While our summer wardrobe is revealed, the TV programs are slackening. I'm taking advantage of this lull to give you my little thoughts for the year around style, fashion and cinema. This time, I come back to one of the coolest American actors of our time: Brad Pitt. Do you remember “Fight Club” by David Fincher? The film is cult, but what do we remember about it in terms of fashion, style and clothing? Decryption.
(Cover photo credit: Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in “Fight Club”, 1999 - photo Imago/Allstar)
In terms of style and coolness, Brad Pitt's rating has never been higher than it is today. We can say that fifty suits him well. In 2019, he released two very beautiful auteur films among the most interesting in American cinema: “ Ad Astra ” by James Gray and “ Once upon a time in Hollywood ” by Quentin Tarantino.
In 2022, he is starring in two pure entertainment films: “ The Secret of the Lost City ” by Aaron and Adam Nee and “ Bullet Train ” by David Leitch. Each Brad Pitt character has his own little clothing style and there is always room to draw something interesting from it.
Recently, I rewatched “ Fight Club ” by David Fincher. It's a film from 1999, rather criticized when it was released but has since become cult. It still divides today.
Some will tell you that it displays questionable morals and aesthetics, others that it is one of the masterpieces of the end of the last century. What is certain is that watching it again today, “Fight Club” foreshadows the trends in today’s fashion market quite well.
“The first rule of Fight Club is that we don’t talk about Fight Club.”
On the other hand, we can focus on the outfits of its two main actors: Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. If you take a look at David Fincher's early films, you will discover an astonishing play of moral and stylistic contrast between the characters , in addition to a fascination with certain colors like yellow and green.
From David Fincher's second film, " Seven " in 1995, the very dressed, composed and almost manic style of Morgan Freeman contrasts with the poorly ironed shirts and the slightly sloppy attire of the turbulent Brad Pitt .
In the following film, “ The Game ” in 1997, the very formal and rigid style of Michael Douglas' character clashes with the relaxation of that of Sean Penn . Two years later, “Fight Club” also applied a similar formula. Obviously, none of this is due to chance: clothing is a key to understanding the plot .
1. Brad Pitt or the return of the second hand
In “Fight Club”, Brad Pitt plays the role of Tyler Durden, a soap salesman with a rebellious and particular charisma. He wears neither tie nor suit. On the other hand, he loves printed t-shirts in more or less good taste, vintage leather jackets, postal pants, patterned shirts, sleeveless down jackets typical of the 80s and generally everything that comes out of the idea that we traditionally have of masculine elegance.
As we discover Tyler Durden and his environment, we gradually become aware of his marginal side. He lives in a squat. Her clothes all seem to be from thrift stores.
In fact, this is somewhat the case: costume designer Michael Kaplan unearthed and reworked many of the pieces from Brad Pitt's wardrobe from second hand , with the aim of creating outfits with a vintage spirit, with a preference for the most “eccentric” patterns, materials and textures .
Here we find vintage Gucci moccasins, or very seventies glasses from the Oliver Peoples brand . But the centerpiece of Tyler Durden's wardrobe is his vintage leather jacket, a dried red worked from 70s leather to give it the appearance of blood.
Generally speaking, Tyler Durden's outfits have something violent on the eyes . This is because he creates his style in reverse to fashion: it is both very personal and very far from the traditional canons of style.
Some will say that it is mainly in bad taste: lots of colors without concern for harmonization, sometimes cheap or has-been materials, recycled materials and a good big dose of attitude . Everything about Tyler Durden announces the unexpected return of vintage and thrift stores today at work in the way we view his style.
Through his wardrobe, the character of Brad Pitt thus prefigures the rediscovery of pieces previously considered out of date: aren't the sleeveless shirt or down jacket now rehabilitated on a number of e-shops? So, is Tyler Durden a visionary in spite of himself?
For our advice on second hand, it’s here .
2. Edward Norton or the last days of the business suit
In contrast to the Tyler Durden style, that of the narrator played by Edward Norton is quite symptomatic of a certain business style, uniform and a little sad , which still reigned supreme not so long ago in offices.
We are talking about mass-produced suits, invariably blue or gray, without any major roughness or particular quality . You can still find them almost everywhere, at all prices.
In these conditions, a white shirt and leather shoes are essential – and preferably, nothing should exceed the style of the neighbor . As you know, this vision of the costume is disappearing and Jordan was not the last to welcome it:
In a way, the character of Edward Norton unknowingly embodies a dinosaur of the style at the beginning of this story. It is surrounded by brands like Ikea and Starbucks. He probably has his entire wardrobe available in duplicate or triplicate. Everything looks the same and is assembled according to a mass pattern, destined to annihilate any personalization . It’s also all about possession.
“I had everything: a very decent stereo, a very respectable wardrobe. I was on the verge of being fulfilled..."
Yes, that was the idea. Except everything didn't exactly go as planned. First of all, in the film. But also outside: what we didn't see coming at the time was the revolution of social networks, of influence and the desire of everyone to stand out, to have their quarter hour of style for oneself – and more if affinities .
The Internet has, among other things, made all of this possible. Lovers of style and clothing have of course rushed into this gap, making fashion a little more visible and accessible to all. What influences us the most now? Geoffrey gives you his analysis:
In the meantime, you won't find many people dreaming of the style and lifestyle of Edward Norton in the early days of "Fight Club." And that is perhaps the happiness that some people find today with clothing: cultivating your own style, having fun with your clothes . Does all this remind you of anything? Panache !
3. Yesterday's style, tomorrow's new trend?
Everything can ultimately be summed up in this shot below. Left: Brad Pitt. He is wearing indigo jeans and a white t-shirt . Whatever anyone says, these are the new basics of today, and have been for a few years now.
© IMAGO / Allstar
Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in “Fight Club”, 1999.
Right: Edward Norton. He wears a white tank top and gray suit pants . It is no longer the dominant style. Unless...
Fashion is an eternal beginning . The trends will therefore perhaps be reversed soon. Already, a certain retro style is coming back through the back door. Who knows if Brad Pitt will not announce to us, in a future film, the style of tomorrow?
For another take on David Fincher’s style:
