It’s me again, back with yet another article which aims to scrutinise and mock the style of all you Trinity students. Just in case anyone upon reading that sentence thought I was in any way serious, I would like to assure you wholeheartedly that I am not, whatsoever. From the word on the street as a student myself, I’ve heard the odd murmur here and there that people sometimes feel stressed and self-conscious about what they wear into college, fearing judgement from others… I am here to assure you that everyone is either admiring your artistic self-expression or are self-conscious of how they themselves appear… no one is judging, and even if anyone is, their opinion is irrelevant. So be yourself and dress as you wish, just as the fabulous alumni whose style I am analysing in this article prove to do.
There is a somewhat common line of argument that the world of fashion is primarily dominated by women, with not quite the same amount of room in it for men. Yet I firmly believe there is room, should be room, and plenty of it. Hence, this article chooses to focus on the styles of three male Trinity alumni. Furthermore, I believe that anyone, despite your identified gender, can appreciate something about the way in which these men choose to express themselves to the world through their clothing; even if just an appreciation that they wear what they want unapologetically.
Let us begin with the on-screen-heart-throb legend that is Paul Mescal. As the alumna featured in this article who most recently attended Trinity, Mescal is a good place to begin as he exemplifies contemporary style. If one is to look up images of Mescal in public to see how he himself chooses to show up in the world in a visually artistic manner they are met with the sight of a lot of shorts and hats, with a fair amount of denim sprinkled in there for good measure. Although despite the appearance of denim and shorts, I am yet to witness him appearing at all in the beloved trendy jorts. Yet bonus points for the hats as a solid and useful but simultaneously cool accessory.
Moving onto our next man of the moment, the legendary Dominic West. Upon analysing West’s wardrobe, one can observe less denim and hats and more linen and tweed (perhaps though I’m looking too much specifically at how he was styled in his recent role as Charles in the popular Netflix series ‘The Crown’). Yet nonetheless, button down shirts and blazers, if not specifically tweed blazers, are a common occurrence in observing West’s style. Long jackets, trench coats and gilets also make noteworthy appearances, all of which indicates that he seemingly was a dark academia sympathiser when in Trinity (aren’t we all though) and was likely found hanging out on Ussher two, working hard… or hardly working? He admitted once in an interview that in his time in Trinity, upon being instructed to read Ulysses and write an essay on it, West thereafter produced an essay on said text, but hadn’t actually read it. The man clearly had his priorities straight.
Finally, it would just be plain rude not to mention the man, the myth, the legend of Trinity… Mr Oscar Wilde. Clearly Wilde is not contemporary, so unfortunately didn’t have the chance to be photographed by Trinity Fashion Society’s beloved Campus Couture. Yet such a man manages to touch us still today, not only through his words, but through his iconic wardrobe. Wilde rocked everything from fur scarves to blazers to intricate broaches in the blazers to elaborate hats and satin bows tied at his neck. The man really left his mark upon the world and more specifically, upon our College in more ways than one.
And so running out of words, I will conclude by once again all together commending not only these figures, but also the many other Trinity alumni who keep on inspiring our student body today… and furthermore doing it through their unapologetic, beautifully individual and artistic personal styles.
