Tom Cruise, 60 years of the perfect American boy with James Bond style

Not exactly Born on the 4th of July, to take the title of one of his many successful films, but almost. To be precise, in Syracuse NY, he came into the world the day before, the 3rd, of 1962. And if the numbers don’t add up for you either, we must surrender to the evidence. Tom Cruise is 60 years old. (Almost) Eight Mission Impossibles , two Top Guns , a War of the Worlds , a Rain Man , an Eyes Wide Shut , an Interview with the Vampire and countless other successes later, the actor has succeeded where others have failed: to remain the poster boy hung in 500 thousand bedrooms between the 80s and 90s.

That boy, who seemed to be looking straight in the eye from the wall, dressed in a leather jacket, a white T-shirt, a pair of stone washed Levi’s jeans and Ray-Ban Aviators, the essentials of the American style that never fades ( like him, after all), he grew up without losing his charm, style and fame. And, wow, youth.

Tom Cruise in 1985. Photo Getty

BARRY KING

Currently the super star has pulled off his final blow. Top Gun: Maverick (in which he appears in very good shape), the second chapter of the 1986 cult, literally hit the box office worldwide, becoming his most successful film, having been able to skilfully combine the nostalgia effect (the scene with Val Kilmer is touching) to breathtaking aerobatics on modern fighter jets.

Tom Cruise in a scene from Top Gun: Maverick. Photo Courtesy Eagle Pictures

SCOTT GARFIELD

Not only success on the big screen but also an apotheosis in terms of style : on the occasion of the long press tour that is taking him around the world, Tom Cruise has always been able to show himself at his best while keeping his wardrobe simple (but never boring) , paying particular attention to the quality and wearability of the impeccable suits designed by Giorgio Armani (the maison who also dressed him in 2006 for his wedding to Katie Holmes), Ermenegildo Zegna or Brioni in classic shades of blue, black and grey.

Tom Cruise at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. Photo Getty

TONI ANNE BARSON

Tom, moreover, never bats an eyelid in his shoes, perfectly at ease in the tuxedos made up of two or three pieces, made to measure (always very calibrated and cut to best suit his figure), with refined details, such as a tie clip or a pair of precious cufflinks, and leather and patent lace-up shoes. Looks that James Bond would also like. An inspiration for those looking for a formal and refined type of clothing, but also for those who want to dress more casually without giving up class.

Because years pass but Tom Cruise retains his action DNA (he often doesn’t use stunt doubles in his action films) and off the set he often appears wearing motorbike jackets, jeans and boots. As his stylists, Wendi & Nicole Ferreira, underlined: «We have always focused on his most iconic key pieces and to respect his identity in the photocalls we have outlined two strands, one tailored and one biker chic».

Tom Cruise on press tour for Top Gun: Maverick . Getty photo

THE CHOSUNILBO JNS/GETTY IMAGES

In short, the actor’s secret is to maintain a youthful style without ever looking like he’s dressing too young. Perennial only by birth, he still regularly appears in the best dressed lists . After all, he is one of the most attractive stars in Hollywood whose success story inspires every aspiring actor in the world. Such is his charisma that he has established himself as a fashion icon effortlessly thanks to everything he flaunts, from formal attire to casual pieces.

And don’t be fooled if he’s wearing what might appear to be a simple employee sweater. Maybe it’s because he arrives surrounded by the golden allure of the Hollywood myth, maybe it’s because he has a disarming kindness (which frankly you don’t expect from a divine like him but which makes him even more iconic) but he manages to live up to it, despite his stature not too high, even with the most ordinary of looks (and the writer assures this, because he met him live).

Tom Cruise in Rome in 2014. Photo Getty

ELISABETTA A. VILLA/GETTY IMAGES

“You’re pregnant?” (yes, I was), he asked me when, in 2014, on a Roman terrace I was granted five minutes with him for an interview. Then he touched my belly and congratulated me. Today my almost eight-year-old son is taking a theater course and dreams of being an actor. Call it what you want, for me it’s Tom’s Power. The one, so to speak, capable of consigning him to history as cool forever.

BARRY KING1985: Leather jacket + blue jeans
BARRY KING1985: Classic with patterned shirt
At Madonna and Sean Penn’s wedding.
FRANK TRAPPER/GETTY IMAGES1986: Pinstripe suit and funky tieWith Mimi Rogers.
RON GALELLA/GETTY IMAGES1987: Tuxedo and red bow tieWith Dustin Hoffman at the American Museum of the Moving Image Honors Elia Kazan.