JOSH O’CONNOR WEARS DUNHILL CUSTOM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CONNOR MCKNIGHT
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NY
Josh O’Connor wears dunhill Custom, in partnership with Brooklyn-based designer Connor McKnight, to the Met Gala 2021 in New York.
Cut to a relaxed silhouette, O’Connor wore a kid mohair-wool jacket in blue grey with black cotton rick rack trim, kid mohair-wool trousers in black, white evening shirt with ecru cotton rick rack detail, Rivet loafers in black and dunhill acetate sunglasses in transparent grey. Alongside the echoes of Beat Generation insouciance, the aesthetic has a playful, understated nod to classic 1970s American prom tuxedos, elevated by luxurious fabrications and a new, more laid-back approach to cutting.
Working closely with O’Connor and his stylist, Harry Lambert, from conception to construction, dunhill Creative Director Mark Weston invited Connor McKnight to join the process, conversation and dunhill Community; in order to incorporate and emphasize craft into the look. United through creativity and with each bringing their own point of view and perspective, a fluid, open forum was established.
The American designer, who set up his own label and conceived his first collection from his home during lockdown, was tasked to create the exclusive, one-of-a-kind details that embellish the actor’s ensemble. McKnight applied black woven cotton rick rack as a trim to the lapels of the jacket, whilst the same tape was added to the Connor McKnight custom shirt in off-white, for a contemporary take on a traditional bib detail. Finishing the collar of the shirt, a secondary collar was layered underneath in black.
With a minimal spirit where value is placed on understatement and strong signature details, McKnight’s restraint resonates with Weston’s own vision for menswear and, more specifically, of this quietly creative Met Gala moment.
“I loved working with Josh and Harry on this look. Josh’s style, attitude and approach to his craft resonates with me and perfectly captures the new spirit of dunhill. When we invited Connor into this process, he added a fresh perspective that allowed for an exciting exchange of ideas – something I really value when it comes to collaboration. Seeing our initial conversations evolve and come to life was incredibly rewarding for me.” says Mark Weston.
Driven by a desire to convey what a British luxury brand is today, Weston’s renewed vision for dunhill embraces past, present, and future. With an insistence on quality, innovation and subversion of House codes, his collections and creations are sophisticated yet provocative.