Style

The 25 Most Stylish Celebrity Mugshots

Even at their lowest, these dudes kept it fresh.

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Is there any news item more thrilling, more gripping, or more entertaining than a celebrity getting arrested? And whether they've actually committed the crime or not, we're all treated to their mugshot. Usually the photos are debasing, humiliating, and give us all a good cackle we can't help but make as we realize that, celebs - they fuck up just like us!

But sometimes the celeb perp is just so damn stylish that we can't help but forget the setting and admire how fresh they look at what is undeniably a terrible point in their public life. Now, we don't recommend a life of crime, but if you're gonna get arrested, these guys have taught us that it pays to look good while being processed. Showcasing once again why these dudes are rich and famous, here are The 25 Most Stylish Celebrity Mugshots.

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25. Woody Harrelson

Year Arrested: 1982

Crime: Disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, assault.

The entire country was in love with the 21 year old star of Cheers, so who could hate on Woody Harrelson for dancing in the middle of the street in Columbus, Ohio? He then ran from the cops, so the actor also caught a resisting arrest charge and assault charge when they tussled. The polo that Harrelson is wearing is so quintessentially '80s that it may very well be a portal back to that simpler and arguably more stylish time.

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24. Steve McQueen

Year Arrested: 1972

Crime: Driving while intoxicated.

When you charged through life fueled by booze, women, and fast cars, you're going to have your fair share of conflicts with the law. Steve McQueen, known as The King of Cool and for his anti-hero image, was arrested for drunken driving in Anchorage, Alaska, and he didn't seem to give one single fuck about it. That shirt is fire, but his cavalier attitude is what makes this an incredibly stylish mugshot.

23. Ozzy Osbourne

Year Arrested: 1984

Crime: Public intoxication.

Of course Ozzy Osbourne was arrested for public intoxication, and of course he's so dope that he'd be rocking this half-zip St. Louis Blues hockey short sleeve shirt. There's not much else to say here. Sometimes an awesome guy gets arrested while wearing awesome clothing, and voilà.

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22. Tupac Shakur

Year Arrested: 1995

Crime: Sexual abuse.

Up until 1995, Tupac certainly had his run-ins with the law, including shooting a cop in the ass, but this is by far his most stylish mugshot. Stemming from a 1993 sexual abuse charge, this was the mugshot taken before Pac went to jail for 11 months. In a rugged bomber jacket, Tupac looked defiant of what awaited him.

21. Mick Jagger

Year Arrested: 1967

Crime: Narcotics possession.

To hear their side of things, The Rolling Stones were constant targets of the London police. When the "bobbies" raided Keith Richards' home, they found mad drugs and arrested the two band members. Mick caught the possession charge, and was snapped wearing a slim-cut suit that Mad Men and J. Crew fans would drool over today. Even in dire times, he was able to keep it one hunna.

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20. Tim Allen

Year Arrested: 1978

Crime: Possession of 1.4 pounds of cocaine.

Yeah, Tim Allen was toting Scarface amounts of yayo when he was busted at the Kalamazoo airport in Michigan. He proceeded to violate the golden rule of the 10 Crack Commandments and gave up the names of his bosses and peers to shorten his prison sentence. And during the two years and four months that he was in prison, Allen developed his stand-up comedy routine for his fellow prisoners and the rest is history. Quite possibly the most bizarre path to super stardom anyone has ever taken. But the style story here is that classic 'stache that is so '70s it might as well have a white disco suit on.

19. Frank Sinatra

Year Arrested: 1938

Crime: Seduction and adultery

Let's take a second to thank the higher powers that we don't live in 1938. Sinatra allegedly promised a woman his hand in marriage if they boned, and since she was a lady of good repute he was arrested. The charges were dropped when authorities learned that the woman was married, increasing Sinatra's actions to bawse status. He later become known as The Chairman of the Board, but in his youth Sinatra was rocking a sharp suit and a devil-may-care 'do that definitely attracted ladies of both good and ill repute.

