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Why Every Man Should Try To Be More Like Idris Elba

How to look like UK's biggest style icon.
By 

Men's Lifestyle Editor, The Huffington Post

You can pay attention to Idris Elba, or don't. But soon you're not going to have much choice.

With recent covers on Esquire, GQ, Men's Health and Maxim -- the list is long and growing -- the actor is getting hard to avoid (we're not complaining).

Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images

It's much-deserved publicity. After starring as "The Wire's" Stringer Bell, "Luther's" Luther, possibly-maybe-not becoming the next James Bond, and the Kony-esque "Commandant" in Netflix's acclaimed "Beasts Of No Nation" (for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor in a motion picture), Elba isn't only a rising international actor, he's a fashion force that it's time you reckon with.

This year Elba launched a highly anticipated collaboration with the British label Superdry for an eponymous line of 250 pieces: leather jackets, trench coats, hoodies, henleys, chinos and sweats -- you know, things ripped dudes look good in -- and will be featured at Italian menswear trade show Pitti Immagine Uomof this week.

Here, we give you a few of Elba's best looks, with affordable options on you can make them work for yourself:

Start With The Face
Donna Ward via Getty Images
It starts with the face, and Elba keeps his classically scruffy. Tame your beard wherever it tends to grow thicker using a beard trimmer -- we like Remington's Chrome Precision ($28.99), which gives you a lot of lengths and options -- and keep it from growing down too far on your neck.
Break The Rules
David M. Benett via Getty Images
It's good to break the rules, such as "never wear black and navy together" -- wearing a monochromatic blue, well-tailored top half with a black bottom half is one way to do it right.

Elba's Superdry line has a great black bomber, but Topman has a blue jacket if you want the look in the photo (and it's more affordable, at $80).

J.Crew's 484 jeans in black ($110) not only fit well, they're well constructed, and you can finish this look with Converse's updated Chuck Taylor All Star II ($75), now in all black.
Dress From Head To Toe
GVK/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images
Elba clearly thinks about style from head to toe -- leather pants give his look weight at the bottom, but his dark sunglasses balance out the top. A pop of color, the white stripe of his undershirt, ties it all together.

Zara's polyester knee patch trousers ($79.90) are a great substitution for leather, and these sunglasses ($205), by Celine, will top you off right.
Be Conscious Of Color
Gardiner Anderson/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images
Once Elba finds his color scheme, he sticks to it -- you'll see him in dark blues and blacks a lot. But he also knows how to make a color pop, as he did with the red knit cap on top of his monochromatic sweater-jacket combo.

Coat: Topman Blue Single Breasted Wool Mac ($200)
Sweater: A.P.C. Indigo-Dyed Loopback Cotton-Jersey Sweatshirt ($210)
Hat: Best Made Co. Cap of Courage ($30)
Ditch The Tie
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
You don't need a common button-down and necktie; Ebla's look here works because his hat, sweater, pants and coat are nearly the exact same shade of gray, but his brown shoes add color at the bottom.

Hat: Goorin Mikey Ivy Flat Cap ($36)
Sweater: J.Crew Slim Italian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater ($225)
Pants: J.Crew Crosby Suit Pant In Heathered Italian Wool Flannel ($225)
Coat: ASOS Wool Overcoat In Dark Gray ($154)
Shoes: Kenneth Cole Country Club Cap Toe Oxford ($155)

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