Amid the sea of traditional black tie and tuxedos at this year's Cannes Film Festival, Jeremy Strong—yes, that Jeremy Strong—is stealthily taking center stage in terms of fashion. The star of Succession, who is currently on the jury, has turned the Croisette into his own runway—and not in the ostentatious, attention-grabbing manner you might anticipate.
Strong has instead pushed into a more subdued, unfamiliar form of grandeur: a subdued rainbow of subtle hues, surprising textures, and silhouettes that subtly rather than overtly express their beauty. In a festival notorious for red-carpet grandiosity, Strong’s approach feels like a palate cleanser—cool, clever, and slightly left-of-center.
The Craft of Subtle Drama
Thoughtful, understated, and delightfully unconventional, Strong's Cannes outfit reads like a character study. Think earthy mauves, stormy blues, faded saffron, and dusted rose. These hues gradually garner attention rather than demanding it. They feel carefully chosen by someone who has spent time poring over obscure art books rather than trend reports, and they shimmer like old Polaroids.
Fashion with a lowercase "f" is intentional, do not get me wrong. This is a man who once described acting as “an existential practice,” and somehow, his clothes seem to echo that. Each ensemble he’s worn to Cannes feels laden with meaning. A clean, collarless jacket here. The trouser there was almost too high-waisted. The theater is silent. And it is effective.
Beyond Method
We’ve long known Strong as the guy who disappears into parts with monk-like focus. But at Cannes, he’s playing a different kind of character: himself—albeit with a wardrobe that may have been arranged by a very stylish architect or an eccentric curator of Scandinavian furniture.
Strong brings feel, while others add flare. The tailoring is precise without being pricey, and the fabrics have a worn-in appearance. For those who are interested in film color grading, it is fashion. Despite not begging to be photographed, this style of apparel finds its way everywhere.
The Significance of It
The restraint of Strong's Cannes fashion feels radical in a world of overdone red carpets and armor-like rented tuxes.
He is clothing to resonate rather than to shine. to imply that menswear may be both intellectual and spiritual, and that elegance can be adventurous.
And in doing so, he’s turned heads not with volume, but with delicacy. It is an example of how to dress with depth, understated intensity, and long-term planning, just like he does.
Therefore, Jeremy Strong is glowing—softly, undeniably, and in every shade of a muted rainbow—while everyone else at Cannes sparkles beneath the flashbulbs.
Beauty-on-the-go is an art form that you can easily perfect given the right tips and tools...