When it comes to celebrity style, Shia LaBeouf operates in a class of one. Existing in his own world far removed from the rat race of trends and hype, LaBeouf's much-acclaimed disheveled aesthetic has taken on an even fiercer I-don't-give-a-fuck quality over the past year in that he has seemingly merged his casual and work-out wardrobes with complete success. What we're really asking is, should we all be wearing compression pants outside a little more often?
A recent example of LaBeouf's activewear-slash-casual alchemic touch came when paps captured him hanging out with a friend yesterday. In this instance, he could be seen wearing his trusty Brooks running shoes and compression pants, only this time with a huge waterproof jacket by M+RC.
Being honest, the French streetwear label is not the kind of brand we'd usually associate with LaBeouf and is a bit of a curveball. Still, it works. He's nailing that yuppy, nu-urban-sprez vibe we've been banging on about for a while now. It's the kind of agile, 2-in-1 dressing that is perfectly suited to the off-duty actor whose schedule consists of a bit of schmoozing in the morning and exercise in the afternoon. It says: "Let's get some brunch, sure, but I can't stay too long as I have a to go straight to a 2 p.m. class at Equinox."
Anyone up on their @shiafits will know that ball-crushing spandex leggings have always informed the LaBeouf sartorial mythology. They are anti-fashion to the point where pulling on a pair outside of a yoga studio can almost feel like an act of subversion, which for a fit god who doesn't abide by the rules, holds part of the appeal.
"Perhaps he just finds them comfortable and practical?!" you shriek, which is fair enough, but this is LaBeouf we're talking about — a guy who calculates every look on at least some level. For long term admirers, this is more like avant-garde, wholly-intentioned menswear power dressing. Think underrated 6.7 Pitchfork-rated indie band singer meets that impressive guy from your Park Run who boasts a sub-20 minute 5K time.
A lot has been made about what we'll be wearing once things (hopefully) go back to normal, and whether our recent sportswear purchases will be left gathering dust, looked down upon like unfortunate souvenirs from a bad nightmare. Yet LaBeouf is a reminder that most things can work regardless of the context or genre so long as you have confidence and feel comfortable in yourself wearing it. Maybe compression pants were cool along, it just took a pandemic — and Shia LaBeouf — for us to notice it.
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