Style
Frank Sinatra Dean Martin Bing Crosby Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some people dress 'cause they dress when they dress
But he gets dressed to get dressed
(It's only a hunch but I bet you a bunch)
(He wears suspenders, a belt and a vest)
[From the tip of his toes to his head]
[He looks like an unmade bed]

You've either got or you haven't got style
(If you got it, you stand out a mile)
A flower's not a flower if it's wilted
(A hat's not a hat till it's tilted)
[You either got or you haven't got class]
[How it draws the applause of the masses]

(You either got, or you haven't got)
[Got or you haven't got]

You've either got or you haven't got style (got or you haven't got style)
[If you got it, it stands out a mile] (if you got it, it stands out a mile)
With mother of pearl kind of buttons
(You look like the Astors and Huttons)
[You either got or you haven't got class] (got or you haven't got class)
How it draws the applause of the masses

(You've either got, or you haven't style) [got or you haven't got style}
(Style and charm seem to go arm in ar) [seem togo arm in arm]
[A flower's not a flower] (if it's wilted)
[A hat's not a hat till it's tilted]
(You've either got or you haven't got style) [got or you haven't got style]




[If you got it, you stands out a mile] if you got it, you stand out a mile
(Got it you stand out) got it you stand out a mile

Overall Meaning

In the song "Style," Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Bing Crosby celebrate the importance of style in a person's appearance. The lyrics portray the idea that some people may just dress out of necessity, but there are others who see dressing up as a form of art, carefully selecting each piece to create an overall statement. The singer points out that true style is not just about the clothes but how one carries them. The lines "You either got or you haven't got style" and "You either got or you haven't got class" underscore the notion that one can't learn style or class; it's an innate quality that can't be taught.


The chorus repeats the importance of possessing style and how it makes someone stand out in a crowd. The mention of a flower being wilted or a hat being untitled as a non-expression of style highlights how important it is to wear the right clothes in the right way. The verses also mention sartorial details like suspenders, vests, and mother of pearl buttons. These details speak to a specific period of fashion, exemplified by the Astors and Huttons, who were known for their elegant style.


Line by Line Meaning

Some people dress 'cause they dress when they dress
Some people wear clothes just because they do, without putting much thought into it


But he gets dressed to get dressed
He wears clothes as a deliberate part of his overall style and appearance


(It's only a hunch but I bet you a bunch)
This is just a feeling I have, but I'm pretty sure I'm right


(He wears suspenders, a belt and a vest)
He pays attention to every detail of his outfit, from his undergarments to his outerwear


[From the tip of his toes to his head]
His entire appearance is carefully coordinated, from head to toe


[He looks like an unmade bed]
Despite his attention to detail, his overall style is intentionally disheveled and casual


You've either got or you haven't got style
Style is something that you either naturally possess, or you don't


(If you got it, you stand out a mile)
If you have style, it is immediately noticeable and impressive


A flower's not a flower if it's wilted
Even something beautiful, if not maintained or cared for, will lose its appeal and value


(A hat's not a hat till it's tilted)
An accessory is only effective and stylish if it's worn in a confident and intentional way


[You either got or you haven't got class]
Just like with style, class is something you either have or you don't


[How it draws the applause of the masses]
Having great style and class is often universally appreciated and admired


(Style and charm seem to go arm in arm)
People with style often have natural charm and charisma as well


(You've either got, or you haven't style)
Reinforcing the idea that there's no in-between when it comes to style


[If you got it, you stands out a mile]
Again emphasizing how noticeable and impressive great style can be


(Got it you stand out)
Having style is a key to standing out and making a strong impression




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALESHA ANJANETTE DIXON, MIKKEL STORLEER ERIKSEN, TOR ERIK HERMANSEN, HALLGEIR RUSTAN, CHRISTOPHER LOWE, NEIL FRANCIS TENNANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@ramsestapsi5283

Some people dress 'cause they like to get dressed;
But you just dress to get dressed.
It's only a hunch, but I bet you a bunch:
He wears suspenders, a belt, and a vest.
>From the tip of your toes to your head...
You look like an unmade bed.


You've either got, or you haven't got style;
If you got it, you stand out a mile.
A flower's not a flower if it's wilted;
A hat's not a hat till it's tilted.
You've either got, or you haven't got class;
How it draws the applause of the masses.

When you wear lapels...
Like the swell of the swells...
You can pass any mirror and smile.
You've either got, or you haven't got...
....got, or you haven't got...
....got, or you haven't got style.

You've either got, or you haven't got style.
....got, or you haven't got style;
If you got it, you stand out a mile.
....got it, you stand out a mile.
With mother-of-pearl kind of buttons...
You look like the Astors and Huttons.

You've either got, or you haven't got class;
....got, or you haven't got class.
How it draws the applause of the masses.
When you wear lapels...
Like the swellest swells...
You can pass any mirror and smile.

You've either got, or you haven't got charm;
....got, or you haven't got charm.
Style and charm seem to go arm in arm;
....seem to go arm in arm.
A flower's not a flower if it's wilted;
A hat's not a hat till it's tilted.

You've either got, or you haven't got style;
....got, or you haven't got style;
....got, or you haven't got style.
If you got it, you stand out a mile;
....got it, you stand out a mile;
....got it, you stand out a mile.

When you were those duds,
Those with black-tie and studs,
Watch those dolls lining up single file.
You've either got, or you haven't got...
....got, or you haven't got...
....got, or you haven't got...
....got, or you haven't got...
....got, or you haven't got style..



All comments from YouTube:

@chrisgray3195

My grandfather never wore a pair of jeans. Only once did I see him in a t-shirt and that was because he was shaving. He was an engineer by trade and always dressed in a suit. Even on his days off, he wore a suit.

@m.p.2534

Same thing for my grandfather (a train engineer). Nowadays, whenever my grandmother talks of him, she keeps saying he used to be the greatest and most dashing gentleman she ever knew. ^^

@Gueroleon83

My grandfather’s were the same.. one never wore a pair of shorts in his entire life. They always dressed in suites didn’t ever have a pair of sport shoes (sneakers).belt shoes hat all matched.. impeccable 👍

@thefreeman8791

My grandfather was a dairy farmer but on Sunday he dressed with the best. Men back then at least understood how to be classy even if they couldn’t be daily.

@leerusz5032

My Grandad always wore his Sunday best. Any time he went out, he’d wear a suit. He shaved every day, sometimes twice if he was going out that night. He passed away in 2000 at the age of 88. But right to very end he always tried to look his best.

@kailashpatel1706

My dad was a Tailor, never wore a pair of jeans and neither did any of his 3 children..

64 More Replies...

@joedayer9755

Crosby: wears fancy clothes

Sinatra: “you look like an unmade bed.”

@carltrotter7622

Crosby is breaking many style rules from wearing a frock coat to matching vest and trousers and contrasting jacket.

It is also mentioned in the song that he is wearing ‘suspenders a belt and a vest’. What is meant here is that you should never wear a belt with a vest as it makes creases at the bottom (despite the fact that Sinatra is wearing one but I’d blame that on poor tailoring from the wardrobe department) and that instead you should wear suspenders, never together because they wear the same thing.

Later on, as Crosby gets changed into various clown-ish outfits with over-the-top pieces matched together we can see these similar errors again but in a more extreme form.

@carltrotter7622

seaweedWorkers no, I’d be very worried if a 16 year old could become a teacher. Why do you ask dear fellow?

@Danadop

Nothing but the best is enough for him

More Comments

More Versions