On the press tour for Gladiator II, the King of Short Shorts has been saving on textiles elsewhere, too: His knitwear. Is it because of how beefy he got to star in the new action flick? Or does he simply enjoy a snugger cut? Who’s to say? Regardless, the smitten 28-year-old runs a constant risk of literally bursting out the seams – of his cardigans.
The Irish actor’s penchant for physique-defining sweaters first became a topic of conversation when he guested on the Graham Norton Show, wearing an itsy-bitsy bolero, the visibly labored buttons of which appeared mighty close to projectile-firing into the audience.
The writing was on the wall though, with photos even from before then showing him draped in a piece one could easily assume was looted from his musician girlfriend Gracie Abrams’ closet.
Size is not the only thing that matters, Paul and his stylist, Felicity Kay, would both agree. He welcomes, too, an idiosyncrasy in the designs of his knits, as displayed in his recent sporting of indie label Hades Wool’s mint and orange, screen-printed Narcissus cardigan.
Swiftly sold out and since restocked, the garment’s popularity is proof that however odd some may find his body-con button-ups, there are plenty o’ folks out there that admire and emulate Paul’s preference for under- over oversized.
Even in the most formal of getups, to the premiere of the aforementioned historical epic’s sequel, Mr. Mescal could not help but layer up under a tight blazer, even tighter merino, and the tightest of tees – ribbed.
So, by now you’re probably thinking that Paul Mescal’s style mantra goes something like “If it ain’t too tight, it don’t fit right”. Good guess; not exactly.
He can – and will – appreciate a certain sophisti-slouch, actually. But if you can’t crop it, drop it:
On the rare occasion when The Best Thighs In Hollywood do decide to shroud the contours of what are now arguably the best arms in Hollywood as well, they’ll bundle up in a soft and wooly pullover with shoe laces for buttons, fully fastened.
All jokes aside, Paul Mescal and his affinity for seductively ill-fitting tops and bottoms are true treasures of our times, and I wouldn’t be doing my job right if I didn’t applaud a man confident and comfortable enough in his skin, his taste, his masculinity, for taking fashion risks that undust the otherwise often yawn-worthy debacle that is celebrity menswear.
Love you, Paul – teeny, tiny cardigans and all.
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