10 Style Tips You Can Learn From History's Biggest Badasses

Being badass isn’t an actionable thing, though one can do actions that are badass. It’s not an emotion, though one can emote badassery. It’s a state of mind. It’s a chromosomal enhancement you’re born with. It’s an outward-facing aura that people recognize when they see it. History’s greatest badasses haven’t let popular opinion influence them because they themselves are the only influencer they need.

Well-known badasses have created their own lane in their respective fields. Whether it’s acting, music, politics, athletics, or hand-to-hand combat, but that doesn’t define them. Neither does what they wear. But what that does do is trigger others who want to be perceived as badass to absorb the style cues of their badass forefathers. Historically speaking, the biggest badasses are the biggest badasses for a reason, so you might as well try to absorb a thing or two from them in the style department. Why go hard when you can go HARDER? You know what I’m talking about. Here are 10 Style Tips You Can Learn From History’s Biggest Badasses.

Badass style tip: Always be comfortable with yourself.

There are a million style tips you can try out to see which ones suit you the best, but if you don’t got it, you don’t got it. Now, Clint Eastwood? He’s always had it. Sure, the badass facial hair and wardrobe from “The Man With No Name” doesn’t hurt, but he was and is the epitome of badass cool. You’re just born with it, and style comes to you rather easily. Being comfortable with yourself, no matter what you’re wearing, cannot be disrupted by anyone.

Badass style tip: Going all monochrome everything every once in a while can raise your badass levels through the roof.

All blue. All black. Hell, even all white everything can lift you to celestial heights of badassery. It’s a simple way to stand out without having to worry about if one piece goes with another. When it’s the same color, it always works well. Just ask Johnny Cash, who infamously wore all black as a symbol of rebellion, but also because he felt comfortable in the monochrome ensemble. But he could pretty much wear whatever he wanted though because he walked into a maximum facility prison and had grown convicts swooning over his music.

Badass style tip: Don’t be afraid to get creative and mix patterns non-badasses wouldn’t dare try.

When you are a free-spirited individual like Jimi Hendrix, being stylish becomes second nature. You wear what you want and exude stylishness; not just look the part. You are also more inclined to try mixing things up because you hope to reap the benefits, but are prepared to suffer the consequences. Jimi loved being adventurous with his wardrobe and mixing up patterns like different florals. Not surprisingly, he pulled it off because he knew he could. Women would flock him had he worn a spacesuit, but luckily for us, he paved the way for creatively piecing together different patterns for a style risk worth trying.

Badass style tip: Pick a pair of denim and beat that one pair into the ground.

Having multiple pairs of denim to choose from is great. A few light wash, a few raws, different colors, etc. But John Wayne didn’t need all that because breaking in one pair of denim over a long period of time is one of the most rewarding and stylish things one can do. I bet Wayne wore one pair of denim for like 58 years, and they had the most badass whiskers and honeycombs. You’ll probably never achieve it, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. Save the money; get one light wash, one raw, and a miscellaneous and give them all lots of love.

Badass style tip: Make sure your tailor knows your preferences better than you do.

Kenny Powers don’t give a rats ass about what you think about him, as long as you understand he is a man with a mind for victory and an arm like a f*cking canon. What you can also admire about him is that he has an established rapport with his tailor. If you want to make sure he knows how you like your clothes to fit when you bring them in, be very precise with him up front and try to make regular appearances. Your clothes will never fit any better.

Badass style tip: When in doubt, throw on your favorite T-shirt and shrug everyone off who questions you.

Rollins is a Renaissance Man of sorts. Musician, activist, poet, actor, and overall badass are all on his extensive résumé. With that many proverbial hats worn, you would think he would need to change his appearance tons in order to fit in to each category, right? Wrong. Rollins’ infamous plain black T-shirt is a signature of sorts because it’s cool, it’s simple, and it’s one of the most stylish items one can own as long as they wear it with pride. You never have to doubt rocking your favorite tee in casual settings. No one else can either.

Badass style tip: The right accessory can take your badassery to the next level.

Muhammad Ali is one of the most outspoken athletes of all time. Whether flawlessly dodging punching while mercilessly beating on his opponents, or providing some of the most creative quotes we’ve ever heard, it didn’t seem as though Ali could outdo his own badassery. That is until he brought out those infamous Ray-Ban Wayfarers and he pretty much became immortal. He proved that one perfect accessory can make you more unstoppable than you already seemingly are.

Badass style tip: Oversized, free-flowing gear in warm weather keeps your body and overall vibe cool.

When you have a well-known nickname like “The Scourge of God” before the Internet was around to digitally spread it like wildfire, you are a highfalutin source of badassery. Attila the Hun’s bloodthirsty rule led to his takeover of large portions of Asia and Europe in the 400s. And sometimes, when he wasn’t pillaging and demanding large sums of gold, it got a little warm out there. Attila’s knack for rocking oversized, draped gear to allow for proper ventilation back in the earliest of times is still inspiration to this day. Baggier, more free-flowing gear not only looks cool, but it will allow your body to breathe during the most strenuous of activities as the sun scorches the earth.

Badass style tip: Pick a style you’re most comfortable with a stick with it for the long haul.

There aren’t many individuals in the fashion industry as recognizable as Karl Lagerfeld. It could be because of his tumultuous relationship with Chanel or his outspoken opinions on vanity. Needless to say, a lot of his visibility is due to his signature style; a variation of the same suit and tie look at just about every appearance he makes. It’s cool to venture away every once in a while when you want to try something new, but when you know what works best for you fit and look-wise, why not just run with it?

Badass style tip: Proper headwear can separate you from other wannabe badasses.

Badassery isn’t always about kicking other people’s ass or being an overall threatening human being. Sometimes, it’s about the policies you instill has a human being and your intellectual properties. Teddy Roosevelt was a decorated war hero and is one of the most lauded U.S. Presidents, but the “walk softly and carry a big stick” philosophy that he lived until the day he died is what holds his badassery so high. And when you are looked up to as much as Teddy was, you have to make sure you headwear game is tight, which in Roosevelt’s case, it always was. He always knew what hat to wear for certain occasions, whether it was for killing bears with his bare hands or giving a two-hour speech with a bullet lodged in his chest.