We’re familiar with sleek and polished Henry Golding in a tux on the red carpet. So when images of the Snake Eyes and Crazy Rich Asians star at the photocall of the Dior Men Spring 2023 show that was held on May 19 landed in our mailbox, we had to do a double-take.
Sporting a five o’clock shadow, the Malaysian-British was in a dressed-down mode in his scarlet monogrammed velvet jacket and matching pants from the brand. He completed the getup with gold chains and signet rings and sneakers, oozing bad boy vibes we rarely get from the actor.
Wardrobe fitting before the Dior Men Spring 2023 show.
The vibes Golding exuded echoed the spirit of the collection seen on the runway. The 40-look outing was guest designed by the buzzy menswear designer Eli Russell Linnetz of ERL who has been making waves since starting the label in 2018 and for his work with the industry’s hippest musicians. He has directed music videos for Kanye West and Lady Gaga and famously dressed A$AP Rocky at the 2021 Met Gala in a giant blanket.
Dior Men’s artistic director Kim Jones gave Linnetz the keys to the archives and let the ’90s-worshipping Linnetz who is also heavily influenced by the cultures surrounding skaters, surfers and hippies have carte blanche.
The Dior Men Spring 2023 show was held in Venice Beach, California, the hometown of Eli Russell Linnetz.
What transpired on the runway was an unconventional mashup of iconic Dior elements like the Saddle bag (Linnetz adorned it with thick gold chains), John Galliano-era newspaper print (he reinterpreted these with stories about ERL), and the Cannage pattern (he blew them up as puffer jackets). Golding’s taking notes we bet.