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18. Stephen Baldwin

Year Arrested: 2012

Crime: State income tax evasion.

Oh, the life of a Baldwin brother who's not named Alec. We already named him one of the most stylish celebs of the '90s, but Stephen is keeping it crispy in 2013. His mugshot was snapped for a rich man's crime, so why not show up dressed like you're wealthy? Our only qualm: no one should ever "duck-face" for the cameras.

17. Sergei Federov

Year Arrested: 2001

Crime: Driving while impaired.

Not only does Federov look fresh in this photo, but he might consider using this 2001 mugshot as one of his modeling headshots. The turtleneck is a piece we expect to see return to prominence very soon, and it looks like Federov was already ahead of the curve by shearing off the neck, leaving an unfinished hem that's very DIY chic.

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16. Scottie Pippen

Year Arrested: 1999

Crime: Drunk driving.

Imagine you're one of the greatest workers your company has ever seen, but there's always a guy who outshines you and gets all the glory and dough while you solidly plug away year after year. Of course you're going to have a few drinks when you're off-the-clock! That's how Pippen must've felt in 1999 when he was arrested for pulling into the opposite lane to drive around cars stopped at a red light. The t-shirt under the blazer is a classic late '90s move, as is the hoop earring that Scottie (and, of course, Jordan) was known for.

15. O.J. Simpson

Year Arrested: 1994

Crime: Murder.

One of the most iconic images of the '90s was O.J. leading the LAPD on a slow-speed chase in his vintage Ford Bronco as he tried to evade being arrested for the murder of his wife Nicole Simpson. Once he was finally nabbed, his mugshot was snapped while wearing a yellow polo under a navy blazer - classic weekend wear for the rich and famous.

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14. Nick Nolte

Year Arrested: 2002

Crime: Drunken driving.

Before his arrest that night in 2002, Nick Nolte was partying, and what says party animal like a bright, floral Hawaiian shirt? The boxy cut of the shirt is the classic shape of vintage Hawaiian shirts, and the uneven collar is just the touch of sprezzatura that Nolte needed to finish off this outfit. Florals have made a big splash recently, but Nolte was a decade ahead of the curve.

13. Martin Luther King Jr.

Year Arrested: 1956

Crime: Being party to a conspiracy to hinder and prevent the operation of business without just or legal cause.

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the hundreds of heroic men and women who were arrested while simply trying to obtain equality and justice in mid-20th century America. This particular arrest occurred from participating in the Montgomery, AL bus boycotts. The 27 year old King had great things in store for him and for his cause, but his style had already arrived. If this picture wasn't a symbol of the fucked up place America was back then, this kit would surely be making the rounds of the #menswear Tumblrs.

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12. Larry King

Year Arrested: 1971

Crime: Grand larceny.

Towards the end of his stint as the color commentator for the Miami Dolphins in 1970 and 1971 (I know!), Larry King was accused by a former business partner of grand larceny. The charges didn't stick, and sadly, neither did King's amazing '70s style. With that polka dot patterned shirt and thick glasses, Larry King wouldn't look out of place at an art opening or fashion party in 2013.

11. Kurt Cobain

Year Arrested: 1986

Crime: Trespassing, failure to pay, malicious mischief and minor possession.

Even in 1986 Kurt Cobain didn't fit in. As a bullied youth, the 19 year old was caught tagging "Ain't got no how watchamacallit," though the above mugshot was simply for wandering onto the roof of an abandoned building. Cobain's style in the mugshot is simple, but we can already see traces of the grunge era that he would help usher in just a few years later.

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10. Jimi Hendrix

Year Arrested: 1969

Crime: Heroin possession.

By 1969 Jimi Hendrix's wardrobe was at its peak levels of insanity and awesomeness. Imagine the knowing smirks airport security must have given each other when he strolled up at the Toronto airport. After finding a small bag of H in his luggage, Jimi's trippy gear was on full display in the ensuing mugshot. But joke was on the po-po; the charge against Hendrix was dropped after he convinced the judge that a fan had slipped the drugs into his bag.

