Paul Mescal’s wardrobe is up for grabs – here’s how to get your hands on it
As someone who has – pass the smelling salts matron – had the pleasure of close contact with Paul Mescal’s thighs (a mortadella-like hue, truth be known) at a Gucci show in Milan, I can attest that he knows how to make an impact in how he dresses. Or perhaps that’s just the brutish majesty of those thighs, known as he is for wearing teeny tiny short shorts. Whatever the appeal, you dear readers can own a piece of Mr Mescal in time for Christmas, thanks to an upcoming sale on second hand site Vinted, although sadly those shorts aren’t part of the offering just yet. The Paul Mescal x Vinted range will sell off the 28-year-old actor’s wardrobe from his promotional tour of his recent film Gladiator II, with proceeds going towards Irish charity Pieta, an organisation that helps those suffering with suicidal distress or self-harm issues.
Curated by Mescal’s stylist Felicity Kay, it’s a small but perfectly formed line-up of pieces, perhaps more the wardrobe curios of your Gen Z son than the average British (or Irish) guy; quirky knits, casual jeans and bold accessories. There are a variety of knitted sweaters; one from cult brand Extreme Cashmere, another from emerging talent BM Marks and a striking red jumper with lace-up detail on the front (how gladiatorial).
BM Marks custom handmade knit, £250
A cardigan from British label Hades features prints of Greek mythology, again an allusion to the film he’s been promoting. The stomping great boots are courtesy of Jimmy Choo and the jeans by ELV Denim, a sustainable label that repurposes dead stock. What’s perhaps notable is the relative lack of big, flashy brands; it’s more about interesting, curated independent designers. So props to Mescal and his stylist for taking a more nuanced approach to dressing.
“Paul has always had a strong connection to vintage and pre-loved fashion. He’s often eager to rewear pieces we’ve styled before or items from his own wardrobe,” says Kay. “It gave us the opportunity to delve deep into his love for second-hand clothes.” We’re all more aware than ever of the detrimental effects of fashion consumption on the planet, so second-hand shopping is one of the most sustainable ways to add to your wardrobe (see Patrick Grant’s excellent book Less: Stop Buying So Much Rubbish for more details on this – in fact buy it for everyone you know for Christmas).
Vintage baby T-shirt, £175
Mescal has become something of a surprise (some would say accidental) rising style star. Back in 2020, when he broke through as Connell in Sally Rooney’s Normal People, the character’s silver chain became a “viral sensation”, swiftly copied on the high street and earning its own Instagram account. Mescal’s thigh-flashing running outfits then excited social media – let a man do his morning 5K in peace, for heaven sake – and he soon became known for his fondness for short shorts. Post his appearance at the Gucci show in Milan, he went on to pose in the house’s campaign in those blousy shorts, showcasing the full luck of the Irish with his skimpy attire. If you’ve got it, flaunt it etc.
Extreme cashmere crew neck jumper, £575
Mescal is refreshingly non-traditional in his approach to dressing; even in red carpet environs he favours a more youthful approach; vests under tuxedo jackets, Seventies proportions and Cuban heels rather than what’s classically “smart”.
Jimmy Choo black leather boot, £800
The strange world of celebrity press tours has become a talking point this year (let us draw a discreet veil over the earnest solemnity of the Wicked press junket, actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande ruminating on their craft with the augustness of Ellen Terry at the RSC). British and Irish male actors – and the stylists that work with them – have raised the game in terms of making their outfits a focal point on press tours this year more than ever, with the likes of Jonathan Bailey, Cillian Murphy and Jacob Elordi having their looks carefully “moodboarded” and designed to stand out, whereas once a sleek Armani suit would pass muster. Here’s to an ever more individual approach to dressing for Gen Z guys.
The items go on sale on Vinted, via the account felicitykaystudio, on 16th December.
