I’d like to say that Fresh was an underrated film when it comes to style. I’d like to, but it’s actually a film that very few people have seen. Made during the great gangsta film rush of the early ’90s, Fresh is about a the tales and woes of a 12 year old drug dealer. Surprisingly for a film made during this period, there’s a surprising amount of nuance. There’s also some amazingly stilted slang being used, but that’s par for the course. Hey, it was 1994, the rapper-actor movement was just getting started. I remember watching this when I was about 10 and being utterly terrified at a death scene. Now? I just look at the patterned shirts.

Look at the guy in the oversized shirt in the background on the right. I don’t know if it’s that visible, but he’s got a very Our Legacy-esque patterned shirt. Or maybe Our Legacy used this as research? Probably not.

And it’s not all patterned shirts either. Take a look at Sam Jackson in this film.

And keep an eye out for the chest pocket tee and the washed denim.

The Warriors is bordering on obvious when it comes to movie style, but I don’t think there’s much you can take from the film literally. Walking about in just a vest, dressing like a gang of George Clinton aficionados or wearing meticulously applied facepaint with a baseball outfit might’ve worked back then, but it’s not a great everyday look. Instead I’m gonna focus on the most masculinely (and best) dressed gang in the entire film, the Lizzies. It’s always a bit odd talking about getting menswear inspiration from women wearing menswear (my minds blown just typing that past sentence) but I think it’s something most men are already doing, albeit on a subconscious level. The Lizzies had several menswear obsessions in good denim, military jackets & plaid shirts. They also make tie-dye shirts look like good, a tough task at the best of times.

Case in point: How popular is the rolled up jacket sleeve in menswear these days?

Double denim, rolled up sleeves, a tie-dye shirt and a bandana around the neck. She dresses more masculine than half the menswear bloggers doing the rounds.

The denim’s nicely worn in and it’s pretty much a perfect cuff. It’s not selvedge but I doubt that’s a priority if you’re in a gang. I wonder if folks would say she’s dressed by the internet?

You remember that feeling when The Wire was underappreciated? I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t, but there was a time when you had to spend ages telling folks about this great show on FX, using all kinds of re-up, product and ‘come at the king, you best not miss’ talk – only to receive a blank face staring back at you. A close of friend of mine, who I won’t name to save embarrassment, once told me he didn’t have time to watch The Wire because he was so engrossed by the plot lines in Heroes. Effing Heroes. The reason for that meandering intro is that I’m starting to feel the same way about the film style in ‘Cabaret’. Yes, the ‘Cabaret’ with Liza Minnelli.

I’d previously ignored Cabaret because, well, it was Cabaret, why would I watch it? But having caught it on late night TV, the film does have some very fine English style in it – something I’m particularly interested in right now due to my contrarian nature. Fair isle, Cable knits, 1/2 arm jumpers (might be giving these a go this summer) shawl collar bathrobes, club collars and boater hats all feature in the mix. But enough yapping from me, take a look for yourselves.