THE JOURNAL
From left to right: Mr Jeremy Allen White in Los Angeles, 21 July 2023. White in Los Angeles, 5 July 2023. White in Malibu, 12 July 2023. All photographs by Backgrid
Upon its release last Summer, FX’s The Bear was lauded by critics and audiences for its powerhouse performances, depictions of mental health, addiction and family trauma, and its frenetic portrayal of a professional kitchen. For us at MR PORTER – and most of the menswear world – it was the show’s wardrobe that left a lasting impression on us. Yes, we all know about that white T-shirt.
With the recent release of its equally brilliant second season, audiences were treated to a second course of notable menswear pieces, from Marcus’ Drake’s collection, Fak’s assortment of vintage tees and a particular standout Thom Browne moment. And it seems the show’s impeccable sense of style is rubbing off on the sandwich shop turned fine-dining restaurant’s head chef.
“He lets loose with his style, preferring the grab-and-grow creased shirt and rolling up his jeans with a thick cuff”
Mr Jeremy Allen White, who portrays protagonist and tormented culinary genius Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, has joined the ever-growing list of stars making headlines for their out-on-an-errand fits. And it’s easy to see why. He appears to be cooking up an approach to summer dressing that is 1990s dad-inspired with a pinch of sleaze and has become the source of many thirsty memes across Twitter, sorry, X.
The actor has recently been stepping out in an array of off-duty looks that are the antithesis of the scrupulous Carmy’s. Do you need to iron your linen shirt? Or hem your pooling light-wash jeans? White is a man who suggests otherwise. He lets loose with his style, preferring the grab-and-grow creased shirt and rolling up his jeans with a thick cuff. Plus, he unbuttons his shirt just enough to reveal a peak of his naval and sternum – remember, sexy sleaze. Those choices all add up to his breezy summer style.
Even with these low-key looks, White does seem to follow a formula. Like the workwear-obsessed Carmy, he too likes to put a lot of wear into his clothing. The actor is almost always sporting a pair of white sneakers, either the Nike Air Force 1 or Nike Cortez, which he owns at least two pairs of at any time – one to keep on ice and the other to get cooked as his everyday shoe. You would be hard-pressed to catch him without his New York Mets hat; it appears to be a permanent fixture atop the Brooklyn native’s tousled curls.
“White opts for a straight fit in his jeans and trousers, which, coupled with the low-cut waist, give the appearance of a longer torso”
However, the proof of White’s style credentials lies in how he plays with proportions. At 5ft 7in tall, he falls into the short-king category (a club this writer is all too familiar with). But there is an art to dressing for such a height. White opts for a straight fit in his jeans and trousers, which, coupled with the low-cut waist, give the appearance of a longer torso. He also applies the same physics to his shorts: a shorter pair, preferably with a five-inch inseam, elongate the body, making the wearer appear taller. And the sleeveless tee, well, that does little to help with the height. But with guns like his, who needs sleeves anyway?
A third season of The Bear is all but inevitable. And honestly, it can’t come soon enough. If the show continues to inspire Jeremy Allen White to dish out a feast of enviable outfits, then we say: let him cook.