He’s leaning against a stone wall, sweat beads catching the light, wearing a threadbare rugby shirt that looks like it hasn't seen a washing machine since the Blair administration. That’s the image. If you’ve been anywhere near the internet in the last few years, you know the one. Jacob Elordi’s Saltburn costume didn't just dress a character; it basically reset how we think about "quiet luxury" and "old money" style, turning sweaty, lived-in poshness into a global obsession.
It’s honestly kind of wild.
Most movies try to make their stars look perfect. Every hair in place. Expensive suits that look brand new. But Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn went the opposite way. Costume designer Sophie Canale took a six-foot-five heartthrob and dressed him in clothes that felt... heavy. Real. Smelling of cigarettes and expensive cologne. It wasn't just about the clothes; it was about the vibe of Felix Catton.
The Rugby Shirt That Launched a Thousand Moodboards
Let’s talk about that blue and white striped shirt. You know the one. It’s the centerpiece of the Jacob Elordi Saltburn costume conversation for a reason.
It’s a vintage piece, but it represents something bigger than just a thrift store find. In the world of the British upper class, you don’t wear new things. New things are for the nouveau riche. Real wealth—the kind that owns a sprawling estate like Saltburn—is measured in how many holes are in your sweater. Canale specifically sourced pieces that felt like they’d been passed down through generations or bought at a boarding school tuck shop in 2002.
The fit is everything here. Because Elordi is so tall, the clothes hang off him in a way that feels effortless. It’s "slacker aristocrat." He’s wearing mid-low rise jeans and flip-flops. Flip-flops! In any other context, that’s a fashion crime. On Felix Catton, it’s a power move. It says, "I am so comfortable in my status that I don't need to try."
Why the 2006 Timeline Matters
The movie is set in the mid-2000s, which is a notoriously "ugly" era for fashion. We’re talking about the dawn of fast fashion, chunky belts, and questionable denim. But for Felix, the era is filtered through the lens of Oxford University.
Sophie Canale leaned into the "indie sleaze" aesthetic that was bubbling under the surface in 2006. Think Pete Doherty meets Prince Harry. It’s messy. It’s sweaty. The Jacob Elordi Saltburn costume relies heavily on authentic brands from that era. We see him in a lot of Abercrombie & Fitch—not the modern, rebranded version, but the 2000s version that smelled like fierce cologne and felt like a status symbol for the popular kids.
There’s a specific nuance in his choice of linen shirts, too. They aren’t crisp. They’re wrinkled. They’re usually half-unbuttoned. This isn't just a costume choice; it's a character trait. Felix is a person who takes up space without asking. His clothes reflect a total lack of self-consciousness that someone like Oliver (Barry Keoghan) could only dream of.
The Midsummer Night’s Dream Winged Suit
If the rugby shirt is the "everyday" Felix, the party outfit is the "mythical" Felix.
When the Catton family throws the birthday party, the theme is A Midsummer Night's Dream. Felix shows up in a gold-embroidered suit with massive, white feathered wings. It is stunning. It’s also deeply symbolic. He looks like an angel, or maybe Icarus, flying too close to the sun.
The wings were a custom build. They had to be large enough to match Elordi’s frame but light enough for him to move naturally—or as naturally as one can move while being trailed by an obsessed friend. The contrast between the formal gold jacket and the raw, literal nature of the wings creates this "golden boy" aura that defines his entire tragic arc.
You’ve probably seen the TikTok tutorials. People have spent hours trying to DIY those wings for Halloween or themed parties. It’s become a cultural touchstone because it represents the peak of the movie's decadence.
The Subversive Power of the Eyebrow Piercing
We have to mention the jewelry. It’s such a small detail, but it does so much heavy lifting.
Felix wears a simple eyebrow piercing. In 2006, this was the height of "cool guy" rebellion, but on a posh kid at Oxford, it feels slightly transgressive. It’s a bit "trashy," which makes him even more attractive to Oliver. It’s the ultimate "I’m a rebel but I still have a trust fund" accessory.
Combined with the signet rings and the messy hair, the Jacob Elordi Saltburn costume creates a bridge between two worlds: the stiff, traditional aristocracy and the messy, hedonistic youth culture of the early aughts.
- The Signet Ring: Always worn on the pinky. A classic marker of British lineage.
- The Friendship Brackets: Woven, dirty, and probably never taken off. It suggests a life of summers in Ibiza and boarding school bonds.
- The Unkempt Hair: It’s not "styled" in the traditional sense; it’s meant to look like he just rolled out of bed after a night of drinking Pimm's.
How to Get the Look (Without the Estate)
Look, most of us don't have a family manor in the English countryside. But the reason the Jacob Elordi Saltburn costume went viral is because it's actually quite achievable. It’s about the fit and the texture more than the brand name.
First, stop ironing your clothes. Seriously. The Felix Catton look is about lived-in fabrics. Linen is your best friend here. Find a vintage linen button-down, maybe a size too big, and wear it over a simple white tank top.
Second, embrace the "high-low" mix. Wear a well-tailored pair of trousers with a beat-up pair of Adidas Sambas or, if you’re feeling brave, those infamous flip-flops. The goal is to look like you spent a lot of money on one item and then forgot you were wearing it.
Third, look for "washed out" colors. Nothing should look brand new. You want navies that have faded to a dusty blue and whites that are a bit creamy. This creates that "inherited" look that is central to the Saltburn aesthetic.
The Legacy of the Look
It’s rare for a film's wardrobe to have this much staying power. Usually, costume trends fade after the awards season. But the Jacob Elordi Saltburn costume keeps popping up. Why? Because it tapped into a collective desire for authenticity.
In a world of filtered Instagram photos and perfectly curated "outfits of the day," Felix Catton looks like a mess. But he looks like a cool mess. He looks human.
The brilliance of Sophie Canale’s work is that she didn't just dress Jacob Elordi; she built a facade that was meant to be stripped away. As the movie progresses, the clothes get more disheveled, mirroring the chaos unfolding at the estate. By the end, the costumes aren't just clothes anymore—they’re relics of a world that’s been destroyed.
Step-by-Step Breakdown for Your Wardrobe:
- Source Vintage Rugby Shirts: Look for heavy cotton versions from the 90s or early 2000s. Brands like Lands' End or Ralph Lauren (the older, the better) work best.
- Invest in Linen: Not the stiff, formal kind. Look for "garment-dyed" linen that has a soft hand feel.
- Accessorize with Intent: One or two "meaningful" pieces of jewelry—like a family ring or a woven bracelet—do more than a dozen cheap chains.
- Embrace the Mess: Roll up your sleeves unevenly. Leave a button undone. The Jacob Elordi Saltburn costume is about the absence of effort, not the perfection of it.