Paul Mescal Makes the Case for a Cute Little Cardigan

First, it was the super-short shorts—a Princess Diana-esque sweatshirt and five-inch inseam combo, usually partnered with wired earbuds slung around his neck and a Sweetgreen takeout bag in hand. I’d be remiss not to mention the ever-present Adidas Sambas, too. But Paul Mescal, for all his gladiatorial strength, is not strong enough to carry on wearing teeny-tiny shorts through the harshness of winter weather. Few are. What, you may ask, is the alternative? Well—when the tiny bottoms are out of the question, reach for a tiny top instead. Because it is, after all, winter, let me be more specific: it’s all about a cute little cardigan.

Fellow avid followers of Mescal’s wardrobe will have noticed the rise of the cardigan, which began about a year ago, too. Since then—and especially throughout the recent press tour for Gladiator II—Mescal’s been all about the cardis. Usually cropped and shrunken, very form-fitting. Occasionally sheer. Often colorful. Sometimes slightly boxier, darker, and more opaque—but no less charming.

a person seated on a red sofa wearing a black buttonup shirt and black pants

PA Images, ALAMY

Paul Mescal wears a sheer black cardigan on The Graham Norton Show.

Personally, I’ve been a long-time champion of the close-fitting cardigan. Sometimes those baggier, longer ones you throw over a T-shirt are too “Brooklyn hipster circa 2019,” you know? Sizing it down is, evidently, the way to go—it’s contemporary, and it works wonders in showing off a Gladiator physique, if that applies to you.

You can take a cue from Mescal and his rotation of cute little cardis in a more literal sense, if you like. A handful of the styles he’s worn recently are being put up for auction by stylist Felicity Kay on Vinted on December 16, with all proceeds going to Pieta, an Irish non-profit offering mental health support. There’s the Av Vattev lace-up cardigan he wore (which has since sold out), the turquoise Hades Wool knit cardigan he wore (which has also since sold out), and more coveted (and sold out) pieces from the Gladiator II rotation. Cute cardigans for a good cause. What could be better?

person standing on a street corner holding a coffee cup

The Image Direct

Paul Mescal layers a gray cardigan underneath a black overcoat.

If you aren’t the secondhand kinda guy, though (even when it’s secondhand from Paul Mescal), fear not. Cop your own cute little cardigans for winter. Wear ’em with coats and jeans and boots à la Mescal. Throw a tee underneath, if that’s your vibe, but know you don’t have to. Pleated trousers are always a good bet, as are, evidently, wired headphones and a baseball cap.

This is your sign to have some fun with your winter wardrobe. Be playful with it. Go for the shrunken look, size it down, keep it slim. Our favorite Mescal-inspired cardigans for doing just that are right here.