The Cannes Film Festivalâor, as it should rightly be known, the Oscars: Linen Editionâis reliably the source of some of the yearâs biggest fits and, thanks to the balmy Mediterranean climate, a trove of inspo for the summer season ahead. Maybe itâs the ghosts of Picasso and Jean Cocteau, or perhaps itâs the endlessly flowing Château Margüi rosé, but the worldâs most stylish celebrities tend to swing extra hard when they hit the Promenade de la Croisette. Thankfully, this year has been especially fruitful, particularly if youâre looking for a how-to in tone-on-tone dressing. While Jeremy Strongâs head-to-toe pink corduroy (complete with a matching rust-colored Richard Mille watch) embodies a more advanced take on the genre, itâs Mads Mikkelsonâs subtler khaki-on-khaki ensemble thatâs going on our summer mood boards.
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 15: Mads Mikkelsen is seen during at Hotel Martinez during day three of the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2025 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/GC Images)Jacopo Raule
So whatâs going on here exactly? Firstly, Mikkelsonâs khaki linen safari jacket and pants harness the fabricâs signature rumples to maximal effect, not to mention being a perfect way to beat the heat of the French Riviera. Lean too far into the whole safari look, however, and it can easily veer into the realm of costume, which is what makes the addition of a sand-colored knit polo and a pair of khaki trail runners so important. Not only do they balance the sartorial seriousness of the linen, their slight variation of colors and textures provides just the right amount of visual contrast to make the whole thing come together.
Likewise, conventional wisdom tells us that someone with pale skin and light hair like Mikkelson, who has leaned into his salt-and-pepper era in recent years, should steer away from similar-hued clothing to avoid looking washed-out. As you can see here, however, with the right combination of neutral colors and varied textures, it can be a big win. For anyone looking to try something similar itâll likely take some trial and error, but fortunately youâve got the whole season to get it right (and fewer paparazzi to fend off if you get it wrong.)