The mid-20th century version of modern-day hipsters, the beatniks, have long provided inspiration when it comes to clothes; their uniform of berets, skivvies and sunglasses too cool to ignore. Whether it was Jack Kerouac's circle of idealistic friends or as appropriated by marketers on Madison Avenue, the look provides an easy blueprint for casual dressing with an edge; morphing into a hard vs soft approach fashion trope that appeals to our tastes. Plenty of black, some denim and an upbeat mix of mod-inspired accessories makes a lipstick beatnik stand out on the streets. The well-documented style of French women gets a look-in here too, from leopard prints to utilitarian-inspired separates plucked straight out of Emmanuelle Alt or Isabel Marant's wardrobe - the kind of nonplussed clothes that do all the talking, even if they're saying "whatever, man"...
