English
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
Русский
Español
Martin Scorsese is one of the greatest movie directors of all time. From classics like Goodfellas and Casino to sleepers like Hugo, you know that you are spending your time wisely when you sit down in front of the screen to watch one of Marty’s masterpieces.
We can debate the best Scorsese movies another time. Today, we’re actually going to discuss which characters from across his filmography are the most stylish. From Ace and Ginger’s impeccable outfits in Casino to the timeless military gear of Travis Bickle, Scorsese has always made sure to use clothing to make his characters that much more compelling. In some cases, they are even part of the best on-screen wardrobes we’ve ever seen.
In celebration of Scorsese’s 83rd birthday, we decided to rank The 10 Most Stylish Martin Scorsese Characters of All Time.
Actor: Tom Cruise
Film: The Color of Money, 1986
Before Tom Cruise was Hollywood’s favorite action star, he was a pool shark in one of Scorsese’s more obscure ‘80s flicks. Vincent Lauria’s wardrobe isn’t as opulent as his mentor’s or most of the other iconic characters in Scorsese’s cinematic catalog, but it lives on for its relatable everyman quality. An unbuttoned flannel over a plain tee, good pair of blue jeans, and the occasional graphic T-shirt will never go out of style. While Lauria certainly doesn’t break new ground by any means, nor will it break the bank account, we appreciate its relatability. —Mike DeStefano
Actor: Robert DeNiro
Film: The King of Comedy, 1982
Rupert Pupkin is pathetic, desperate, delusional and still, to use the parlance of our time, he put that shit on. Bright knit ties, loud sport coats, matching bowties, three-piece suits—if you want to be a hep late-night host, you have to look the part and Pupkin does what he must in that department (he sadly can’t come up with TV-worthy human charisma). Thanks to Joker, The King of Comedy has enjoyed a resurgence in pop culture and from the right distance, more and more people can appreciate Rupert Pupkin, style icon. —Ross Scarano
Actor: Jack Nicholson
Film: The Departed, 2006
Jack Nicholson’s late-period take on an aging gangster is as florid and off-kilter as anyone could have hoped. Not just in his language and devilish facial expressions, but in his wardrobe too. An almost garish purple shirt. The animal-print bathrobe. The flasher’s trench coat (for the porno theater, naturally). Not one but multiple bucket hats. At one point, he lobs a fistful of cocaine into the air, commanding, “Don’t get up til you’re numb.” This is not connected to the plot. It’s all excessive. That’s the point and the pleasure. Trust in Jack. Matt Damon did. —Ross Scarano
Actor: Margot Robbie
Film: The Wolf of Wall Street, 2013
Costume designer Sandy Powell first teamed up with Martin Scorsese on Gangs of New York in 2002. By the time The Wolf of Wall Street went into production 10 years later, Powell was tasked with shaping the visual identity of Naomi Lapaglia, played by Margot Robbie. Robbie became a star from this breakout role, thanks to her immaculate New York accent and vixen-esque wardrobe.
Lapaglia’s sexuality is her social currency and Powell communicates that through a series of unforgettable looks: the hot-pink, off-the-shoulder bodycon dress by Azzedine Alaïa, the skin-tight turquoise Hervé Léger dress, and the oversized sunglasses that added to the character’s glamour. —Shinnie Park
Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis
Film: Gangs of New York, 2022
One of the most elite villains in movie history is Daniel Day Lewis’ Bill the Butcher. He’s menacing, charismatic, and an absolute force any time he’s on the screen. Gangs of New York is DDL’s movie and everyone else is just acting in it. Bill the Butcher is also the epitome of swag in this film. Whether he’s dressed head-to-toe in what looks like a 19-piece suit highlighted by flannel pants and a top hat, talking politics in the Five Points, or wearing a leather vest and matching aviator cap on the battlefield, he perfectly represents the dress of 19th century New York City. Without a doubt, Bill’s best look comes when he’s wrapped in a tethered American flag, a symbol he idolizes throughout the film. He commands attention whenever he’s on the screen. —Ben Felderstein
Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio
Film: Wolf of Wall Street, 2013
Throughout the three-hour runtime of Scorsese’s instant classic, we see Jordan Belfort transform from a wide-eyed rookie clocking in the ballbreaking world of New York City finance to a filthy rich, drug addicted criminal hungry for as much power as he can get. Sure, he may be crippling middle class America selling them on an impossible dream with penny stocks, but how else could he afford all the Ludes and that white Lamborghini Countach (two of ‘em)? Another spoil of Belfort’s riches is a pretty impeccable closet full of finely tailored Armani suits, waspy white polos, and Rolex watches. We also have to show some love to the more casual denim shirt, white tee, sweats, and Nike Cortez combo that he wore during the film’s most infamous scene. The money may have been dirty, but the fits were definitely clean. —Mike DeStefano
Actor: Robert DeNiro
Film: Taxi Driver, 1976
There is, of course, something perverse about the psychotic Travis Bickle becoming the blueprint for a thousand surplus-inspired menswear shops around the world. But his fits represent modern-day workwear: a mix of Western—plaid shirts, cowboy boots, flared denim, big-buckled belts—and military chic: aviator glasses, beige trousers, a perfectly cropped WWII-era tanker jacket, and the now-iconic M-65 field jacket.
