In knives out 3, Daniel Craig makes an extremely strong case for the classic tie
The new Netflix mystery sees Craig take a bit of a backseat, but his sartorial choice is loud and clear
DANIEL CRAIG makes a return to the Knives Out franchise this week, reprising his role as master detective Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man. He’s joined on the murder mystery by a set of fresh faces, including Josh O’Connor, who takes centre-stage. In fact, Craig doesn’t even appear until about 40 minutes into the film.
But it’s a welcome return, and while he’s back serving up his Poirot best, something seems a bit different. Craig wanted to shake things up a bit, and it’s something that SiriusXM host Andy Cohen picked up on. “Your wardrobe has changed a bit,” he said to Craig, who was a guest on his show at the beginning of November, citing a noticeable difference in the way costume designer Jenny Eagen has dressed him for the film. “Was that a conversation?”
“It has. Jenny, who I’ve worked with many times over the years, her and I have a shorthand,” Craig responded. “I’d show her Jenny ridiculous pictures and be like can we just have a go at this. I’ve got this sort of fantasy about being a 1970s Yves Saint Laurent model, which is just not what I am. I’d sent Jenny ridiculous pictures and be like can we just have a go at this. It’s in the ballpark.”
It tracks. Saint Laurent has consistently been one of the biggest brands pushing the necktie narrative, from the days when it was headed up by its eponymous tie-wearing founder, right through to the leadership of Anthony Vaccarello right now. And that’s the accessory that ties Craig looks together in Wake Up Dead Man, in a sort of Pink Panther-esque way.
In almost every frame he’s suited and wearing a patterned tie under a three-piece suit. In one shot, where he’s seen staring out at a graveyard, you’d be mistaken for thinking he’s wearing Saint Laurent: a three-piece camel-hued suit, pale blue shirt and tie, complete with dark sunglasses. In an interview, Eagen has also shared that Craig’s looks are “a bit more of a time gone-by” and “borders on period and old-fashioned, but yet contemporised a little bit”. Our thoughts? Craig’s character, with this elevated sense of style, has never looked better.
And should you be on your own necktie hype, you can do a Craig and wear one with a three-piece suit. Should that not be your jam, take note that the neck tie is ubiquitous in menswear right now, beyond Craig’s own penchant for one.
This past week a wave of guys have showcased some refreshing ways in which you can knot-up, meaning you don’t need to go full detective to give it a go. Mark Ronson, in full Celine, wore a collegiate-striped tie with a white shirt, blazer and jeans, leaning into a wider preppy trend. (Pairing your tie with denim is one of the best ways to make it approachable and wearable for the everyday).
Riz Ahmed attended a Golden Globes Gala Dinner wearing a striped tie with a contrasting pinstriped blazer and a pair of boxy trousers. Lewis Pullman wore a bodyguard-vibing YSL fit, consisting of a brushed leather jacket, black trousers and a shirt and tie, in an obvious dressing down of the neck tie.
And if you do go full suited-and-booted Benoit, we’ve got just the tailoring guide for you.
This story originally appeared on Esquire UK
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