Man of Style: Tom Waits

Hello again.
Today's post pays tribute to my all-time favorite musician, Tom Waits. His eclectic musical offerings have spanned decades, but today I want to focus on his contributuion to style. Stylistically speaking, Tom Waits is the type of man we should all strive to be, not in the sense that we should emulate his look, but in the regard that Waits is a man who has developed his personal style, and maintains it with integrity.

From the seventies until now, Tom's style has evolved with him, but has never strayed far from where it began. Waits was, in his earlier days, regarded as some sort of neo-beatnik who lived just a notch above the streets and found solace in seedy, sleazy joints, honing his gravelly cigarette and bourbon drenched voice with perfection. Whether or not this opinion was factual or not doesn't matter; the man has always appeared comfortable in any setting, and in the clothing that he dons effortlessly.
The provided photos are taken from different eras and show a uniformity of style regardless of different types of dress. The consistency is what we're looking at here; the man knows what he likes and looks good sporting the threads.

I also like the timelessness of Tom's style. The outfits Tom wore in the photos from the seventies would look just as acceptable if worn today (when executed properly, which, of course, Tom does). The key to stylistic integrity is filling your wardrobe with the things you like, which when well chosen, will last you for years and remain stylish for just as long.
One thing that can be taken from the photos shown of Tom (courtesy of The Tom Waits Library) is his strict attention to fit. This is the one dead givaway that he is paying close attention to dressing well on purpose.

Whether in a suit or a denim jacket, the armholes are cropped and tapered, resting in the perfect spot on the shoulder. The bodies of his jackets fit close and snug, and the trouser legs sport a perfect taper. The importance of fit is evident from looking at Tom, and he uses fit and proportion to make his gangliness work for him, rather than trying to hide it.
Tom Waits represents an interesting sort of sprezzatura, remaining elegantly disheveled with the truest sense that he was never trying to look so damned cool... he just was, is, always will be.
Until next time,
Cheers!
-Paul