Two thousand years before Jacob Elordi’s bathwater was being sold in candle form, gladiators were experiencing an unusual level of fame in Ancient Rome. The sweat of the most valiant combatants would be mixed into cosmetics to encourage radiant skin, while their blood was believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac capable of also curing infertility. At the peak of the tradition, some gladiators acquired private and commercial backers looking to gain favour with the public. Their faces would be etched onto bottles of wine, ointment and decorative vases, while their likeness would be reproduced in action figures for children to play with. The celebrity circus, it would seem, has not much changed.
Paul Mescal–who is not a gladiator but is playing one in Ridley Scott’s blockbuster sequel–this weekend fulfilled his own duties as a global ambassador for Cartier when he attended a dinner the brand hosted for the cast of Gladiator II alongside Scott, Denzel Washington, Fred Hechinger and Connie Nielsen. The actor wore an attenuated necklace—a more expensive version of his erstwhile Connell chain—and a Gondole wristwatch dating back to 1977. “This is the second watch I have worn from the 1970s recently,” says Mescal of the solid gold design, which builds on Cartier’s 120-year-old tradition of “shaped” timepieces, adding that the jeweller’s 1976 square Incurvée model is another favourite. Both of these vintage watches go for more than £5,000 on resale sites online.
But Paul Mescal is also a man of the people—the soft-lad next door beamed into his own unusual celebrity—and his bespoke suit was designed by Etch, an affordable brand his friend’s family runs from the north of England. The actor’s look comprised a single-breasted jacket with a patch pocket and custom lining, and wide-legged trousers with a suitably 1970s turn up. (Mescal is fast taking ownership of this particular era in fashion.) Etch is a specialist tailoring company based out of Leeds with a presence in several retailers across the UK, tasked with democratising made-to-order suiting beyond the haughty environs of Savile Row. Not all gladiators need a kilt—or equally revealing shorts—to inspire public fascination.
This story was originally published on British Vogue.
