John Travolta was awarded an honorary lifetime achievement Palme d'Or in Cannes this week. The actor turned first-time director appeared at the festival with a dramatic new look, the centerpiece of which was a beret. He had three in rotation, in black, brown and cream, paired with wire-frame spectacles and a beard that seemed drawn with a felt-tip pen. Images of Travolta went viral, sparking comparisons to a barista, a Bond villain, and a character from Guess Who?.
Inspired by Auteur Directors
In an interview with CNN, Travolta explained his inspiration: since he was marking his directorial debut, he decided to dress like film directors from the past. "You're an actor," he told himself, scrolling through images of Ingmar Bergman and Roberto Rossellini in similar getup. "Play the part of a director." This admission softened critical reactions, as it highlighted a relatable human tendency: dressing for the part you want.
Enclothed Cognition and Identity
The concept of enclothed cognition suggests that our clothing affects how we think and feel, as well as how others perceive us. Travolta's approach, while perhaps overdone, reflects a universal behavior. People use clothes to signal career changes, forge new identities after breakups, or navigate professional environments. The author notes that even she wears Birkenstocks to partly defang the fashion industry.
Red Carpets and Reinvention
Red carpets are inherently strange spaces, where celebrities balance publicity and the desire to be taken seriously. For directors, this is especially tricky. Hollywood can be cruel and ageist, even to men, making reinvention a challenge. Travolta's new hats may make him look like a mime, but they serve as an attempt to shift the lever of relevance. This is not unlike Taylor Swift wearing Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry, Pep Guardiola wearing plaid shirts, or Kim Kardashian wearing Marilyn Monroe's dress—all seeking to borrow star power or signal a new direction.
Political Method Dressing
Politics offers a prime example of method dressing. Andy Burnham, dressing for the job he wants (Keir Starmer's), wears retro Everton shirts and running shorts to signal he is a man of the people. Wes Streeting dons the centrist blue suit and occasionally ditches his tie, following Barack Obama's easy-breezy leadership style. Angela Rayner wears more red to emphasize her Labour credentials. However, dressing the part can only go so far. It does not guarantee competence, and going too hard risks parody.
Travolta earned the right to his beret by actually directing a film, even if it was middling. For others, a pair of shorts can only manipulate public perception so much.
