For a “man of the hour,” Paul Mescal is taking on a long run at the top and his popularity shows no signs of slowing down.
He rose to fame in 2020 after playing Connell in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, before becoming a darling of the independent film industry.
As his star has continued to rise, so has his heartthrob status; But he has also become known as a fashion icon as, perhaps unknowingly, he has influenced men’s style around the world since he first appeared on screens.
First, men around the world began sporting the ‘Connell Chain’ after Mescal’s Normal People character drove fans wild with his necklace, and now, as the summer months approach, men in the Generation Z seeks the Irish actor’s ‘shorts’ look.
While men in the UK and Ireland began to be influenced by the 28-year-old’s style some time ago, an Irish woman living in Brooklyn, New York, has revealed that the actor’s style has left men in disbelief. Generation Z in the American city. in a chokehold’ as they emulate their classic street-walking style.
Paul Mescal’s shorts style has left Brooklyn’s Gen Z men “in a chokehold,” claimed an Irish writer now living in New York.
In a post on May. It’s like the early days of Beatlemania here. People don’t understand the magnitude of colonization.”
After an Irish friend expressed amusement at the writer’s observation, she added: “I live on Lorimer stop, Liam. At the weekend it seems like all of Ireland has just left Croke Park. They even have the Conal chains. I think that program changed lives during the pandemic. Fashion has absolutely changed. We are in the summer of topless Mescal. It’s one thing.’
She posted an accompanying photo of Mescal wearing a navy hoodie and shorts, plus sunglasses, while carrying her phone in her hand and listening to music through wire headphones — her signature look.
As ‘shorts season’ takes hold in New York City as spring turns to summer, one TikToker has ‘blamed Paul Mescal’
It’s not just Mescal that sets the trend; While GAA players, including Linus Boidu Sayeh, pictured with a friend in New York City, also show off their thighs in the garment.
Taylor Reed, influencer and model based in New York, has recently shared with her followers her own outfit inspired by Paul Mescal
In response to the post, one reader said of Mescal: “You can get O’Neill shorts with pockets and wireless headphones, but he refuses to wear them.”
Another lamented: “Why wasn’t he in New York making his shorts when I was there, dammit?”
One Irish X user joked: “You can take the boy out of Maynooth, but…”
Although Cahir didn’t show any photographic evidence of this trend that has New York City men admiring Mescal’s style, other people living in the city seem to have confirmed that men are opting for the style as spring turns into summer, and we are inspired by Mescal.
Posting on TikTok, male model and influencer taylor reed, who resides in New York City, showed off his Mescal-inspired outfit, which included shorts and a T-shirt, and credited the Irish actor for inspiring him.
He said in one clip: ‘You’ve probably seen this Paul Mescal outfit on the internet recently; I love it, so let’s design our own version.’
Taylor continued showing off her black shorts, which were gifted to her by a brand called East by East.
For New York men who want to emulate Mescal’s ‘GAA’ style, the New York GAA website sells his shorts for about $28.
He then noted how, in the image he had chosen of Mescal, the actor was “sporting a cropped white t-shirt as a base layer,” something he later copied.
Taylor completes her ensemble with another short layer, a black hoodie, which she also chose in keeping with Mescal’s cut.
Finally, Taylor chooses white ankle socks, sneakers, and a two-tone cap.
And, although the actor is not currently in New York City (he has been filming Gladiator II in Sussex), his influence and the influence of the Gaelic Athletic Association appear to be taking hold in the city as the weather warms.
miguel hernandezA New York-based TikToker and photographer posted a clip of himself passing out at passersby as “shorts season” goes into effect in the city.
Posting the video on the social media platform, he added: “I blame Paul Mescal.”
Elsewhere, Mescal’s style is emulated by GAA players in the city; of which there is a whole community in both the hurling and Gaelic football teams.
One of the trend-setting stars is footballer Linus Boidu Sayeh, who plays for Westmeath but spent time in New York to develop his sporting career, who usually opts for shorts both when training in the gym and in real life. . .
For any New York man who wants to adopt the GAA-inspired style, pioneered by Paul Mescal, for himself; The official New York GAA store has plenty of options – O’Neill shorts for adult men cost around $28 (£22).
It’s not just New York City where Mescal’s style has taken hold; Around the world, including in the actor’s native Ireland and his London home, Hackney, men are taking inspiration from his outfits to follow ‘Paul Mescal Core’ and opt for chains, shorts and headphones with cables.
