to itself. The hat, dark glasses and neat beard, not to mention the phone held like a standard-issue pistol, suggest target-shadowing field agent rather than box-to-box midfielder, but conspicuously so. The neutral suit, too, sets out to blend in with the nondescript stone buildings of Milan and, in doing so, stands out even more. Teamed with the candy-stripe tie and tanned ankles exhibited adroitly above brown leather loafers, his cover has been blown.
Stormzy

Stormzy at the GQ Men of the Year Awards, London, 3 September. Photograph by Mr David Fischer/Shutterstock
Here’s grime artist Stormzy scooping yet another (well deserved) trophy, namely best solo artist at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards. His double-breasted jacket should get a prize, too. It’s a style of tailoring that some of us tend to swerve for fear of looking bulky, but Mr Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, who stands 6ft 5in tall, proves this does not have to be the case. The trick is to keep everything in proportion, helped, in this example, with just two buttons, rather than the more conventional six-on-two, or even the four-button set-up named after the Duke of Kent. But back to the lord of Thornton Heath, whose open-necked shirt, flash of white at the cuff and stainless steel diving watch also caught our eye, even if most of the attendant crowd appear distracted by someone farther down the red carpet. Some people just can’t see a great suit when it’s right in front of them.
The celebrities featured in this story are not associated with and do not endorse MR PORTER or the products shown