Before Justin Bieber was even out of diapers, or out of the womb for that matter, there were historical figures that defined what it mean to have ‘swag’, that undefinable aura that just illuminates one from the rest of the pack. Here are five legends who defined the word ‘iconic.’
1. Arthur Fonzarelli
Ok, so he may be a fictional character but there’s no denying Arthur Fonzarelli aka ‘The Fonz’ had the X-Factor. From the perfectly sculpted quiff, to the pearly whites and of course his signature “Ayeeee” greeting, The Fonz inspired a generation of wannabe ladies men. Luckily The Fonz look is easily achieved – your dad’s leather jacket, a trusty pair of jeans and a moulded quiff – the folks at the Uppercut Deluxe will be able to sort you out in no time.
2. Sean Connery
The man who played Bond, James Bond in his first big screen adventure – Sean Connery became an icon of sex appeal and the ultimate in suave. He taught a legion of avid film fans the art of seduction, and also how to pull off the perfect smoulder. Classy, sharp and oozing charm – women want him, men want to be like him.
3. Elvis Presley
Possibly one of the most influential artists of all time, Elvis Presley’s name is synonymous with a mesmerizing swagger of the hips, and some of the most popular rock records ever written. Swooning a legion of women with his energetic legs and quivering voice, as well as appearing in over thirty films, Elvis didn’t even have to try to be cool. It just became him. Whilst his cred deteriorated around the first emergence of the white jumpsuit, in his heyday there was no bigger star on the planet.
4. Paul Newman
The epitome of the 50s American man – Newman’s acting career saw him create the iconic image of a brooding man, cigarette in one hand, a neat scotch in the other. His piercing eyes, entrancing smirk and knack for embodying the rough-and ragged underclass became immortalised in screen icons such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Cool Hand Luke. Oh, and he became a successful race car driver.
5. Ray Charles
In his career, Ray Charles had an unmatched energy and vibe budding musicians could only dream of. And he managed to become one of history’s most successful soul singers while being blind since the age of six. And he made gospel popular with the masses. Not only did he forge an incredible career for himself, a new generation of rock legends like Joe Cocker and Van Morrison built their careers upon the path that Charles had paved. Watching Charles perform just makes you want to leap out of your chair and dance like nobody’s watching.
So while today’s perception of ‘swag’ is often associated with rappers, grills and questionable behaviour, it’s men like the aforementioned who will go down in history as having an undeniable extra something that drew the masses in.
Who do you think represents ‘swag’? What does ‘swag’ even mean to you?
