Men's Style Q&A: Dermot O'Leary The X Factor host Dermot O'Leary takes the questions on matters of men's style. Dermot O'Leary started his career in television on T4 for Channel 4, went on to present Big Brother's Little Brother and now has an award-winning Radio 2 show on Saturday. But he's probably best known, of course, as the host of The X Factor , where every week he seems to vie with Gary Barlow to be nattiest dressed male. "Gary and I have a little thing before we go on," he told us. We sort size each other up - you know, 'Alright Gary?' Alright, yeah. 'Oh that's nice.' Every now and again you look and up and think, "Christ, he looks good today." Describe your personal style I was brought up watching films, so I lean towards classics. You sort of borrow from different things and look at what suits you. What is the essence of men's style? I think it is down to knowing what suits you, and also it is about confidence. You should pick and choose influences, don't copy. You don't just buy someone's name.The lovely thing now is that, irrespective of money, men's style and men's tailoring have never been more exciting or as accessible. It is totally different now to how it was 10 to 15 years ago. Any fashion teenage faux-pas you'd rather forget..? In the 1990s, when I first started buying clothes, I did the baggy, loose-fitting thing. I never really enjoyed that. I grew up watching things like Miami Vice , so did white jackets and Aviators, too. We were all rocking the Slazenger V-neck look, which I loved, however. And in those early T4 days I am sure there were a couple of absolute howlers. Of course, there are going to be things that you end up on television wearing, and you look back and think, "Crikey, I can't believe I wore that." This autumn you're mainly wearing... Roll necks! Love a roll neck, me. It's kind of harking back to a different age, but also it is something that isn't done that much. A lot of men would look good in one. What are your sartorial pet hates? I am not a big fan of those denim three-quarter-length shorts that men seem to wear, and those sort of awful saggy Melle Mel-style vests, which men think are appropriate. And any flip-flop or sandal in an urban environment... Why would you do that? Women's feet are beautiful; men's feet are disgusting. Your favourite tailors? Thom Sweeney, Spencer Hart and Rake. Who are your style heroes? Bill Nighy I think has got terrific style. I met him about a year ago. I'd been out for lunch or dinner and I'd had a couple, so I felt I could go up and say, "Look, I think you are a terrific actor and it is lovely to meet you, but the one thing I have to compliment you on is your style, and your suits," and he just perked up. And who from the past had great style? Steve McQueen, because his style was effortless and of a time; there was something beautiful about it. And I'd have to say Paul Newman, too. What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought, clothing-wise? I have a [Martin] Margiela pea coat. As soon as the weather turns I run upstairs and check the moths haven't eaten it. What fragrance do you wear? Terre by Hermès. And do you accessorise? Oh, huge. I am a man-bag apologist. At the end of a lunch with my US agent - lovely guy - I sort of had a little man bag, and he said, "Dermot, nice bag, by the way. But you do know it is not really a bag, it is more of a purse? At the time I thought, "You b------," but then I thought, "In his world the man hunts deer, so what does this little piece of leather mean to him?" Where do you shop? Liberty is a great one-stop shop, isn't it? Quite often if I have spare hour or something and I am in town I will walk to Liberty. I also like a bit of Oliver Spencer. Oh and Acne, APC, Lot 78 leathers, Moncler from time to time... But now I am just naming coats. Which is the best-dressed nation? Italy, although there is something wonderfully stylish about the French. I think we are catching up. I am an Irishman, so I am not beating my chest in a jingoistic way, but British tailoring is one thing we can really shout about. It is good to do that, and of course you do want to support British manufacturing. Jeans or chinos? Chinos. I live in Topman chinos. They are the best fitting. But when it comes to jeans my favourite are Uniqlo because they've got the shape that suits me. Boxers or briefs? Briefs would be the slightly more tighter but not Y-fronts, correct? Then briefs...