If there is an avant-garde, boundary-pushing, or outright unconventional menswear piece appearing on the international runway, the chances are exceptionally high that Alexander Skarsgård and his stylist have already marked it for the red carpet. Over the course of his illustrious career, the internet’s favorite leading man has continually defied traditional menswear norms, opting instead for daring silhouettes, unexpected textures, and avant-garde footwear that consistently turns heads and dominates fashion discourse.
The actor’s latest sartorial statement came today at the highly anticipated "Wicker" screening during the 70th BFI London Film Festival in the British capital. True to form, Skarsgård stepped out in a striking gold suit designed by Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent, commanding attention with a shimmering, impeccably tailored silhouette. However, true to the actor’s growing reputation for playful subversion, the ensemble featured a freaky little twist that instantly elevated the look from classic Hollywood glamour to high-fashion performance art.
On his feet, Skarsgård opted for a pair of statement-making shoes straight from the French luxury fashion house’s Spring/Summer 2027 menswear collection. While the runway presentation originally paired the glittering gold suit with a darker pair of transparent, PVC derbies that concealed the foot entirely, Skarsgård decided to give the people—and the fashion community—exactly what they secretly desired. By modifying the footwear approach to showcase his feet, the actor offered a clear glimpse of his toes in all their glory, leaning entirely into the playful, slightly unhinged styling choices that have defined his recent red carpet appearances.
This is hardly the first time Skarsgård has shocked onlookers by showing off his feet in decidedly public and weather-inappropriate settings. Earlier this year, the Swedish actor made major waves when he chose to wear a casual pair of Valentino Rockstud flip-flops to a high-profile film screening at the Sundance Film Festival—a bold and breezy footwear choice made all the more amusing by the freezing January temperatures in Utah. Of course, television and film fans will also fondly remember his memorable barefoot moment on the airport tarmac in HBO’s critically acclaimed series Succession, cementing his status as an actor entirely unbothered by conventional footwear expectations.
Skarsgård’s penchant for pushing red carpet boundaries is well-documented and spans several years of unforgettable fashion moments. Fashion historians and pop culture enthusiasts alike will forever remember his daring choice to wear thigh-high Saint Laurent boots, a look that effortlessly blurred the lines between traditional menswear and high-fashion theatricality. Similarly, earlier this year, he stunned audiences in a shimmering, sequin Dior going-out top, proving time and again that he is completely unafraid to experiment with textures, cuts, and styles that most leading men wouldn’t dare touch.
The choice of footwear and the overall eccentric flair of his Saint Laurent ensemble feel even more fitting when considered within the whimsical and bizarre context of his latest professional project. His new film, "Wicker," is a medieval comedy-fantasy feature in which Skarsgård plays a wicker man—a character specifically created to fill a lonely, aching void inside a character played by Olivia Colman. Given the delightfully surreal premise of the film, fashion critics and fans should undoubtedly prepare themselves for an array of even wilder, more unpredictable red carpet looks as the upcoming press tour continues to unfold across the globe.
