Male Style Icons

LONDON - US president Barack Obama was yesterday named the most stylish man in a poll of men.

The 47-year-old father of two, who moved into the White House in January, has wowed people across the globe with his sharp suits and smooth sense of style.

Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt came second thanks to his ability to look stylish in a sharp suit and dressed down jeans.

His chiselled looks and good style have bagged him a string of beauties including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie.

Jonathan Heilbron, President & CEO of luxury shirt company Thomas Pink, which carried out the poll, said: “Barack Obama has a great sense of style, which no doubt adds to his popularity. World leaders and politicians are not known for their dress sense, so it’s refreshing to have Obama who seems to genuinely care about his appearance.”

Third place in the poll of 3,000 men is footballer David Beckham, whose trendy style has seen him become one of the most photographed men in the world.

But the AC Milan player hasn’t always been so stylish - previously stepping out in a sarong and wearing a matching PVC outfit with wife Victoria.

James Bond star Daniel Craig is at number four, followed by The Godfather actor Al Pacino.

Suave George Clooney was voted into sixth place, with designer Giorgio Armani even saying that the former ER star makes a suit look “simply fantastic”.

Bill Nighy, who has recently been on the big screen in The Boat That Rocked, came seventh, while painter and filmmaker Andy Warhol was at eight.

Clint Eastwood and Will Smith completed the top ten.

Other style icons to feature in the poll include actor Danny Dyer at 11, former 007 Pierce Brosnan at 15 and Elvis Presley at 16.

The poll also asked what they considered to be the most essential fashion items in a man’s wardrobe; a crisp white shirt came first followed by a pair of blue jeans and a casual t-shirt. The nominated ‘most stylish’ men have all been photographed numerous times wearing white shirts, each adding their own individual stamp to this most timeless of looks.

Jonathan Heilbron, President & CEO of Thomas Pink, added: “These guys have access to the latest designer trends and can get away with wearing virtually anything, yet time and time again they are seen in a sharp white shirt with jeans or a suit. And they have all dated or married the world’s most beautiful women - it would seem that simple good taste wins out over extreme fashion when it comes to sex appeal for a man.”

Thomas Pink now has a White Shirt Bar at its flagship Jermyn Street store and online, which offers men a choice of 21 year round styles plus seasonal limited editions. The White Shirt Bar offers men a one stop shop, where they can choose the perfect white shirt whether it’s for work, the weekend or a special occasion.

TOP TWENTY MALE STYLE ICONS

1. Barack Obama 2. Brad Pitt 3. David Beckham 4. Daniel Craig 5. Al Pacino 6. George Clooney 7. Bill Nighy 8. Andy Warhol 9. Clint Eastwood 10. Will Smith 11. Danny Dyer 12. Johnny Depp 13. Dean Martin 14. David Bowie 15. Pierce Brosnan 16. Elvis Presley 17. Justin Timberlake 18. Sean Connery 19. Steve McQueen 20. Vernon Kay

Notes to editors:

3,000 men aged 25-55 took part in the poll which quizzed them on their fashion habits and views on stylish male icons. Conducted by market specialists OnePoll.com, the survey was commissioned by Thomas Pink, the British luxury shirt brand.

Source: Thomas Pink

Karin Silverstein, Senior PR Manager, +44(0)20-7498-4148, karins at thomaspink.com