STYLE EVOLUTION: HARRY STYLES

Before Harry established himself as a man with a predilection for headscarves, exposed chests and older women, his style was fresh and uncomplicated. Here he is arriving at the Burberry SS14 show in September 2012, wearing an expertly tailored blazer and a smart dress shirt. He hasn’t reinvented the wheel with this outfit, but it demonstrates how, even at the tender age of 18, he knows the value of slim-fitting threads.

In just a few short years, Styles has managed to infiltrate the Primrose Hill set, which comprises almost exclusively of models and ageing rockers. Clearly Kate Moss and co exerted their influence on his fashion choices, as in 2013 he started favouring a rockier ripped jeans and killer boots combo.

Later that year, he won top prize at the British Style Awards. This wasn’t just the point at which the fashion industry began viewing him as a serious contender on the menswear field, but was also right about the time he began dressing like a member of the Rolling Stones. Think silk scarves, high-quality viscose shirts and hair girls (and boys) dream of running their fingers through.

Harry always nails it on the red carpet, especially when lobbying for paparazzi attention on the front row (not that he really has to try). Here he is at Burberry’s AW14 show, looking every inch the global style and music icon in a green suede military jacket. 

Shearling may be a firm fixture on the fashion week circuit now, but Styles was an early adopter and made the look his own years before the cobbles became crowded with wool-lined, street-style dons. Here, he takes this 70s-football-manager style straight off the touchline and into our wardrobe wishlists, adding a 90s Calvin Klein sweatshirt, simple black skinnies and suede Chelsea boots. 

Styles has developed a serious penchant for lightweight shirts with a hint of bourgeois bohemian to ‘em, and pairs these with his trademark skinny jeans and brown Chelsea boots. In terms of style risks, he’s the bravest of the One Direction clan, and it’s definitely paying dividends.

With Zayn out of the picture, Styles does his best to channel Malik’s luxe look in a silky Souvenir jacket for a performance in Central Park. Originating in post-WWII Japan, this style's street-ready bomber shape is emblazoned with some strong East-meets-West imagery that make it a surefire sartorial crowd pleaser. Zayn who? 

This printed suit is a prime example of how Styles has pretty much perfected his party look. Decked out for a Love Magazine x Miu Miu fashion-week bash, his go-bold-or-go-home approach to tailoring is at its best with this muted geometric pattern. 

As one fourth of a world-dominating band, Styles has been collecting air miles in their thousands and he appears to have picked up some travel style tips along the way. Taking shearling to the next level, he layers his go-to white tee with a more bohemian take on a borg basic. He’s also displaying just enough arm to show off the 'Late Late' tattoo he picked up on his pal James Corden’s The Late Late Show.

The man knows the power of a signature style and here he gives his go-to shirt and scarf combination an AW16 rockabilly update. Switching print for an all-black aesthetic, his simple shirt (worn buttoned-up) and smart trousers provide the perfect backdrop for a 50s-style cream bow and red crochet flower.

Nowdays, Harry favours a fresh shorter trim and a more pared-back approach to tailoring. A budding acting career – Styles makes his acting debut in Dunkirk this summer – may have forced him to lose his long locks, but he’s decided to keep things nice and neat up top. His closer crop and more understated partywear are the perfect fit for a night honouring his three Another Man covers.