Oh, Paul, you really can do no wrong can you? If you're wondering who the heck is Paul, you've obviously been having a digital detox for a while (like, years) because Paul Mescal - he of Normal People, Aftersun and most recently seen treading the boards in A Streetcar Named Desire - is the man who inspires fan accounts and universal adoration, no joke, wherever he goes.
He's nominated at the Oscars 2023, which means he's been spotted hither and thither on the awards season promo trail, and has really pulled it out of the bag when it comes to red carpet dressing that doesn't involve a boring old tux. All credit to his stylist, Felicity Kay, who in particular has boiled down his style to one basic in particular: a white vest. Cue shivers because this isn't any white vest. Oh no.
At the Independent Spirit Awards, Paul wore said white vest with high-waisted black trousers and a baby blue blazer. (Also present was a fine chain necklace. For Connell stans, who created the iconic @connellschain account to document every wearing after it became his character's signature in Normal People, it's really the gift that keeps on giving when worn with a white vest. Seriously.) At the Nominees Luncheon, which is held ahead of the Oscars, Paul wore another singlet, this time with tailoring from Gucci, and he's also worn one to premiere of Aftersun, a gala night for Cabaret, and to the Toronto International Film Festival. It folds up small and goes with everything - ideal for all this globe-trotting - but is also an interesting choice for his not-so-secret style weapon.
The white vest used to be synonymous with 'heartthrobs' like Paul Newman, who wore one with matching boxer shorts in 1966's Harper, and, most famously, Marlon Brando. The actor played the original screen version of Stanley Kowalski - the definition of machismo in A Streetcar Named Desire - and wore a grease-strained, sweat-soaked singlet. It's a garment that really been rehabilitated in recent years. Gone are the associations with a certain kind of alpha male (or with a grandfather who might wear one underneath a button-down for warmth: bless). Now logoed versions can be bought from Prada - to the tune of £690 - and they belong in the wardrobes of the people bringing style curveballs to the red carpet (like Timothee Chalamet, Paapa Essiedu and Emma Corrin). Spearheading the movement for the new and improved white vest, however, is Mr Mescal.
This isn't the first time he's taken a seemingly ordinary item of clothing - say, a pair of white rugby shorts - and made it (seriously) hot properly. What next? Dad sandals? Zip-off trousers? Anything's possible in the wonderful wardrobe of Paul.