7 Key Pieces to Dress like Marlon Brando

His iconic style was more nuanced than just a plain white t-shirt.

Jun 19, 2025

Hello everyone, ahead of the summer solstice, a report on my menswear inspiration. Marlon Brando, best known as the actor who brought the 1950’s simple white T-shirt from the fray and into the limelight (and our closets) by way of the Hollywood silver screen has been a source of style for as long as I can tell.

But although he’s most often referenced as the “White T-Shirt Guy”, his style was more complex than often met the eye. When he wasn’t holding a script, he relied on irreducible staples like black suits, cotton trousers, skinny belts, and wingtips. For today’s feature, I’ve distilled his style to reflect the contemporary.

This column will be on pause next week. Instead, I’ll be reporting the news from the streets of Paris as the menswear collections get going. Stay tuned! I’ll be keeping an eye out for Jonathan Anderson’s Dior Men debut—and how he fuses the two lines into a single atom. His job just got nuclear.

Since this column is off on Friday, I bid you adieu with a weekend style edit on 5 Things To Pack. Have a good weekend! Don’t forget the SPF!

WCME: 5 Staples to Dress like Marlon Brando

What Caught My Eye is a daily column about internet culture, people you should know about, business, shopping, and fashion.

The Polka Dot Shirt

Perhaps the nuclear question should be about finding style that energises you. It is after all the first decision we make in the morning. As someone who embraces both the uniform for work, and seasonal change to reflect a renewed spirit that comes with long days of Vitamin D, I am all about the polka dot shirt this upcoming season. It has daytime disco nuance, fit to cross with the cultural force that’s been the pivot to bohemian fashion in the womenswear collections.

A Black Polo & Skinny Belt

**Moncler Polo, $480 / Celine Skinny Belt, $490**

This look is sharp, genderless, but the nuance is on the belt and the black on black logo patch. When I was working at Celine, I discussed this belt at an almost daily rate. It was the pain au chocolat of the business. The only caveat is that wearing a very skinny belt, with skinny jeans à la Hedi gets you into very Slimane territory. Here I like the proportion of the skinny belt and the wide trouser.

If you do decide to go all skinny, might as well add a felt hat and a foulard.

The Black Suit

**Todd Snyder Italian Gabardine Madison Suit, $996**

This upcoming Paris fashion week will be a real temperature test on what’s next for the suit. Still, a black suit is a must staple for the wardrobe. Todd Snyder is the unequivocal modern Italian Gabardine suit maker—at unmatched prices. You should check out the Madison.

The Real McCoy’s Trousers

**The Real McCoy’s Linen Atelier Trousers, $430**

Menswear readers, I want to nudge you the direction of The Real McCoy’s. I rarely shop or advice over-militarised clothes that veer too on the utilitarian, but to deny that clothes are embedded with a sense of purpose, technique, strategy, and balance is just a bad move. Why do I like The Real McCoy’s? Their new collection is nuanced on soft power and utility.

Lean Loafers

Whether you’re doing the moonwalk in loafers and white socks, or baring your ankles, the coolness of Marlon Brando’s aesthetic calls for a slimmer shoe. Tod’s has you covered. And Vinny’s is making a last call on their sale today.