This week in New York City, Timotheé Chalamet began filming his upcoming Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, in which he will portray the iconic singer. While we still know very little about the the James Mangold film, the paparazzi photos taken of Chalamet on set while in-character have been promising. Armed with Dylan’s signature shaggy hairstyle, Chalamet is a surprisingly convincing (if not slightly Hollywood-ified) version of the legend—circa the 1960s, when Dylan first burst onto the music scene and signed with Columbia Records in his early 20s. The retro costumes also help. But how do Chalamet’s outfits hold up to Dylan’s IRL style? Let’s dive in.
Dylan’s personal style has remained painstakingly consistent over the past six decades. His wardrobe—filled with classic denim, lived-in leather jackets, and western boots—has always maintained a sense of ease and ruggedness. While the singer began his career during the mod era—which ushered in a sense of dressiness (cue: The Beatles and their suits)—Dylan has always favored a more casual sensibility. There’s a slick image of him on a motorcycle during the time period—clad in a silky button-down, light-wash jeans, and suede chukka boots—that served as a uniform for him throughout the decade, and even today, it still looks fresh.
Looking back on more of Dylan’s looks from the 1960s and 1970s, you also got the sense that the singer lived in all of his clothes. His pieces were all worn-in, faded, and a bit distressed, too. This all added to his cool factor, of course: Dylan had a signature look that was all about not conforming to whatever was trending or popular at the time. The man liked what he liked.
Compare that to Chalamet’s 2024 interpretation of the singer, and you’ll find that his original fashion spirit is still very much alive. Earlier this week, the actor was spotted filming in New York wearing a suede tan jacket, navy button-up shirt, brown jeans, and suede boots—all pieces that Dylan has famously worn to death. Yet, the look doesn't feel too costumey or cheesy either, which is a hard balance to strike in Hollywood.
There’s also a level of discreetness to Chalamet’s film fashions that prove costume designer Arianne Phillips clearly knows what she’s doing. Dylan has never been one to stand out in a crowd (he’s famously press-shy and has always been weary of the spotlight) and his muted wardrobe over the years has reflected this. Whereas some people dress to be noticed, Dylan’s go-to shades of brown, navy, and black have acted more as an armor—a sort of invisibility cloak, worn in the hopes of going unnoticed.
While it’s simply too early to tell if Chalamet will be able to capture Dylan’s unique personality traits on-screen, early teasers of the film have us at least excited for the authentic fashion direction. And that’s half the fun of a movie, isn’t it?
Below, more of Dylan’s best looks from his early career.
