Paul Mescal has worn small cardigans to two of his most recent press appearances, including interviews in Sydney following the Australian premiere of ‘Gladiator II’.

PAUL MESCAL may have shape-shifted into a brawny barbarian for his starring role in Gladiator II. But while his upper thighs have grown (even) bigger and his stocks have risen amongst film bros everywhere, Mescal seems intent on holding onto his feminine side, opting to buck the promo tour trend of method dressing in place of soft, form-fitting cardigans.

During interviews in Sydney yesterday, Mescal wore a cardigan so small and colourful, it prompted some of my colleagues to wonder whether or not he swiped it from new girlfriend, singer Gracie Abrams. After some online sleuthing, I was able to find the source of said cardigan: it’s the Narcissus Cardigan by indie British brand Hades. The style, which retailed for $561, is completely sold out.

Per Hades, the turquoise and red cardigan is printed with statues from Greek mythology, such as Narcissus, Ariadne, Venus de Milo, the Dying Gaul, Hebe and a wounded Amazonian. Had it been printed with Roman figures, it would’ve qualified as a form of method dressing. But we’ll give Mescal points for keeping it within the realm of ancient history.

During Esquire’s interview with the Normal People actor and his Gladiator II co-star Fred Hechinger, Mescal confirmed that Birks and socks, eyeliner on men and even gladiator sandals were making a comeback. No word on the tiny cardigan trend, however.

Mescal also wore a sheer black cardi over a white T-shirt during his recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show, which has since gone viral for unflattering reasons. Mescal, who was joined by Eddie Redmayne, Saoirse Ronan and Denzel Washington, has been critiqued for laughing at the idea of someone thinking about taking their phone out while being attacked, to which Ronan responded: “That’s what girls have to think about all the time. Am I right ladies?”

Rather than jumping to agree with Ronan and apologise for a lack of awareness, Mescal, along with Redmayne, looked a little stunned, and the conversation moved on shortly after. It was an rare gaffe for a man like Mescal, who has managed to maintain a soft and progressive image since arriving in Hollywood. It also served as a reminder that guys tend to move through the world with far less fear than women, and still have a long way to go when it comes to understanding why that is, and how to discuss it.

The stumble overshadowed the cardigan, which worked hard to stretch across his broad chest (due to its less distinctive design, I’m yet to identify its origins). The question remains: which itty, butty cardigan will Mescal step out in next? Hopefully, it won’t be sold out.

Related:

The real Roman history behind ‘Gladiator II’, explained

Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal reveal their ‘Gladiator II’ training regime