James Dean’s untimely death in 1955 at the young age of 24 cemented him as a Hollywood icon and source of fashion inspiration for a generation. His classic, timeless style is still frequently referenced and prominent today. However, no one can quite replicate the effortless cool that Dean himself embodied. His bad boy image in films such as “Rebel Without A Cause” made him a household name.

Dean’s style was famous for combining All-American sportswear and rebellious chic. Scenes of him in a crisp white t-shirt, leather jacket, and motorcycle boots created the Hollywood image of a young and beautiful anarchist. Many contemporary movie stars such as River Phoenix and Brad Pitt can thank Dean for creating the rebellious pretty boy archetype. We think JD himself would approve of our very own “Knickerbocker” boot in Black Scotch (shown below).

He also conveyed a more preppy, collegiate attire in his everyday wardrobe. Wardrobe classics such as polo shirts, chinos, and tennis sneakers became staples thanks in large part to Dean and his male contemporaries. Dean popularized a more casual, understated form of dressing that came to be the new norm. Our very own “Perry” sneaker in Nautical White Pebble is a timeless piece that is on-par with James Dean’s fashion influence.