Why precisely am I perusing tales about the undergarments of Paul Mescal?
The aspiring thespian from Maynooth, catapulted to stardom by his performance in the BBC’s rendition of Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People’, turned heads this week at a fashion event in Milan with his choice of Gucci boxers, worn with a partially undone pale blue shirt and horsebit loafers.
A mishap with his outfit, I presume?
Rather, it could be viewed as Mescal fully embracing his unique style. As his career in Hollywood unfolds, he’s earned the label of a bold fashion choice maker. Indeed, in May he was seen in an all-black ensemble, akin to a Bond antagonist, at a fashion gathering at the Tate Modern in London. Previous year, he received accolades for reviving the ‘man-cleavage’, after stepping onto the red carpet sporting a white vest and suit jacket.
Clearly he’s a pioneer amongst his peers from the Kildare under-21 football team.
Post his success in ‘Normal People’, Mescal embarked on a solitary pursuit to popularise the “GAA intercounty look” within the world of fashion. During a photoshoot for GQ in 2020, he combined O’Neill’s Kildare shorts with a pricey Hermès jumper valued at £10,000. The fashion fraternity was in awe of his atypical, rough around the edges good-boy charm, which was paid tribute to in an article by GQ magazine.
Applauds to him!
Nonetheless, his patience with being the face of an unusual style statement, which could be loosely dubbed as “knocked out in the Leinster semi-final” chic, seems to be running thin. While initially, he was thrilled to endorse O’Neill’s, last year he had his fill. During a radio talk show, he seemingly pleaded, “Enough of this discussion, for heaven’s sake”.
‘For heaven’s sake’ is perhaps an apt reaction to his recent outfit comprising primarily of shorts and a shirt. How does he manage to pull it off?
Celebrities have the power to establish daring fashion trends without the concern of mockery. Baring similar fashion guts, pop sensation Troye Sivan was observed at the Cannes film festival donning Prada boxers, suggesting Mescal isn’t without company in his unique fashion endeavours.
Paul Mescal’s rise to fame and stardom hasn’t been a mere whim. Every detail of his appearance has been meticulously planned. In a previous interview with British Vogue, his stylist Felicity Kay shared that they aim for a modern yet subtly inverted classic look with outstanding tailoring that maintains a bit of a rugged touch.
So, what can we expect in terms of Paul Mescal’s future fashion ventures?
As he continues to challenge the norms of fashion, rumours are swirling about Mescal’s outfit in the upcoming Ridley Scott’s sequel of Gladiator, Gladiator II. Here, he plays the role of the Roman emperor Lucius Verus, and viewers will see him in a gladiator skirt made of leather. His willingness to push fashion boundaries, similar to how he did with wearing boxers to a fashion event, suggests that Mescal’s exciting fashion journey is far from over.