9. Jay-Z

Year Arrested: 1999

Crime: Felony assault.

Even the top dawg execs have to (allegedly) get their hands dirty once in a while. Jay-Z was arrested for (allegedly) stabbing a record exec for leaking "Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter." The leader of Roc Nation was picked up and snapped in a brown, luxurious-looking crewneck sweater and an oversized black down jacket. A far cry from the designer pieces he rocks now, but this is when Jay was just starting his climb to the top.

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8. James Brown

Year Arrested: 1988

Crime: Drugs and weapon charges, high-speed chase.

1988 was not a great year for James Brown. In May, he was arrested for a drugs and weapon charge. And in September, he led cops on a high-speed chase. Normally the Godfather of Soul was draped in over-the-top glamorous outfits, but in this mugshot he's in a classic, simple white t-shirt that evokes Brando. This is one kit that'll never go out of style or look out of place.

7. Don King

Year Arrested: 1954; 1959

Crime: Murder; Manslaughter

After he was freed from prison in 1971, Don King became one of the most infuential boxing promoters and best dressed kings of all time. But pre-boxing fame, he was a sharp-dressed criminal in Cleveland who committed a shitload of crimes. Before the limelight was on him and his luxurious wardrobe, his mugshots highlighted King keeping it fresh in bold patterned sportcoats and shirts.

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6. Christian Slater

Year Arrested: 1994

Crime: Criminal poessession of a weapon.

We're not gonna ask why Christian Slater was trying to carry a gun through JFK airport, but if you lived through the '90s you'll know that Slater was the decade's resident bad boy. And even heading to the line-up didn't affect his badass swagger. That varsity jacket looks like something you bookmark on Mr. Porter and wait for it to go on sale.

5. Dennis Hopper

Year Arrested: 1975

Crime: Reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and evading arrest.

Dennis Hopper's signature look in the '70s was a rogue Western dude who threw back LSD after wrestling bulls. If the cops were coming after Hopper, he looked like the dude who was gonna try and make it for the border. This time he didn't make it, but this mugshot is the epitome of a rebel who isn't gonna let one arrest slow him down.

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4. David Bowie

Year Arrested: 1976

Crime: Felony possession of marijuana.

David Bowie first gained musical and style fame by pioneering glam rock with his stage persona Ziggy Stardust. But after switching up his sound and look, he became the biggest proponent of crisp British tailored suiting. He was so into the crispy menswear steez that even when he was snatched up for having a massive amount of weed after a concert in Rochester, he of course looked like he had somewhere better to be.

3. Sid Vicious

Year Arrested: 1978

Crime: Assault.

This infamous mugshot of the Sex Pistols' bassist has been immortalized as a lasting image of Sid Vicious. Taken a few months after his girlfriend Nancy Spungen was found murdered (which Vicious was arrested for, but not convicted) and after Sid tried to kill himself, the police snatched up the punk rocker after he assaulted Patti Smith's brother after a concert. Sid was sent to Riker's, got out on February 1, OD'd on heroin on February 2, and was found dead on February 3. Sid was so committed to his punk look and image that his alleged suicide note read "Bury me in my leather jacket, jeans and motorcycle boots."

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2. Charles Barkley

Year Arrested: 1991

Crime: Battery misdemeanor.

Never one to back down from a brawl, Charles Barkley was arrested in 1991 for breaking a dude's nose after a night of drinking. He may not be the sharpest dresser these days, but in the prime of his playing and partying days, The Round Mound of Rebound kept it crispy in silk baroque print shirts.

1. Bill Gates

Year Arrested: 1977

Crime: Driving without a license.

Look at that fucking hipster! Oh wait, it's just a super stylish Bill Gates. With that colorblocked sweater and a sick floral shirt peeping through, Bill was onto something great here. Luckily, he ended up revolutionizing the technological and computing worlds, but we wonder, what if he had stuck to style...

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