Get Tom Hansen’s smart-casual work look from 500 Days of Summer

This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front, this is not a love story.

(500) Days of Summer is not your average rom-com, in fact there’s very little romance or comedy involved. As the voiceover says, this is a story of boy meets girl – but it’s not a love movie. In a world where the rom-com has a set-structure; full of gorgeous actors, big name brands and happy endings, (500) Days of Summer is a breath of fresh Los Angeles air. The story follows Tom (10 Things I Hate About You’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a trained architect who pays the bills by writing the text in greetings cards. He’s young and attractive, and desperate to find love. Cue Summer (Zooey Deschanel), a natural beauty who steals Tom’s heart only to tell him she doesn’t believe in true love. Bummer.

When it comes to the fashions of the movie it’s not all sharp suits and trendy tees; Tom’s style is more old man chic than young professional. But somehow he manages to pull it off, making his look a sought after style. When not at work he opts for band T-shirts (like his two Joy Division ones) and skinny jeans, yet it’s his laid back office style we’re admiring today. Emmy-nominated costume designer, Hope Hanafin says she “wanted the clothes to be classic and have a life beyond this time. People will be watching this film 20 years from now and looking at the clothes.” And we couldn’t agree more.

Summer’s casual retro look is full of blue tones, used to bring out her eyes and give her a sense of mystery, but Tom’s are simple. Hanafin notes that this is Tom’s story and “a lot of things play into his look and we were always looking at the interaction of his palette with all the other players so that things are either emphasizing or contradicting Tom’s mood. Tom is always the pivotal person in every composition.”

Being a sensitive romantic all brought on by “exposure to sad British pop music and a total mis-reading of the movie The Graduate”, his clothes are soft and simple. He chooses neutral and earthy colours and classic combinations but wears them in a slightly disorganised way. Hanafin explains: “Tom is seen in more unkempt khakis and sweaters when he is at work where he’s not as emotionally invested, but when he is out and about and has the chance to be himself, he has a hipper, younger look that references the Sixties and French cinema.” These are both interests that Tom and Summer share, but remember Tom’s little sister Rachel’s advice: “Just because she likes the same bizzaro crap you do doesn’t mean she’s your soul mate.”

For Tom’s work look we’ve focussed on skinny khakis teamed with a light grey shirt, but make sure to roll the sleeves up for that ‘unkempt’ look. A simple slim blue tie and black sweater vest give the outfit the smart touches needed for an office environment, but the brown leather Pumas give it a touch of young fun and we’ve added a plain grey cardigan for colder Autumn days.