Winter sartorial lessons from the likes of Messrs John Lennon, Sidney Poitier and Rock Hudson.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the stylish names of yesteryear didn’t have to deal with all the same problems us. And in many areas that may well be true. You wouldn’t have caught Mr Paul Newman biting his nails wondering how many likes his latest Instagram post was going to get. Nor would you have had to conduct a conversation with Mr Gianni Agnelli while he was secretly Tindering people under the table. Yet all of them, like us, had to deal with the cold, something to bear in mind as you shiver your way through January. Luckily then, though Messrs John F Kennedy Jr, Sidney Poitier and more, below, can’t help us overcome that odd feeling of dread, inadequacy and sadness that we feel when scrolling through our Facebook feeds, they can deliver some very useful pointers on wrapping up warm in a stylish way. Scroll down to see how.

Imagine all the people… wearing Aran knit sweaters. Yes, we know Mr John Lennon’s most famous song doesn’t exactly go like that, but wouldn’t it be nice? This type of garment, recognisable by its distinctive and complex cable-knit patterns (as well as, traditionally, its off-white colour – the natural shade of the undyed wool) has its origins in 19th century fishing communities in Ireland’s Aran Isles. If it was good enough for Mr Lennon, one of the 20th century’s most undisputed rock ’n’ roll geniuses, surely it’s good enough for you? If you need any further convincing, look no further than the version offered by British brand Connolly, which, though made in Scotland, is handmade by artisans over the course of six months.

Find out more about Connolly here

You’re going to have to use some imagination here, because one of the places we most certainly do not suggest you stand and ponder life when it’s freezing out is the deck of a boat. But we couldn’t resist including this moody shot of legendary actor Mr Sidney Poitier in this particular edit because he looks so effortlessly cool in his full-length shearling coat. That, of course, gives us the opportunity to remind you that shearling has not only been emphatically on-trend for the past three winters (and will be for many more to come, in our opinion), but is one of the most stylish and natural ways to keep oneself warm. If you don’t believe us ask a sheep. Actually, no, don’t, just believe us, for goodness’ sake.

The French ski champion is more often fêted for his 18 wins in the World Cup tours of 1966-67 than his impeccable on-piste style, but let’s consider this short paragraph a chance to right that wrong. His combination here of a slim-fitting, turtleneck base layer with a creamy Shetland sweater, knotted around the shoulders is one that anyone looking for a bit of lightweight warmth (or rather, for an exceptionally easy transition into the “après” section of this whole ski business) would be wise to emulate.

When you have a name like “Rock”, we imagine people expect you to be more than normally resistant to such paltry, changeable things as the weather. But we also imagine, getting tired of such expectations, you would often experience a strong urge to show off your softer side. And so it is in this picture with Mr Rock Hudson, a beloved heartthrob and Hollywood leading man of the 1950s and 1960s, who here is not only demonstrating his ability to carry a small pile of snow without flinching, but to make a fun, folksy sweater look somewhat suave and sophisticated. We particularly like way that his gloves are also patterned – clearly, you can get away with such whimsy if you match it all with a pair of crisp, flat-fronted chinos, and an equally precise hairdo (as they only knew how to style in the 1950s).

When is a scarf more than a scarf? When it’s got a matching hat, that’s when. Quite aside from the fact that both these outfits look like they’ve been plucked from Mr Alessandro Michele’s latest Gucci collection, this is a great example of how to add a bit of wintry charm (and insulation) to a tailored look. That is, pop the collar of your (preferably wool felt or cashmere) blazer, throw on a long, thick, scarf, and tie it in a chunky overhand knot (see our guide on how to tie a scarf if you need any assistance in this department). Yes, it helps if you’ve got the Kennedy genes and the elfin girlfriend as well, but they’re not essential.

How to tie a scarf

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