DT Style Guide: Dress down like Ryan Gosling

We’re aware that a tech site probably isn’t your go-to source for advice about style, but just in case you don’t have a source for style at all (we’re looking at you, Mark Zuckerberg), we thought we’d bring it all together for you. A dose of good style advice never hurt anyone, and this is the lifestyle section after all. The point is that whether you dress up or down in your everyday life, you can always look good. We’re here to help you find some pieces to make getting dressed in the morning a little bit easier and a little more stylish.

This week we’re going to take some cues from actor Ryan Gosling’s casual but put-together style. Not only is Gosling starring in recent and upcoming movies like Drive, Crazy Stupid Love, and The Ides of March, but the guy can dress. Whether he’s at a movie premiere or walking around Los Angeles with his pup, he always manages to look cool without trying too hard. We particularly like the look that we chose (below) for its cool-factor and easy-to-wear style. Almost any guy can pull off jeans and a tee with a nice leather jacket and some comfortable (but nicer than sneakers) shoes.

Luckily for all the guys out there, this look is pretty simple to recreate. We’ll show you how.

Slim Jeans

Look for a good quality pair of jeans that run straight from the waistband to the ankle. We’re not talking skinny jeans here, but something that fits closer to the leg than your sweatpants. You can’t go wrong with Levi’s for jeans and we particularly like the Levi’s Made and Crafted Tack Slim jean ($200), which has a timeless straight fit and comes in a classic dark wash with only slight fading and whiskering. Cuff them at the bottom for an extra dash of cool style.

Lightweight Tee

While you could wear just about any tee with this type of look, we like the relaxed olive green version that Gosling is sporting. Try something with a lighter feel than your typical white three-pack t-shirts. The Jean Shop Slub T-Shirt ($65) has a classic fit with a slim neckband, and is made with slub yarn which gives the tee a more rough and tumble look.

Leather Biker Jacket

The real kicker to this look is the black leather biker jacket. To avoid looking like a punk kid or someone who rides hogs with the Harley gang, choose a jacket that has a relaxed fit and is made with a soft, worn-looking leather instead of something rigid. This Rick Owens Stonewashed Leather Biker Jacket ($3,020) is a perfect choice and will last for years, but will cost you a small fortune. For a less-expensive option, try this version.

Casual Leather Oxfords

Buy a pair of shoes like Gosling has on and you’d be set for just about every casual occasion we could think of, except maybe a beach party. Look for a brown leather lace-up that has a stitched moccasin toe (that’s the visible stitching on the top of the shoe) and a rubber or gum sole. This pair of Frye Dakota Oxfords ($158) is made from hand-oiled Italian leather and will hold up for years under almost any conditions.