John Travolta turned heads at the Cannes Film Festival this week with a new look featuring a beret, wire-frame spectacles, and a beard that appeared dyed. The 72-year-old actor, making his directorial debut, wore three different berets in black, brown, and cream. Images of his outfit went viral, drawing comparisons to a barista, a Bond villain, and a character from Guess Who?.
In an interview with CNN, Travolta explained his inspiration: he wanted to dress like film directors from the past, such as Ingmar Bergman and Roberto Rossellini. 'You're an actor. Play the part of a director,' he told himself. His admission softened criticism, as many saw it as an attempt to manifest his new role through clothing.
The concept of dressing for the job you want is not unique to Travolta. The article notes that politicians like Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting, and Angela Rayner use clothing to signal their ambitions. Burnham wears retro Everton shirts and running shorts to appear as a man of the people, while Streeting favours centrist blue suits. However, the article warns that dressing the part can only take you so far.
