Highsnobiety

As I surveyed the frenzy that erupted online following Timothée Chalamet's Wonka reveal, I couldn't help but wonder: what exactly is it about the actor that sends onlookers into such hysterics?

Before I begin, I'd like to clarify that this is not a critique of Chalamet's acting chops, which are objectively good. Nor is it a jab at Chalamet's fandom, a sizeable portion of which is made up of teenage girls, a demographic that's often unfairly painted as unsophisticated and cringe-y.

Instead, it's an honest inventory of the actor's style, frequently lauded by fashion publications (including ours, at times) as some sort of sartorial second coming.

On the red carpet, Chalamet's 'fits are a mixed bag — not entirely surprising, given that he doesn't work with a stylist.

His watershed moment took place at the 2019 Venice Film Festival, where he fêted The King in a silvery gray Haider Ackermann suit. Paired with leather boots, it was a softly tailored ensemble that solidified the actor's newly minted spot at the forefront of what many dubbed a new era for Hollywood masculinity.

Since then, Ackermann has continued to dress Chalamet, with varying levels of success. Most recently, the legendary designer outfitted the actor for the Met Gala in a way-too-cropped tuxedo jacket, which Chalamet paired with baggy Rick Owens sweatpants and high-top Converse.

It was, in my mind, a disjointed look: black tie on top and bodega run on the bottom.

Another recent ensemble, Chalamet's silver-gold Tom Ford suit looked sleek layered over a collarless shirt, but missed the mark when accessorized with a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers (his favorite shades, it seems).

His internet-breaking 2019 Golden Globes outfit, which starred a sequined Louis Vuitton harness, was, in short, a reach.

And Chalamet's most recent outing, a Dune press tour in London, saw him flaunt a Slytherin sweater (yes, he wore Harry Potter merch to a presser), and a series of suits paired with the wrong shoe.

(I won't be too hard on him, considering anyone Zendaya stands next to simply pales in comparison.)

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Twitter post.

Off the carpet, Timmy kinda dresses like your average Nolita local. He's got the gold chain (from New Top Jewelry, perhaps?), designer sweatpants, and culturally clued-in headwear (Elara Pictures cap, Gem Spa beanie) on lock.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

In retrospect, the actor dabbles in a wardrobe fairly similar to Pete Davidson's, a look that brands both of them as dudes who bop around to Café Leon Dore, then to Dimes, and maybe to Balthazar for a seafood tower.

To jog your memory: there was Chalamet's shearling Saint Laurent jacket, lovely by itself but rather un-magical when worn over a gray hoodie. And don't forget his Prada Moment, less Teen Boy Ready For a Basement Gaming Sesh but still a far cry from Frank Ocean's mastery of the label.

And last but certainly not least, we have his Paris Fashion Week look, featured at the top of this article. For some reason, he decided to wear a backpack to Haider Ackermann's Fall/Winter 2020 runway show where he sat front row, wedged between Japanese painter Setsuko Klossowska de Rola and fellow actor Kevin Mischel.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

Chalamet's style isn't groundbreaking, but he manages to make headlines nearly every time he's snapped by the paparazzi. In 2019, Vogue even declared him the "most influential man in fashion." (Excuse me?)

A talented actor, yes. Charismatic, sure. But the most influential man in fashion? I simply don't see it.

We Recommend
  • Behind The Scenes: A Brief History Of Costume Design From Cinema To TV Shows
    • Style
  • Umm, Dune: Part Two Might Be The Greatest Sci-Fi Movie of All Time
    • Culture
  • The North Face: 50 Years of Innovation In Action
    • Street Style
    • sponsored
  • Why the 'Dune 2' Red Carpet Outfits Feel so Vital
    • Style
  • Forget 'Dune 2': Timothée Chalamet Is the Face of Skinny Jeans
    • Style
What To Read Next
  • If the Shoe Fits: Footwear Phenom Paul Andrew Steps Into New Role at Sergio Rossi
    • Style
  • Chappell Roan Is Wary of Fame (& Dressing the Part)
    • Style
  • We Found the Best Outdoor Speakers for Summer So You Don’t Have To
    • Lifestyle
  • Pharrell’s $850K Bag & Mystery adidas Are an Olympic-Level Flex
    • Style
  • No One Saw Fashion's Camouflage Revival Coming — Literally
    • Style
  • Brutalist Beauties: Nike's New AJ4 Is a Monochromatic Masterpiece
    • Sneakers
    • sponsored

Web Accessibility Statement

Titel Media GmbH (Highsnobiety), is committed to facilitating and improving the accessibility and usability of its Website, www.highsnobiety.com. Titel Media GmbH strives to ensure that its Website services and content are accessible to persons with disabilities including users of screen reader technology. To accomplish this, Titel Media GmbH tests, remediates and maintains the Website in-line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which also bring the Website into conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that our efforts to maintain accessibility and usability are ongoing. While we strive to make the Website as accessible as possible some issues can be encountered by different assistive technology as the range of assistive technology is wide and varied.

Contact Us

If, at any time, you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any particular webpage on this Website, please contact us at accessibility@highsnobiety.com, +49 (0)30 235 908 500. If you do encounter an accessibility issue, please be sure to specify the web page and nature of the issue in your email and/or phone call, and we will make all reasonable efforts to make that page or the information contained therein accessible for you.