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'Men get to be a mixture of the charming mannerisms of the women they have known.' F. Scott Fitzgerald
Icons March 2020
Breaking His Bonds: Pierce Brosnan
Originally featured by Tom Chamberlin in Issue 59 of The Rake, Pierce Brosnan says he wants a few more swings of the bat — to ‘shut them up’. What is there to do but stand back and watch?
Icons March 2020
Lure of Duty: The Extraordinary Life of an Immortal Soldier
In the early stages of his military career, Adrian Carton de Wiart took hits in the ankle, hip, skull and ear, and he tore off his own fingers when a doctor refused to amputate them. We revisit Issue 40 of The Rake to discover it’s a good thing bodily trauma was so much to de Wiart’s taste, for his adventures had barely begun…
Icons March 2020
Michelangelo and the yearning for tragedy
‘We lived in silence… He has only one way of expressing himself: his work.” So said Michelangelo Antonioni’s first wife, Letizia Balboni. It’s true, the Italian director was notorious for taking existential inquiry — and his own artistic purity — to another level. But what a legacy of film he left behind…
Icons March 2020
Crowning Glory
Originally featured in Issue 2 of The Rake, Wei Koh expertly examines how Steve McQueen’s magnificent wardrobe stole the show in classic 1968 heist film, The Thomas Crown Affair.
Icons March 2020
The Fire in His Belly
As originally examined in Issue 68 of The Rake, Billy Joel’s best songs are an intriguing, genre-defying mixture of melody, musicality and lyrical brimstone. What’s with the attitude? Is he a great-but-flawed entertainer, or forever just a Bronx Joe made good?
Icons March 2020
Together Again, Kid
Originally featured in Issue 38 of The Rake, David Smiedt expertly examines how the death of the legendary Lauren Bacall in 2014 shone a new light on her marriage to Humphrey Bogart, evidence that love can conquer all, including the increasingly invasive spotlight of a celebrity couple.
Icons March 2020
Female Rakes of The Year
To celebrate International Women’s Day this weekend, we’ve compiled an illustrious list of previous female Rakes of the year.
Icons February 2020
CROSS-STITCH
To celebrate International Women’s Day we’ve burrowed into the archives, specifically Rake 39 where Stuart Husband takes up the challenge of trying to pin down the ‘real’ Marlene Dietrich. At one time she was the world’s highest-paid entertainer despite being described as a cipher and an allegory. Goddess or strumpet, gay or ‘unstraight’, she is one of the most influential women of all time.
Icons February 2020
Rake in Progress: Freddie Fox
With a bloodline that runs through British stage and screen, how could Freddie Fox resist the lure of acting? And with several projects due for release this year, including the dark drama White House Farm, how are we going to get him out of our minds?
Icons February 2020
Maggie Gyllenhaal: An Honourable Woman
It has been nearly 20 years since Maggie Gyllenhaal walked into our lives – with a twinkle in her eye and an interesting line in office wear. Now, she is embarking on a new phase in her career – as a director. Prepare to be challenged.
Icons January 2020
Modern Icons: Will, The Dons Club
Will Sträng has developed his blog The Dons Club into a trusty menswear bible for young style enthusiasts. He shares his insights and some of his favourite pieces…
Icons January 2020
Modern Icons: Fabio Attanasio
As one of sartorial menswear’s most prominent voices, Naples-born Fabio Attanasio more than merits his place on The Rake’s Modern Icons list.
