We Can Dig It: The Finer Points of the Shaft Look

Forget Regis and his uptown millionaire matching shirt and tie look. Shaft is back--and so is his suave, unstuffy style. But, gentlemen, you don’t need to break the bank to carry off the designer look. Take it from Ruth Carter, the film’s costume designer, who offers these tips for the guy who wants to get, how shall we say, Shafted.

* For starters, “You’ve got to have a black leather jacket or blazer, and it can’t be crummy.”

Tip: “If the jacket you love has seen better days, take it to a leather restorer or a shoe repair shop and have it dyed and buffed to a nice gloss, not too shiny. I had a vintage jacket dyed and buffed and the buttons changed for $50. When I wear that thing you’d think that I am Shaft’s baby sister.”

* Ditch the shirt and tie. “You’ve got to do the turtleneck thing,” Carter said. But it’s summer, we mentioned. “Then do a black T-shirt with a good tight neck, something with a little Lycra in the fabric.” And, guys, “Spend a little money on the shirt.”

* Do not wear jeans. “Shaft doesn’t do jeans.” And he doesn’t do pleats or cuffs. “Stick with flat fronts.”

* Wear boots. “Don’t wear dressy shoes. Shaft is a man of the street, so your feet have to reflect a street sense that you might be walking awhile.”

* And finally, “Keep it simple. Simple is cool. Cool is Shaft.”