Best remembered for his star-making turn as disaffected outcast Jim Stark in the 1955 film, Rebel Without a Cause , and for his whirlwind life that was cut short at just 24 years of age, the casual cool of James Dean still looms large over the popular consciousness. With this in mind, there are several style lessons to be learned from this bad-boy of the silver screen–and despite being outside the typical mold for an entry in this series, we believe he can still unquestionably be considered a Gentleman of Style. Early Life – From Indiana Farm Boy to Aspiring Actor Rising out of the 1930s; an era of economic downturn and depression, the Navy had not seen significant development in its uniforms for many years. Overdue for a re-vamp which coincided with the global scale of the Second World War, the US Navy took the opportunity to develop three separate clothing systems for varying environments. Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images James Dean on the set of Rebel Without a Cause sporting his iconic look. There are festivals held in his honor featuring James Dean look-a-like contests while his pretty-boy-with-an-edge look is a staple of every fashion icon listicle imaginable.

Since its establishment in October 1775, the United States Navy has grown and developed exponentially over the last 120 years. From the ashes of the Civil War, where maritime warfare was put to the test, to the vast campaigns of the Spanish American War, the beginnings of the Twentieth Century saw the rise of a modern navy. Under Roosevelt’s administration, the US Navy became the second largest seaborne fighting force in the world (second only to the Royal Navy). But, while the Navy’s power continued to expand, the uniforms of its sailors were still very much of the old school. Using wool as the main source of insulation for colder climates and cotton for cooler environments, the appearance of a US Navy sailor was formal and traditional, with work uniforms not being what they were thirty years later. Dean was a studious and accomplished method actor, but perhaps more than his talent, it’s his natural charisma, as an avatar for rebellious youth, that shines through today. He didn’t abide by Hollywood standards of the time, preferring to live by his own rules. Although the filmmakers have received the green light from Dean's family, many have criticized the posthumous casting as exploitative and distasteful. It's emblematic of the price of fame even long after death.

P.S., Thanks, John, for the accurate correction re Jimmy’s Mc Douglas. I recommend Sven writes a review of this equally iconic brand which has a history as long and as rich in great designs and fabrics as Baracuda or any ‘rainwear’ manufacturer for that matter. (Japan, where these affairs are serious issue as and currency, certainly values the label in their menswear enthusiast’s private collections…always a benchmark of style and quality.) Thousands of fan letters poured in while those close to him were hounded by fans requesting James Dean pictures and his possessions, any absurd item they could get their hands on. In a statement Monday, the auction house said bids did not meet the item’s reserve price. That’s the confidential, predetermined minimum Michael Scott of Hobe Sound was prepared to accept. Interested bidders will now have a chance to privately negotiate an after-auction sale. As always the fit is the first thing to look out for. A classic Harrington’s body will always be cut short in relation to the chest size and arms.

Bought myself one of these for Xmas... I really, really like it. I looked all over the internet for info and wanted to add my .02 for any others in the same boat. These would include cold weather, wet weather and tropical weather. With ships stationed everywhere from Dutch Harbor to Oahu and the North Atlantic to the Mediterranean, a uniform was needed for every kind of environment. From photographic evidence and the study of history, it’s clear that the cold weather uniform, commonly now referred to as the N1, was the most popular used by US sailors during WWII.I'm a serious-minded and intense little devil... Terribly gauche and so tense I don't see how people stay in the same room with me. I know I wouldn't tolerate myself." James Dean A publicity still from Dean’s appearance on a 1951 episode of the “Schlitz Playhouse of Stars” [Image Credit: IMDB]