The Rake owns good clothes and wears them loosely. Start with one black leather jacket, then a relaxed weekend look for the days without it.
The Rake is my favourite style. He dresses well, but nothing looks fussed over. Shirt open at the collar, jacket thrown on, hair not quite done.
I own a black AllSaints leather jacket and wear it all the time. It’s the piece I’d build this look around.
Who the Rake is
He’s relaxed, never careless. He buys good pieces and lets them wear in: leather that softens, suede that marks, denim that fades. His clothes look better for being used.
People think the Rake is a rebel: the bad boy in the biker jacket. He isn’t. Rake doesn’t mean rebel. There’s no attitude in the clothes, no hardware and no slogans. The ease comes from the fit and a few pieces he trusts.
How to wear it
The leather jacket look: black leather jacket, white tee, black slim jeans, brown suede Chelsea boots.
Evening: the same jacket over a black knit or an open-collar shirt. The boots stay.
Weekend: a green crew-neck knit, light-wash straight jeans and white high-tops. No jacket needed.
Keep the fit slim, not skinny. The jacket should stop at the belt, and the jeans should sit just on the boot.
What to skip
Ripped or heavily distressed jeans. Worn in is good; worn out isn’t.
Biker hardware: studs, extra zips and belts on the jacket.
Logo tees and anything with writing across the chest.
The Rake, five ways
City nights
Café rituals
Modern Rake
Weekend escape
After hours
Where to buy
The Rake pieces
Two looks. Spend on the jacket; the rest is easy to find.
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The leather jacket look
Black leather, white tee, black jeans, brown suede boots.
The jacket
Clean black leather. No studs, no belts.
Black leather jacket
PremiumThe tee
Plain white. Nothing on the chest.
White crew-neck tee
Mid-marketThe jeans
Black, slim not skinny. Hem to the boot.
Black slim jeans
Mid-marketThe boots
Brown suede. Better once it's scuffed.
Brown suede Chelsea boots
Mid-market
The weekend look
Green knit, light denim, white high-tops. No jacket needed.
The knit
Green cotton crew. A small flag at most.
Green cotton crew
Mid-marketThe jeans
Light wash, straight. Worn in, not ripped.
Light-wash straight jeans
Mid-marketThe trainers
All white. Let them get a bit grubby.
White canvas high-tops
Mid-market
Prices, colours and stock change. Check size, seller and delivery before buying.
Final note
The Rake isn’t trying to look cool. He’s comfortable in good clothes, so it looks easy. Start with the jacket, and wear it until it stops feeling new.
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