Former GQ cover star Leonardo DiCaprio has a history of adopting the suavest outfits on screen, from Jay Gatsby of The Great Gatsby and Jordan Belfort of The Wolf Of Wall Street to Romeo Montague of Romeo + Juliet and, most recently, Rick Dalton of Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood.

As it appears, landing a series of stylish roles has rubbed off onto DiCaprio’s wardrobe. Or was it the other way round? As we’ve found through a delve into his archive, the 1990s proved he’s a master of another art form: fashion.

We all love a good throwback, especially when there’s a fair few lessons to take from it. So we’re turning to a teen Leonardo DiCaprio for eleven 1990s style hacks. Master these and you’re sorted for the season ahead.

1. Cord kecks are an easy win

Year: 1994

Tip to take: Looking for an alternative to denim jeans? One quick look at DiCaprio’s 1990s wardrobe confirms that corduroy kecks are the next best thing. He was spotted wearing them in 1994 alongside some simple lace-up trainers, a relaxed henley top and an oversized puffer jacket. Unpredictable styling, we will admit, but, paired with total insouciance, he pulled it off. 

2. Embrace the co-ord (the athletic way)

Year: 1992

Tip to take: Co-ords are everywhere for Spring/Summer 2020 – just look at Prada, Dior and Oliver Spencer’s current collections for proof. DiCaprio was an early purveyor of the twinning ensemble back in the 1990s, only he embraced it the athletic way. Attending this MTV event in 1992, he styled a sporty uniform over a classic crewneck T-shirt, some white Nike socks and black Air Jordans. Top score from us. 

3. A Cuban-collared shirt works wonders

Year: 1995

Tip to take: If you’re stuck on how to transition your wardrobe into summer, a young Leonardo DiCaprio has got a tip for you: start with a Cuban-collared shirt. Ideally made with a knitted blend and clad in white, the open-collared shirt is an easy style win. Wear it with a simple white vest underneath to give you an additional unbuttoned option (also super elegant).

4. Knitted textures for the win

Year: 1993

Tip to take: Before there was Léon: The Professional (and the beginning of the black docker beanie obsession), there was Leo, the casual kid (and the kick-starter of the knitted accessory). The tip to take is simple: embrace the primary colours in your attire and match the materials of your cap to your mod-like knit.

5. Relax your tailoring

Year: 1995

Tip to take: Easy does it. All you need is a pinstripe suit, white shirt and, voilà, your formal attire is good to go. Just take a styling tip from 21-year-old DiCaprio: leave the top button of your shirt undone, layer its collar over your lapels and top it off with a beaded necklace. Smart nonchalance through simple styling.

6. A leather jacket is a menstay

Year: 1995

Tip to take: Sure, black leather is a statement, but brown leather is a sensation. DiCaprio really sells the rugged jacket here: weaved leather buttons, signs of wear round the collar and a battered touch to its body. Head to London’s Brick Lane’s finest vintage stores if you’re in search of a faithful replica.

7. Autumn-proof your wardrobe

Year: 1994

Tip to take: How to say hello to autumn? Through this kind of styling. Blue and beige are a leading combination for casual attire, so invest in a ribbed jumper, like DiCaprio (one size up for the baggy effect), and sport it with straight-cut denim jeans. Twenty-five years on, basic still works best.

8. Sustainable DIY

Year: 1993

Tip to take: Teen DiCaprio loved DIY-style accessories and that handcrafted necklace and tan leather belt work wonders over his heavily layered look. Get yourself some navy tailored trousers, a knitted cardigan and oversized suede shirt – that’s day-to-night styling sorted.

9. Holiday beads are in

Year: 1994

Tip to take: Beads, beads and more beads: if you’re looking to emulate 1990s Leo, that’s what you need. But to finish, we’ll focus on that mandarin-collared shirt: easy, elegant and a striking staple under his oversized tailoring. For an upcoming gathering to sign off on summer, this styling is your best port of call.

10. He set 2020's big trends, 20 years ago

Year: 1993

Tip to take: All the big menswear designers want you to throw on a Denzel Washington-style leather blazer, from Prada and Celine to Berluti and Saint Laurent (and we’re throwing our weight behind them too). The thing is, long before they were at it (or Denzel, for that matter), Leonardo DiCaprio was taking them for a spin.

11. Go sans tie

Year: 1994

Tip to take: Sure, these days an air tie is NBD, but, back in the 1990s, to go sans tie when wearing a suit was still a bit of a grey area. Leo didn’t care and did it anyway.