Deep Winter Outfit Inspiration From Adam Driver, Trevante Rhodes and Colin Farrell

The palette idea behind the comparisons

The VOU uses Deep Winter and Dark Winter as paired names within its twelve-season convention.

Depth is the leading emphasis, with a cool lean.

Black, dark navy and charcoal can serve as neutrals, with lighter colours used in contrast.

This is consistent with the palette direction in The Concept Wardrobe’s Dark Winter reference.

It is a styling framework, not a requirement that every outfit be black or every combination have maximum contrast.

The comparisons below concern clothes.

Descriptions say what is visible or documented; the adaptations are our suggestions.

They are not claims about additional garments worn by the celebrities.

The original photographs are linked at their publishers so you can inspect the reference alongside the advice.

1. Adam Driver at Cannes: put the light colour in the jacket

The documented look: Burberry Japan’s release of 17 May 2024 identifies Driver’s outfit at the Megalopolis premiere.

Its photograph shows a white dinner jacket and shirt, black bow tie and black trousers.

The release also records black shoes; the group photograph does not show them.

See the Burberry release and photograph.

The large white jacket reverses the familiar dark-jacket/light-shirt arrangement.

Black trousers anchor the lower half, and the black bow tie creates a small dark focal point within the light upper half.

This offers a useful contrast example without making the whole outfit dark.

It does not establish the wearer’s undertone or season.

How you could adapt it: where a white dinner jacket is appropriate, wear it with black dinner trousers, a formal white shirt, black bow tie, black dress socks and black formal shoes.

Choose the remaining dinner-dress details to meet the event’s convention.

These are outfit suggestions, not a claim to reproduce every photographed product.

Dress-code limit: do not treat a Cannes appearance as permission to reinterpret any invitation.

Emily Post describes the white-jacket version for summer, tropical settings or cruises; its standard black-tie guidance uses black dinner dress.

Check your host’s expectations before substituting a white jacket.

Read the dress-code distinctions.

A casual translation: take the light-over-dark idea, not the dinner jacket: try a pale grey overshirt over a black T-shirt, dark navy jeans, black socks and black trainers for an informal evening.

The pale outer layer becomes the main contrast.

This is an original adaptation, not an outfit documented on Driver.

2. Trevante Rhodes before the Oscars: keep the suit dark

The documented look: Vanity Fair’s original 27 February 2017 report identifies Rhodes’s custom Calvin Klein tuxedo as navy.

Jace Lumley’s paired photograph shows dark tailoring with a white shirt and a dark long tie; shoes are not visible.

The source documents an outfit, not a colour analysis.

See the report and photograph.

How you could adapt it for work: wear a dark navy business suit with a white shirt, dark blue tie, navy socks and black lace-up shoes.

These are suggested pieces, not an exact recreation.

The shirt provides a light central area, while the darker tie connects it to the suit.

If you want less contrast, compare a pale blue shirt with the same suit and tie before buying anything.

Dress-code limit: the photographed long tie is a red-carpet styling choice.

It should not silently replace a black bow tie in standard black-tie advice.

A business suit and long tie serve a different purpose from conventional dinner dress; follow the invitation when planning formalwear.

A casual translation: use a dark navy jacket over a white T-shirt, with charcoal trousers, dark socks and black loafers for a relaxed restaurant that permits this combination.

The white area remains small, framed by the jacket.

If that feels too stark, try a light grey T-shirt instead.

This is a suggested outfit, not one claimed for Rhodes.

3. Colin Farrell’s Sartoria campaign: separate contrast from colour

The documented look: Dolce&Gabbana’s April 2024 Sartoria campaign identifies Farrell as its subject and credits photographer Gray Sorrenti.

One black-and-white image shows a dark double-breasted pinstriped jacket, light shirt and dark tie with light dots.

The crop does not show the complete trousers or shoes.

View the campaign and photograph.

This photograph can teach the arrangement of light and dark, but it cannot establish whether the suit was navy, black or another colour.

Nor can it show a cool or warm skin cast.

Treat the light stripes and tie dots as pattern contrast, not evidence of vivid colour.

How you could adapt it: choose a charcoal pinstriped business suit, pale blue shirt, dark navy tie with small pale dots, charcoal socks and black lace-up shoes.

Those colours and finishing pieces are our proposal.

The shirt makes a clear separation beneath the jacket, and the small tie pattern adds detail without requiring another large colour block.

If two patterns feel busy, use a plain tie and keep the stripes.

This is a practical option for a workplace where a pinstriped suit is appropriate; it is not a substitute for a tuxedo at standard black tie.

Judge the actual fit, finish and comfort rather than assuming the campaign’s brand is needed to create the effect.

A casual translation: try a charcoal overshirt with a fine light stripe, a plain pale grey T-shirt, dark jeans, charcoal socks and black boots.

Keep the overshirt open to retain the light centre.

This borrows the pattern idea without pretending that a campaign suit is everyday casualwear.

Choose the lesson that fits your existing clothes

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Try the alternatives in similar light, changing one piece at a time.

Note the effect you prefer rather than treating a photograph as a pass/fail test.

If you want a coloured accent, compare a deep blue, plum or blue-green scarf with your dark coat.

The scarf is an optional extension of the palette idea, not a documented detail from these three looks.

Questions about Deep Winter celebrity inspiration