How to Nail the “Blackjack” Look

There’s a growing fad in men’s fashion that’s being called the “Blackjack Look” by those who don the style. It’s a very cool look and very easily achieved, and yet its true power comes from its use through pop-culture—particularly movies—and the accessibility of the game of blackjack online. Now, the blackjack look has become the go-to esthetic for men all over the world attending smart occasions, but how did it rise to prominence, and how can you nail the look?

Whenever a Hollywood movie brings its characters into a casino, the game of blackjack is invariably used to demonstrate that the characters are suave and intelligent individuals, being able to beat the house at its own game. The very best films that feature blackjack as a core component of the story show their leads in this same blackjack look. Starting as far back as 1988 with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise in Rain Man, the two saddle up at the blackjack table in a nice suit sans the tie. In 2009’s The Hangover, though more of a comedy, Zach Galifianakis wears a very similar suit in homage to Rain Man, with Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms wearing the same style but in much more modern and stylish colourations.

Pop-culture putting blackjack and this style in the limelight was the first step; the second was more people playing the game. The internet has enabled pretty much anyone to play the game, with it becoming particularly popular in Canada due to the favourable Canadian rules found for blackjack online, such as dealers hitting on a soft 17, the possibility of late surrenders, and that only your original bet is lost when the dealer gets blackjack. This availability of the game and the favourable Canadian rule sets have led to even more people relating to the blackjack movie scenes and adopting the styles of the famous faces playing cards. Due to the incredible availability of blackjack in Canada, with it being online, people play more, get very good at the game, and further adopt it as part of their lifestyle. As such, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that so many men are also adopting the style when they’re away from their computers or mobile phones.

The look itself is nice and smart while also adding an element of cool and fun through the simple lack of a tie. You’ll see the blackjack look everywhere now, from smart-attire parties to the Las Vegas Strip and the epic gambling halls of the all-in-one nation of South Africa. As detailed in the fashion guides, there are some key steps that you need to follow to nail the blackjack look of a suit without a tie—it’s not as simple of chucking on your suit and then forgetting to put on a tie. Naturally, the first is that you have to pick the right occasion. The blackjack look can accompany you to surprisingly classy events, but, of course, some venues will demand that you wear a tie. As for the look itself, it’s important to have a shirt which supports a collar without a tie, so that the collar doesn’t sag without the supporting neckpiece. For the most part, you’ll want to stick to having only one button undone, but the more that you pop, the more casual you’ll appear, potentially adding suave appeal in the right environments.

Finally, without the tie as an accessory, you’ll want to add others to your attire. Pocket squares are a popular choice, often well-matched with the colour of your shirt if it contrasts the jacket, as are staples like cufflinks and a watch. The blackjack look is cool, suave and gives off the impression that you’re both intelligent, fun, and potentially a risk-taker. It a great style and carries a very favourable demeanour when deployed for the right occasions.