
Aftersun star Paul Mescal has quickly become the dreamboat of the hour, and there’s no question that his effortless sense of style is just the cherry on top of the Hollywood hunk cake. From his iconic white tuxedo jacket and lapel rose to his retro tailored suits, the Irish actor’s best outfits have been plastered across the internet for months now.
Although Mescal only made his way onto the red carpets a few years back (thanks to his outstanding Emmy-nominated appearance in the ever-so-popular TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People), his fashion sense has quickly changed and refined with each and every look – with special thanks to the help of his stylist, Felicity Kay. While he made his entry into the fashion world in 2020 with a simple grey suit, he’s now known for his uniquely tailored suits and subtle feminine flourishes (shout-out to the rose on his lapel that stole the show at the 2023 Academy Awards).
In an interview with British Vogue, Kay described her popular client’s looks as “classic, great tailoring but subtly subverted – a little rough around the edges, tactile and contemporary.” Together, Mescal and Kay use references from, “Old Hollywood stills, vintage band artwork, pictures of shows we liked, old editorials.” These sources of inspiration are apparent in Mescal’s vintage flourishes, which are perfectly balanced with edgy, modern styles.
So, from delicate details to a little cowboy glamour, check out all of Paul Mescal’s best outfits, which show off the evolution of his iconic fashion sense, below.
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The simple grey suit
Mescal rolled up to the 2020 Virgin Media BAFTA TV awards in London in a simple grey suit, where he really established a name for himself. While the star won big for his role in Normal People, receiving the prize for Best Actor, this outfit was a first step for the now-stylish Mescal. The suit may be a classic look, but the stark white runners and simple tee were a bit of a miss for us compared to his more recent serves.
See also: How dressing more masculine taught me to tap into my femininity.
Yeehaw glamour
Mescal quickly established his sense of style later on in November 2021 at the Fashion Awards in London. This look was far more daring than his red carpet debut, as he donned the classically tailored flared pants that he’s come to be known for, alongside some Western flourishes. His dazzling gold jacket was paired perfectly with a drooping black tie, adding a bit of “yeehaw” charm to the flashy outfit.
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A monochromatic Met Gala appearance
Mescal’s appearance at the 2022 Met Gala revolved around a subtle, yet distinguished, all-black outfit. Donning a refined ‘stache, Mescal leaned into a monochromatic look by wearing black from head to toe, except for a shimmering, spikey silver brooch. His eye-catching look wasn’t the only thing stealing the show, as he made his first-ever appearance with his then-girlfriend, indie musician Phoebe Bridgers.
Related: The Met Gala 2023: Everything we know about the theme, hosts and more.
Good in Gucci
What I wouldn’t give to own this absolutely perfect retro Gucci outfit. Mescal broke out another flashy patterned jacket to Alessandro Michele’s Gucci Cosmogonie show. He paired the look down with some deep brown slacks and a simple white Gucci tee. The bomber jacket and t-shirt were a part of the Adidas x Gucci collab, hence the white leather and suede sneakers that featured the quintessential blue Adidas stripes.
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Retro cuts
This suit is the perfect depiction of how Mescal’s style has changed since he first stepped onto the scene a few years ago. Where his first grey suit wasn’t properly tailored and came paired with a loose white tee and sneakers, this dark grey number has a retro flare (literally, just look at his bell-bottomed pants), and he wore it with a simple white tank and a dapper pair of black loafers. This charcoal grey suit feels like a more elegant nod to the original look.
See also: Selena Gomez’s style evolution: from Disney to dazzling.
Delicate details
Mescal proved to be the king of menswear at the 29th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards with this pearl-and-diamond encrusted jacket. Layered over a chic and simple navy shirt, Mescal wore the intricate, semi-sheer jacket with some well-tailored trousers and patent leather Chelsea boots.
Related: The SAG Awards 2023: Our favourite celebrity looks on the red carpet.
A pop of colour
While most of his looks have a pretty neutral colour scheme, Mescal was turning heads with his oversized ’80s-style turquoise jacket at the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Once gain leaning into his quintessential loose-fitting trousers, Mescal balanced out the Gucci look with a casual white vest and pointed black dress shoes.
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Soft floral accents
You simply can’t have a list of Mescal’s best outfits without his iconic white tuxedo jacket and flared trousers from the 2023 Academy Awards. The soft, yet eye-catching, red rose on his lapel was the only thing that stood out more than the red carpet itself. Plus, no one can quite pull off a bell-bottomed pant like Paul Mescal.
Related: 2023 Oscars: Our picks for the best-dressed celebs.
Collar of pearls
Mother of pearl! Mescal’s collar of pearls is a dream come true. The actor headed to an afterparty for the stage revival of A Streetcar Named Desire in London, where he broke out this absolute gem of a shirt (he previously wore a similar piece on Jimmy Kimmel Live). The Irishman’s baby blue button up was created by fellow Irish artist, Simone Rocha, who intricately laced the collar with subtle pearlescent flourish.
See also: The airy aesthetic is taking over: how to get the ethereal look.
The undone bowtie
Last (and most recent), but definitely not least, is Mescal’s sleek suit – which obviously featured a quintessential Mescal twist with his undone bowtie – from the Olivier Awards in April 2023. The star looked pretty smart in his outfit, as he landed the Olivier Award for Best Actor for his role of Stanley Kowalski in Rebecca Frecknall’s A Streetcar Named Desire stage adaptation.
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