Vitals

Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort, swaggering stockbroker

New York City, Summer 1994

Film: The Wolf of Wall Street
Release Date: December 25, 2013
Director: Martin Scorsese
Costume Designer: Sandy Powell

Background

With winter upon us, avoid the winter blues by thinking ahead to summer. Picture yourself on a millionaire’s yacht, drinking wine and eating caviar with millions to spend and not a care in the world.

Of course, that’s hardly a reality for even the top 1% of us, but it doesn’t hurt to dress the part. Even Jordan Belfort recognizes this in The Wolf of Wall Street when he tells visiting FBI agent Patrick Denham that:

When you’re sailing a boat built for a Bond villain you’ve got to play the part.

Belfort wisely chose to forego the traditional Mao jacket sported by many of the most popular (and megalomaniac) Bond villains, however.

What’d He Wear?

When welcoming the feds aboard his yacht, Jordan wears a classic fit white cotton polo shirt. It is identifiable as a genuine Polo by Ralph Lauren shirt by their signature navy embroidered pony logo on the left chest.

The shirt has ribbed short sleeves, an uneven vented hem, and a 2-button placket with a ribbed polo collar. Ralph Lauren’s website is not currently (as of January 2015) offering the white-with-blue-logo shirt worn by Belfort in the film, but they can’t be very difficult to find. In fact, I think my dad has the same shirt.

Jordan’s cream slacks are the most dated part of the outfit with their double reverse pleats and generous fit throughout the leg down to the very full break of the plain-hemmed bottoms. The trousers have an extended front waistband, belt loops, on-seam side pockets, and jetted rear pockets that both close with a button. I’ve read suggestions that these trousers were made by Gucci (specifically Gucci’s “Flint” wool trousers), but I can’t find any definite validation of this.

Jordan’s surcingle belt is cream cotton to match the trousers with a black leather tab across the front. These types of belts were also very popular in the ’90s. It closes in the front with a polished steel-toned single-prong buckle.

Jordan Belfort wears Gucci’s classic horsebit loafers several times throughout The Wolf of Wall Street, and this scene is no exception. To match the rest of his outfit, Jordan slips on a pair of off-white Gucci leather loafers with a gold horsebit, stitched vamp detailing, and dark brown leather soles.

Although they receive the least screen time (and are mostly covered up by the trousers’ very full break!), they are likely the most expensive part of the ensemble, currently listed for $640 on Gucci’s website.

We don’t get a look at Jordan’s socks – again, thanks to the super full trouser break – but we can assume that they are also cream or off-white to continue the leg line from trouser to shoe.

Jordan Belfort wears plenty of Ray-Ban sunglasses throughout The Wolf of Wall Street, and the pair of tortoiseshell shades he wears here are often identified as Ray-Ban’s Original Wayfarer Classic. However, they are actually the RB4147 “Boyfriend” with tortoise nylon frames (710) and light brown gradient lenses (51). This pair, the RB 4147 710/51 60-15, is available on Ray-Ban’s site for a cool $150. (Edit: As it turns out, this is incorrect. See below!)

Update! BAMF Style owes a debt of gratitude to Omar for actually identifying these as classic Wayfarers. As Omar told me: “Check the sharp angle that they make back to his cheeks. The modern Wayfarer editions don’t do that. They’re much flatter against the face, closer to a ninety degree angle with the temples. Speaking of temples, the “boyfriend” glass has much narrower temples that, while they do taper, don’t taper near as much as the classic. Last thing, the boyfriend glass is much flatter across the top that the classic wayfarer.”

Thanks, Omar! For the sake of calling myself out, I’m leaving in the info about the Boyfriend pair above.

Jordan wears a thick gold watch on his left wrist. It’s not the same “gold fuckin'” TAG Heuer sport watch that he threw out to his employees on the day of the Steve Madden IPO, but it’s certainly attractive.

Although he isn’t the most loyal or attentive of husbands, Jordan is sure to wear his plain gold wedding band on his left hand. It’s likely more a reminder of his hot trophy wife rather than a symbol of genuine love.

Go Big or Go Home

Anticipating this visit from the FBI, Jordan chooses to meet with them in a characteristically audacious and boastful manner. Rather than a more traditional meeting in his office, he sets it aboard his pleasure craft which, although it was named after his wife Naomi, is also carrying two lovely and scantily-clad hookers whose range of duties include a questionable manner for ingesting caviar.

After the meeting goes sour due to inferred bribery attempts, Jordan taunts the agents by tossing hundred dollar bills (“fun coupons!”) at them from his ship. It’s a potentially demeaning moment for the feds who manage to hold their heads high as they walk away, and it’s certainly a frustrating one for Jordan Belfort, who realizes he may have an actual dilemma on his hands.

The lesson here is that if someone is investigating your ill-gotten gains, don’t taunt them by calling their wives ugly and tossing the mentioned ill-gotten gains in their face. It’s a moment you can brag about in the short term, but you may regret it in the months to come.

How to Get the Look

Jordan presents a casual, seafaring image in all white, a notable contrast to the cheap suits and ties worn by the feds there to check on him.

• White short-sleeve cotton Polo by Ralph Lauren polo shirt with 2-button placket
• Cream double reverse-pleated trousers with belt loops, on-seam side pockets, button-through jetted rear pockets, and plain-hemmed bottoms with full break
• Cream cotton surcingle belt with black leather front tab and silver clasp
• Off-white Gucci 1953 horsebit leather loafers with gold horsebit detail and dark brown leather soles
• Cream dress socks
• Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses with tortoise nylon frames and light brown gradient lenses
• Gold wristwatch, worn on left wrist
• Plain gold wedding band, worn on left ring finger

Do Yourself a Favor and…

Check out the movie.

The Quote

Alright, get the fuck off my boat. Good luck on that subway ride home to your miserable ugly fuckin’ wives. I’m gonna have Heidi lick some caviar off my balls in the meantime.