Paul Mescal understands that small details can deliver an outsized wallop. This is the poster boy for tiny rugby shorts and itty-bitty Cartier Tanks weâre talking about, after all. His latest small-scale style move? Piercing his dress shirt with a petite gold cufflink.
At the Kering Women in Motion Awards in Cannes, the actor sported a beautiful black tuxedo with a matching cummerbund and a silky cream tuxedo shirt. Rather than finish things off with the traditional bow-tie and shirt studs, however, he opted for a yellow gold Cartier Juste un Clou cufflink worn through the open placket, allowing a little chest to show.
This is an advanced menswear move from Mescal. Could he have gone for a brooch? Sure. Instead, thoughâthanks to a touch of solid-gold Cartier and a bit of DIY visionâhis clean, crispy tuxedo instantly feels more chill.
Karwai Tang
Mescal and Cartier have had a long and fruitful relationship. Back in October, the Gladiator II star went big on small accessories with a tiny brooch and watch from the Parisian jeweler at the Academy Museum Gala in LA. And last month, he attended a Cartier dinner in London rocking a 1996 Cartier Tank à Guichet watch in platinum (an extremely rare model from his birth year). Small watches continue to be the biggest timepiece trend in Hollywood, and the 29-year-old is very much leading the way. His most recent style move proves heâs extending the mini-but-mighty vibe to the rest of his accessories, and getting inventive with where he wears them.
Yes, giving your white shirt a piercing is pretty out there. But Paul Mescal shows that going big on the small stuff is still the sickest menswear play you can make.
This story originally appeared on British GQ.