Joining a small but dedicated group of men in skirts (or ‘kilts’ for the skirt hesitant), Stranger Things actor David Harbour fronts the new Thom Browne Fall 21 campaign, titled ‘Welcome Home’. Marking the rugged actor’s first foray into high fashion, Harbour is pictured alongside legendary artist Anh Doung in a series of images shot by Tina Barney.
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For the Thom Browne Fall 21 campaign, Harbour and Doung recreate the eerie stillness of American Gothic, the 1930 painting by Grant Wood, as well as a number of other slightly unnerving yet bucolic scenes. Shot in the historic Teviotdale house in upstate New York, it’s cottage core with a sinister twist.
Although models are often selected for their ability to let the clothes do the talking, American fashion designer Thom Browne cast Harbour and Doung in the campaign for his eponymous brand for the opposite reason, stating he was looking for a duo that would “bring their own identities” and “reinterpret the clothing for their own lives.” in that he succeeds, with both Harbour and Doung infusing Thome Browne’s signature grey suiting with their own distinct personas.
The selection of Harbour for the Thom Browne Fall 21 campaign also prompts us to question who luxury fashion is for. While the likes of Prada, Saint Laurent, Givenchy, and Balamin have long featured celebrities in their campaigns, most of these ‘non-models’ have still sat safely within modelish territory. Think Keanu Reeves for Saint Laurent, or one of the Blackpink members for Celine/Chanel/Dior/Saint Laurent. With his rugged appeal and ‘dad bod’, as the kids like to call it, Harbour represents a deviation from the norm, showing us that luxury fashion just may extend to the masses.
As for the skirt itself, the garment has been enjoying its time in the spotlight when it comes to menswear. Adopted by the likes of A$AP Rocky, Russell Westbrook, Lil Nas X, and Harry Styles, the menswear skirt has emerged as a viable sartorial option. Thom Browne has long been a proponent of the piece, often sending his models down the runway in pleated uniform-like skirts, as have Rick Owens and Jean-Paul Gaultier. Now, houses like Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, and Burberry have joined in, featuring skirts in their recent menswear collections. “I just really like the skirt idea on a man,” David Harbour said in an interview with GQ, “and with gender fluidity being what it is, I think really what we’re reexamining is gender roles in a societal structure. It’s very serious, but it’s also very fun.”
Words by Theo Rosen
Feature image courtesy of Emma Louise Swanson, campaign images courtesy of Tina Barney for Thom Browne
