You're The Dude: JEFF BRIDGES

From his celebrated turns in Crazy Heart and True Grit to the infamous flop of Heaven's Gate, the spirit of the West has defined Jeff Bridges throughout his career. It's easy to see that the man who once played Wild Bill is definitely not a rhinestone cowboy—durable yet dressy layers and richly distressed materials create handsome heritage looks wherever your heart may roam.

The one word that Jeff Bridges' classic character, The Dude, uses most in The Big Lebowski (the one appropriate for use here, at least) is perfect for this collection: man. What is most remarkable about his outrageously casual, instantly memorable look—the cowichan sweater, the robe as outerwear, v-neck tees, plaid shorts, tribal print pants and jelly fisherman sandals—is that it was pulled from the wardrobe of the man himself. The Dude abides, and so will you with comfy clothes in a subdued earthy palette.

Since Jeff Bridges exudes such a noticeable lack of self-consciousness as an actor, he can let his clothes make the showy gestures. In his first major film role in The Last Picture Show, his boldly patterned knit tops spoke just as loudly as his cocksure but gunshy Texas teen, Duane Jackson. From the crazy designs of the period with Clint Eastwood in the seventies flick Thunderbolt & Lightfoot to the classic buffalo plaid of his affable alien in Starman, memorable optic patterns look as good in the home as on the man.

It may represent the purity of his approach to life or it may just look cool: whatever the reason, Jeff Bridges has made wearing white an artform throughout his career. Let loose in simple shapes with sporty finishes echoing the sailing prep of White Squall, the techno zen of the Tron sequel and the strapping roguishness of Against All Odds—to paraphrase Phil Collins titular tune: Take a look at you now.

Jeff Bridges has said he likes to push himself to extremes for his roles, but there is one thing he does for most of them that seems to come naturally: Growing a beard. Whether it implies virility, adventure or passivity, the persistence of his whiskers has become a signature. Here are some products to make the transition from hairless to hirsute a breeze.

Be it football players or fallen heroes, Jeff Bridges plays classic American archetypes and the accessories that have accompanied those roles have followed suit—even when they're worn with little else. His everyman quality is finished with pieces fit for every man, no matter the role, like a Rolex Submariner watch, Ray Ban Wayfarers and Carrera sunglasses. We've even got The Dude's Vuarnet frames here.