30 years after he died, Cary Grant remains a one-man byword for enduring, timeless Hollywood elegance.
The suits were extraordinary - bespoke, double-breasted, superbly cut. They would have made a lesser star look smart. On Cary Grant, they were dazzling.
But it was more than tailoring that set him apart - and more than neat features and well-combed hair in an age of Brylcreem.
Cary Grant, born Archibald Leach in Bristol, west England, became the quintessential Hollywood leading man, making it look easy as he lent his debonair demeanor, his sense of comedy, his eyebrow, to diverse cinematic fare, from one-foot-on-the-floor romantic comedy, to the deceptively creepy four Hitchcock thrillers he made his own.
He never lost it either, during more than half a century as a star. If you don’t believe us, check out our 30 pictures charting his style evolution, for proof that while fashions may change, elegance doesn’t need to…
Cary Grant's Style Evolution
January 1933(01 of34)
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November 1933(02 of34)
Open Image ModalWith Virginia Cherrill in London. (credit:Getty)
January 1934(03 of34)
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January 1934(04 of34)
Open Image ModalExamining test footage from the film 'Kiss And Make Up.' (credit:Getty)
January 1935(05 of34)
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January 1935(06 of34)
Open Image ModalPlaying ball with fellow actor Randolph Scott, at their home in Santa Monica. (credit:Getty)
January 1935(07 of34)
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November 1935(08 of34)
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1935(09 of34)
Open Image ModalWith Irene Dunne and Fay Wray.
January 1937(10 of34)
Open Image ModalWith actress Phyllis Brooks. (credit:Getty)
January 1942(11 of34)
Open Image ModalWith Ginger Rogers in 'Once Upon A Honeymoon.' (credit:Getty)
July 1942(12 of34)
Open Image ModalWith his then-wife, Barbara Hutton. (credit:Getty)
1944(13 of34)
Open Image ModalA looser cut, but still incredibly put-together. (credit:Getty)
1944(14 of34)
Open Image ModalDebonair in this publicity still from 1944. (credit:Getty)
April 1946(15 of34)
Open Image ModalLeaving a hotel in London. (credit:Getty)
January 1947(16 of34)
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1950(17 of34)
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January 1952(18 of34)
Open Image ModalFilming 'Monkey Business' with Marilyn Monroe. (credit:Getty)
January 1955(19 of34)
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April 1957(20 of34)
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November 1957(21 of34)
Open Image ModalTalking about Stanley Donen's 'Indiscreet' with Ingrid Bergman, in London. (credit:Getty)
November 1957(22 of34)
Open Image ModalOn the set of the film 'Indiscreet,' with Ingrid Bergman and PC Sid Goodwin. (credit:Getty)
December 1957(23 of34)
Open Image ModalWith then-wife Betsy Drake at London Airport. (credit:Getty)
1957(24 of34)
Open Image ModalWaiting out a rainstorm at a hotel. (credit:Getty)
1959(25 of34)
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1959(26 of34)
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July 1960(27 of34)
Open Image ModalWith Pier Angeli at a ball celebrating the 10th International Screen Festival in Berlin. (credit:Getty)
July 1966(28 of34)
Open Image ModalWith his fourth wife, Dyan Cannon, and their daughter Jennifer, in England. (credit:Getty)
August 1966(29 of34)
Open Image ModalWith his fourth wife, Dyan Cannon, London. (credit:Getty)
1970(30 of34)
Open Image Modal1971(31 of34)
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1975(32 of34)
Open Image ModalWith Elton John, Billie Jean King...and a cocktail. (credit:Getty)
March 1979(33 of34)
Open Image ModalWith wife, Barbara Grant. (credit:Getty)
February 1984(34 of34)
Open Image ModalWith Barbara Grant at an event for the Princess Grace Fundraising Gala in Washington, D.C. (credit:Getty)