Timothée Chalamet’s Latest Y2K Style Flex? A Purple Velour Tracksuit
StyleAfter rocking True Religion jeans and throwback Starter jackets, it was only a matter of time before the Oscar nominee dipped his toe in the plush velour waters.By Eileen CartterFebruary 4, 2025Getty ImagesSave this storySaveSave this storySaveI often think about the time Timothée Chalamet wore a latex trench coat in the airport after a long-haul flight to Tokyo. It was November 2023, in the midst of the Wonka press tour, back when the actor first began really leaning into what we now refer to as “method dressing”—as in, the red carpet styling trend of dressing a celebrity to the theme of whatever project they’re currently promoting. (The term was most likely coined by Zendaya’s stylist Law Roach, who elevated meticulously themed press wardrobes into an art form.) He was wearing lots of candy-hued suits and lush pinky-purple tones.But the airport latex trench was so baffling—so nonsensicallididdlyumptious!—because latex typically requires some effort to maneuver. A little elbow grease, you might say, in the form of baby powder or mineral oil. Like the horror of traversing the bowels of Willy Wonka’s factory, the coat revealed something about the overthought mechanics of the then-current state of celebrity styling.But leave it to Chalamet to turn this mode in on itself, which he has done throughout his meme-forward, gonzo-ish press tour for the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. Other than a truly bonkers display of Dylan cosplay, Chalamet has been dressing like a hyper-meta, post-post-swag version of himself with plenty of niche designer streetwear, kooky accessories, and referential doodads.Timothée Chalamet arrives at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Sunday. Jun Sato/Getty ImagesThis week, he even seized the opportunity to redeem himself at another airport in Tokyo. Arriving at Haneda Airport on Sunday, he went full Lukas Mattsson mode in a Needles velour tracksuit, which just so happened to be a curiously Wonka-esque shade of deep purple. (I did somewhat correctly predict that Timmy might wear a velour tracksuit during his recent Saturday Night Live appearance, but I was thinking more of the Juicy Couture variety.) Needles, a Japanese streetwear label, is a shrewd choice here. Chalamet and his stylist Taylor McNeill, who also just outfitted Kendrick Lamar in his Grammys Canadian tuxedo, have been prioritizing brands to match the cities that Chalamet is doing promo in—a nice update to the method-dressing ideology.Over the tracksuit—an infinitely more airport-appropriate ensemble—he layered on a Lacoste bomber jacket, which he accessorized with a neon hiking backpack, skull-printed Alexander McQueen scarf, vintage Bob Dylan baseball cap, and black-and-gold, Kiko Kostadinov-designed Asics sneakers. And though he covered his face with a cloth mask, his clothes, per usual, did the talking.
I often think about the time Timothée Chalamet wore a latex trench coat in the airport after a long-haul flight to Tokyo. It was November 2023, in the midst of the Wonka press tour, back when the actor first began really leaning into what we now refer to as “method dressing”—as in, the red carpet styling trend of dressing a celebrity to the theme of whatever project they’re currently promoting. (The term was most likely coined by Zendaya’s stylist Law Roach, who elevated meticulously themed press wardrobes into an art form.) He was wearing lots of candy-hued suits and lush pinky-purple tones.
But the airport latex trench was so baffling—so nonsensicallididdlyumptious!—because latex typically requires some effort to maneuver. A little elbow grease, you might say, in the form of baby powder or mineral oil. Like the horror of traversing the bowels of Willy Wonka’s factory, the coat revealed something about the overthought mechanics of the then-current state of celebrity styling.
But leave it to Chalamet to turn this mode in on itself, which he has done throughout his meme-forward, gonzo-ish press tour for the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. Other than a truly bonkers display of Dylan cosplay, Chalamet has been dressing like a hyper-meta, post-post-swag version of himself with plenty of niche designer streetwear, kooky accessories, and referential doodads.
This week, he even seized the opportunity to redeem himself at another airport in Tokyo. Arriving at Haneda Airport on Sunday, he went full Lukas Mattsson mode in a Needles velour tracksuit, which just so happened to be a curiously Wonka-esque shade of deep purple. (I did somewhat correctly predict that Timmy might wear a velour tracksuit during his recent Saturday Night Live appearance, but I was thinking more of the Juicy Couture variety.) Needles, a Japanese streetwear label, is a shrewd choice here. Chalamet and his stylist Taylor McNeill, who also just outfitted Kendrick Lamar in his Grammys Canadian tuxedo, have been prioritizing brands to match the cities that Chalamet is doing promo in—a nice update to the method-dressing ideology.
Over the tracksuit—an infinitely more airport-appropriate ensemble—he layered on a Lacoste bomber jacket, which he accessorized with a neon hiking backpack, skull-printed Alexander McQueen scarf, vintage Bob Dylan baseball cap, and black-and-gold, Kiko Kostadinov-designed Asics sneakers. And though he covered his face with a cloth mask, his clothes, per usual, did the talking.
