I am a huge fan of GQ. I know, it’s called “Gentlemen’s Quarterly” for a reason, but I love men’s fashion just as much as I love women’s fashion, and I think the editorials are some of the best in the business. I recently got a GQ subscription after buying single issues at the grocery store due to my love of the styling I saw online. I especially think that in the past few years, styling quality has increased tremendously.
That said, I wanted to talk about my favorite styling in GQ from the past few years, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
March 2018–Timothée Chalamet
GQ US
Styled by Mel Ottenberg
This shoot was the first major one for young actor Timothée Chalamet. He had just come off an Oscar nomination for Call Me By Your Name and was still relatively unknown. This cover was his formal introduction to Hollywood and the fashion world he has been ruling ever since. I love the use of bright colors and how youthful the shoot is. I think this was done intentionally to emphasize his youth but also to show how successful he already was. My favorite look is the blue Hawaiian shirt paired with leather pants from Coach.
October 2019–Brad Pitt
GQ US
Styled by George Cortina
The styling in this photoshoot is one of my favorites mostly because it gives me a huge 1960s Hollywood vibe which makes sense. After all, this was done as a promotion for his movie Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood, which is one of my favorite movies. It is hard to believe that Pitt was 55 years old in this shoot, and if it were not for the gray beard, I would have thought it was from the 90s. My favorite look is the orange tank top by Stock Vintage and the brown Gucci pants.
October 2020–Christian McCaffrey
GQ US
Styled by George Cortina
I know he is shirtless in most of these pictures, but his styling is still present! I am a big Christian McCaffrey fan because he plays for my home team, the Carolina Panthers (he’s also cute), so when I saw this photoshoot, I naturally freaked out. I thought it was a unique photoshoot for an NFL player, and I loved the Palm Springs vibes they were going for. My favorite look is the pink Saint Laurent t-shirt with vintage pink pants.
November 2020–Timothée Chalamet
GQ US
Styled by Mobolaji Dawodu
I have another Timothée Chalamet shoot, but for a good reason. This shoot was shot at Woodstock and has all of the allure and vibes of the 1960s. In some shots, Chalamet looks identical to George Harrison, and I love seeing him in this light. The shoot was accompanied by a behind-the-scenes video that shows him frolicking across the grounds and in a stream behind the house. My favorite look is the purple Saint Laurent jeans, the red Gucci sweater, and the striped turtleneck by Adidas.
February 2021–Zendaya
GQ US
Styled by Law Roach
Zendaya rarely dresses poorly, and this GQ shoot proves that she can wear anything. Styled by her usual stylist Law Roach, she wears these masculine pieces that she somehow turns feminine in the best way possible. A woman is rarely on the cover of GQ, but I think Zendaya was the right choice for this shoot. My favorite look is the white blazer and pink pant combo by Givenchy.
December 2021–Lil Nas X, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Tom Holland
GQ US
Styled by Mobolaji Dawodu
The December 2021 issue of GQ was the “Men of the Year” issue, so naturally, the styling on these shoots was elevated. Singer Lil Nas X, NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, and actor Tom Holland were all chosen as cover stars. Each shoot is distinct in its own way, but all are styled by Mobolaji Dawodu, which showcases his skill in styling and fitting it to the subject.
June 2022–Austin Butler
British GQ
Styled by Jon Tietz
This might just be my favorite GQ styling to date. The shoot was held for publicity for Austin Butler’s movie Elvis where he starred as Mr. Presley himself. Each outfit was perfect on Butler, and even though the looks were modern, there was a glimpse of retro cool that the real Elvis exuded. My favorite look is the blue velvet suit by Alexander McQueen with the matching silky undershirt by Fursac.
September 2022–Jacob Elordi
GQ US
Styled by Mobolaji Dawodu
This is another shoot that I just really love. The set is very elaborate, and I love that all photos are shot under neon blue lighting. Elordi is very tall, coming in at 6’5”, so I can only imagine it was a little difficult to find clothes that fit him right, but I think Dawodu succeeded. My favorite look is the white Dries Van Noten suit with the cropped jacket and wide-leg pants.
November 2022–Christian Bale
GQ US
Styled by Mobolaji Dawodu
A shoot that I was not expecting was one with Christian Bale, who is notorious for hating that he is famous. The styling in this shoot was so well done but also all over the place, and I like it. In some outfits, he is dressed for his age, and in others, he is dressed like a Twitch streamer but somehow makes it work. My favorite look is the brown Tom Ford best, a beige Ralph Lauren sweater, and green pants by Greg Lauren.
GQ is one of my favorite publications ever and I am so excited to see the amazing content they produce in the future. Men’s fashion is just getting bigger and bigger and I look forward to seeing how it progresses in Hollywood, and maybe one day I’ll have the opportunity to work with GQ.