As Logan Roy on Succession, Brian Cox is TV’s best dressed dad, if not TV’s best dressed man at large. And in his real life, Cox is a style icon in his own right, and it’s that savvy that landed him on our list of the 50 best dressed men over 50 earlier this year. Over a decades-long career, Cox has offered up a masterclass in menswear; whether he’s in a kilt or a bold but tastefully patterned suit, a combination of flair and refinement permeate everything he wears.
The one critical throughline in all of his wardrobe? Tailoring. Plenty of men attempt the colorful suits that Cox is often seen wearing on late night shows and other appearances, but the precision with which they’re cut to his body is what really makes him stand out. They flatter his frame in a way that looks modern and fresh without looking trendy.
We recently had the pleasure of catching up with Cox — who’s sense of style is rivaled only by his good humor — ahead of the Season 3 premiere of Succession to talk about how his style has evolved over the years, what kind of tie looks like a flaccid penis and more.
InsideHook: How would you describe your personal sense of style?
Brian Cox: I’d say my personal sense of style is idiosyncratic. I like neat, well-cut clothes that transcend their era. I love all kinds of designers. For a ceremonial occasion it might be a Howie Nicholsby kilt (21st-century kilts), or even an Edwardian Jaeger jacket of the kind worn by the playwright George Bernard Shaw.
What are one or two items in your closet you would never go without?
Mothballs and mothballs.
How do you think your style has evolved over the years?
I have lived through many fashionable styles over the years. The ‘60s was a disaster for me because the look was slim-hipped, narrow-waisted, no chests, and I was just broad. There was an embarrassing moment when I tried on a pair of brown velour trousers in a shop called Gee 2 on the Kings Road, and they split as I was trying them on. They were described as a 34 waist but that didn’t make it clear — that a 34 waist wouldn’t make it.
I liked the Sub-Teddy boy look, drainpipe trousers, not flares. But ironically, although having the heart of a rocker, I fell for the mod design. Those amazing Ben Sherman shirts with the deep wide collar.
As I’ve gotten older I have grown, shall we say, more physically robust, and have this tendency to look like a bulldog standing on his hindquarters, so I have to be careful.
I would not say that I was obsessed with style, but I love wearing clothes. I like being dapper. You could describe me as a superannuated clotheshorse. My wardrobe is bigger than my wife’s.
One of the upsides of having light sensitive eyes, is that it provides a great excuse to don designer shades.
What do you think it means to be well-dressed?
I think “well-dressed” means being smart, and wearing coordinated, well-cut clothes, good shoes (I still have the Stephen Colbert Louboutins on permanent loan from HBO) and a good narrow tie. My favorite tie is a tie based on an architectural drawing of Frank Llloyd Wright, my favorite designer of all time.
I hate big ties (that look like flaccid penises) or suits that don’t fit.
What is your favorite outfit to wear when you want to dress casually? What about when you’re getting dressed up?
I have some favorite designers and brands: Paisley Grey, Walker Slater, Canali, but if I chose a favorite outfit, I’ll upset the other outfits. My favorite cap, however, is always the one I’ve just lost and my son is out looking for.
I love Logan’s cardigans. The very fabric of his clothes gives him power.
Who are the people who taught you how to dress or have inspired your sense of style?
I think actors from the Golden Era of Hollywood, epitomized by Cary Grant. And today we have the elegant Charles Dance. All have helped define the well-dressed man, and, what’s more, they have wonderful height. For me, the legs must be slim, and the jacket has to be a reasonable length. I’m stocky and broad chested, that has always been my problem.
What’s one piece in your wardrobe that has sentimental value to you? Why?
No one thing has sentimental value. I love everything in my wardrobe. Many scarves in my wardrobe have a particular sentimental value, either given to me as first-night gifts or more probably by girlfriends, but then I wear them too much, they age and I have to part with them.
Of all the characters you’ve played, do any stand out as having very memorably good style?I have played a minimal amount of stylish men. I have played soldiers, cops and kings of ancient Greece, but being dressed in the elegant contemporary look of Logan Roy’s quiet but pronounced style, courtesy of Michelle Matland and buyer Johnny Schwartz, is something quite different. Logan’s clothes are part of his power play. Of the males on the show, he is by far and away the most expensively dressed. He wears his wealth on his back, especially those cardigans. I love Logan’s cardigans. The very fabric of his clothes gives him power.
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