We’ve come to recognize Brad Pitt as one of the most stylish dressers on the red carpet. For Once upon a time in Hollywood press obligations in 2019, he was dressed in sleek numbers by Giorgio Armani and Brioni and a nice set of shiny, polished shoes. Sure, he might have ditched his tie here and there and swapped out a shirt for a breathable tee, but you can always count on him to pull off a book-smart look.
Pitt is currently on a worldwide press tour for his upcoming action-comedy High-speed train, which hits the big screen later this month, and so far we’ve seen him take a more laid-back approach to red carpet style. Maybe it’s because he knows this will be one of his last press tours – in our August issue he talked about the “last leg, this last semester or quarter” of his career – or maybe he just doesn’t care about adhering to an age-old red carpet rulebook that calls for men to wear well-tailored suits.
This week alone, we’ve seen him slip into a baggy cantaloupe melon-hued suit, a zip-up khaki linen two-piece and, just last night, a raw-hemmed slate gray number, under which he wore a scoop-neck t-shirt. Whereas before he was a fan of refined oxfords, he now favors sneakers, notably Adidas and Gucci’s Gazelles. His own simple shoes feature Gucci and Adidas branding, as well as unique red detailing to the rear and cobalt stripes.
Red carpet ready or not (we give Pitt’s cut a thumbs up), Adidas’ signature gazelles are one of the most popular styles in gum-soled history, at least among men. the best dressed to honor the planet. Launched by Adidas in 1966 to be worn by Olympians-in-training, the all-over suede three-stripe style is simple in design, with minimal branding, and has found its way onto the feet of the Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys, Prince Harry. , and Kanye West.
Pitt, who never liked logo cuts, probably prefers them because of their timeless appeal – Sam Trotman, pop culture expert and founder of samutaro magazine, suggests they are “a canvas for self-expression among those who wear them and allow it to live on the terraces of British football clubs as well as the shelves of streetwear stores”.
Indeed, the Adidas Gazelles are so elite that we paired Liverpool FC striker Mo Salah on our February cover, while brands such as Noah, Palace and ultra-cool Japanese streetwear label Mastermind all abandoned their own Gazelles in recent years. Meanwhile, the Gazelle was the centerpiece of the recent Adidas x Gucci collab (where Pitt is from) and the mash-up trainers have been on the feet of Harry Styles – now a Gucci collaborator himself – throughout. his recent world tour.
And if you don’t want to shell out so much money for Gucci versions, don’t worry: jumping for an old pair of Gazelles is an equally savvy move and will set you back an eighth of the price.
This story was originally published on British GQ with the title “Brad Pitt is crazy for Adidas Gazelles”.