5 Style Lessons From The Miami Vice Aesthetic
Here is how you can get your Don Johnson on and learn to master the ever-trending Miami Vice style aesthetic this spring and summer.
The resurgence of the ‘Miami Vice aesthetic’, I contend, is a sub-trend of the revival of 80’s aesthetics altogether. Gordon Gecko, Ferrari Testarossa, synth-wave music, retro neon lights, sun-drenched Miami and speedboats, what’s not to love?
Never would I have thought that the Miami Vice aesthetic is one I would warm to, but I have. I think this is partly due to my love for 80s music and pop culture; an era when people felt free to experiment with their style from hair to hemline.
I used to think of the Vice City style merely as a caricature of how tailoring should be worn, reviling the wanna-be Don Johnson college kids who thrifted the whitest suit to roll the sleeves up, contrasted only with their pencilled-on five o’clock shadow and designer stubble. You know we’re talking about that scene in Friends.
I’m all for the traditional understanding of tailoring, with objective proportions and balance in every part, understated elegance and so on, but wouldn’t it be dull if we only stuck to the rules? There are some great style lessons relevant today that you can learn from Miami’s hotshot detectives Crockett & Tubbs. Call it my Miami Advice, if you will.
“You’ve got to know the rules before you can break ‘em. Otherwise, it’s no fun.”
1. There’s a place for pastel colours
Pastel colours - pinks and blues in various hues - are easier on the eye than the bold and vibrant. Such strong and vivid colours don’t work well on many men, particularly those with lighter skin. Dark-skinned men can pull it off much more easily, though it’s tricky to explain why.
2. Unconstructed jackets are the unsung hero
You get more versatility from unconstructed suits and separates than polished suits. Not only do they make an approachable difference in formality, but they can also feel so much more comfortable thanks to less padding. A lack of lining also makes summer wearing much more breathable, which is always a plus, isn’t it?
3. Lap up the lower lapel
Consider a lower gorge line as a statement of casualness and retro chic against the worrying trend of lapels creeping higher and higher to be rolling over to the back! Nobody is suggesting that your lapels should sit in line with your nipples, that would be a little too much, but something not as high as is seen today. Vintage shops might be your best bet for this.
4. Go all in with all white
I love white in the summer, and I mean, all-white. When the sun is out, everyone is in a good mood, and there’s no chance of rain or dirt from the road, all white feels epic, frankly. It can look a little flashy for some, and that’s always going to be the case, but white is such an elegant and clean colour that it makes no sense to skip it.
You don’t need to go for all-white, but at least some white trousers or a white jacket will do the trick, if you dare. If you are not too bothered by jackets and what-have-you, then a white henley top or T-shirt over some basic trousers will still look as chic as ever.
5. Have fun with tailoring
As we’ve alluded to on two counts, one of the reasons the Miami Vice effect is in full swing, I think, is because it is deliberately carefree in a way that almost conveys the sprezzatura attitude but not in a faux Italian way. Instead, it’s American, it’s retro, it’s fun, and it’s vibrant - much like how people felt the 1980s to be, certainly in pop culture, not just in style, but in music especially. The two went hand-in-hand.
Even if Crockett’s style is too much for you, Tubbs’s more conservative approach may appeal, with an emphasis on accessories and more structured, double-breasted jackets.
If you're looking for a way to spruce up your style this summer to stand out while feeling relaxed and fun, the Miami Vice aesthetic could be the way.