These pieces have become foundational staples, the “101” items for anyone in their 20s trying to build a wardrobe that’s more than just screen-printed Supreme tees. For most people, it’s just about getting your shit off. In Taxi Driver, the outfits are utilitarian for the character—ankle-high boots perfect for taping a knife to—but also metaphorical for our boy Marty. Each outfit change signals a man gradually coming undone. The last time we see Bickle in the M-65, he’s bloodied on the brink of death. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
Actor: Ray Liotta
Film: Goodfellas, 1990
Ray Liotta could make an entrance. His introduction in Something Wild, the movie that put him on a leading-man trajectory, is tense and electric. An hour into the feature and suddenly here’s the villain, all blue eyes and intense eyebrows. But nothing beats Goodfellas, which after the speedy, nightmarish opening, makes you wait for his arrival. The come-up montage with young Henry Hill is one of Scorsese’s most beloved sequences, and the cherry on top is the loving pan from adult Henry’s shoes to that distinctive, slightly pockmarked Liotta mug.
Goodfellas is about the irresistible temptation of a better, more exciting life. Henry and Tommy reclining outside a diner near Idlewild Airport, in loafers and sharp suits, is the embodiment of that life. Henry’s suit is immaculate: the black and gray striped shirt he wears open an extra button to show off the white undershirt, the shirt’s collar laid over top the suit jacket’s lapel. He’s smoking a cigarette. He’s up to no good. You want to belong to his world just as much as he does. And as it turns out, we’re all damned because of it! It’s a point Scorsese makes over and over again in his movies but it doesn’t stop the audience from being seduced. —Ross Scarano
Actor: Sharon Stone
Film: Casino, 1995
Sharon Stone’s portrayal of Ginger McKenna isn’t just one of the most stylish Scorsese characters. She’s one of the most stylish people to ever grace the silver screen. The furs. The jewelry, courtesy of Bulgari and Cartier. The baby blue leather look by Courrèges on the tarmac. Before the drug-fueled rage made it all come crashing down, McKenna was the best dressed woman in Sin City. Ace, er, The Casino costume department, Rita Ryack and John A. Dunn, were putting that $1 million budget to good use. —Mike DeStefano
Actor: Robert DeNiro
Film: Casino, 1995
Only one person has ever outshined McKenna in a Scorsese movie. It was her other half, Sam “Ace” Rothstein. From the opening scene of the film when he walks to his car in a flamingo pink and white suit, you knew Ace was a man who cared about his style. Throughout one of Scorsese’s best, DeNiro stepped out in over 50 different suits. We aren’t just talking about old reliables like black, navy, or pinstripe. He was matching the energy of the Vegas strip in outrageous suits in every color of the rainbow, from shamrock green to sunburst yellow to baby blue. Considering Scorsese had the late legend Giorgio Armani on set for some consultancy, did you expect anything short of excellence? Whether he was the public relations director or the food and beverage manager, Ace made sure to represent Tangiers well. And that’s that. —Mike DeStefano
Read the full article here
