Sir Rod Stewart celebrates his 80th birthday today, which makes this the perfect moment to take a moment to remember that he is a total fashion icon. The flamboyantly dressed rocker is known for hits such as Handbags and Gladrags, Maggie May and Do Ya Think I’m Sexy, but he’s also known for his spikey blonde mullet and eccentric rock and roll dress sense.
From crop tops and flares to leopard print and coordinating suits, there are endless iconic looks from Sir Rod that I admire. As someone who has never dressed in a particularly girly way, but I enjoy a strong look, his style offers so much in the way of fun gender neutral looks. Of course there’s also the likes of Elton John, David Bowie and many more from that era who all pushed boundaries and challenged the conventions of fashion, but Sir Rod Stewart has always, for me, been a cut above the rest.
When I’m stuck for party outfit ideas, I simply take a glance at my ‘Rod Steward vibes’ Pinterest board, and ask myself “what would Rod wear?”, before letting the spirit of him run through me as I make my clothing choice. Silk shirt, flares and a cravat, why the hell not? Maybe I wouldn’t wear a full leopard print suit to work, but a pair of trousers or a waistcoat would work wonders on an otherwise dull outfit.
Retro gender-bendy dressing has been back for some time now, and when it comes to flamboyant flair, we’ve seen the likes of Harry Styles, Andrew Scott and Ncuti Gatwala rock similar styles (only with more conventional hairstyles). Maybe they too are inspired by Rod’s early camp and androgynous looks.
A few years ago I asked my hairdresser to chop off my long black locks in exchange for a blonde Rod Stewart mullet
Over the years, I’ve taken inspiration from his clothes and his hair. A few years ago I asked my hairdresser to chop off my long black locks in exchange for a blonde Rod Stewart mullet. The new hair inspired me to dress more playfully and transformed my whole look.
Rod Stewart’s 70s and 80s looks are, for me, the pinnacle of his style; a perfect blend of Led Zeppelin rocker and camp pop. London would look a lot cooler if men still dressed like this... Chinos and trainers have their place, but they really don’t come close to crop tops with flared jeans, with a sprinkling of silk and sparkles.
As he enters his eighth decade, I couldn’t be happier to learn that he is confirmed to play the Legends slot at Glastonbury 2025. My bets are on him being the best-dressed headliner. Neil Young definitely won’t be sporting any velvet or leopard print. I already know which of his looks I would recreate, I just need to find myself a ticket first.
Scroll down to see some of his best looks:
