Tom Wolfe Truly Understood the Power of Style
His trademark cream-colored suits are as much a part of his legacy as his extraordinary writing.
Legendary author and journalist Tom Wolfe died on Monday in Manhattan. He was 88 years old. The world has lost a singular writing talent—but that's not all there was to Wolfe. Just hearing his name conjures up images of an immaculately put-together man with bright eyes, a boyish face, and a suit—almost certainly bespoke, and almost certainly a rich shade of cream. He was a man who understood the power of style, not just as a means of self presentation but self mythologizing. In the collective consciousness, he fashioned himself into the writer in the white suit. And he wore it exceptionally well. Here, we look back at his distinctive style through the years.
1966
In Vogue.
1988
At his home in New York.
1988
From the same portrait session at his home.
1988
In Paris.
1988
Seated in one of his trademark suits.
1988
At the Literacy Volunteers Benefit Gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York.
1989
Out in New York.
1989
At the premiere of Dangerous Liaisons in New York.
1989
Attending an Esquire party at the 21 Club in New York.
1989
From the same Esquire party.
1991
At the opening of The Winter Antiques Show in New York.
1992
At the Four Seasons Hotel in New York.
1994
With his wife Sheila at the New York Academy For Performing Arts Tribeca Ball.
1998
With Jann Wenner and a guest at the party for his book A Man in Full.
1999
In France.
1999
In Berlin.
2000
Posing by a hedge with a bat.
2004
At his Upper East Side apartment.
2005
At Time's 100 Most Influential People issue party.
2006
At the Magazine Publishers of America Awards Dinner in New York.
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