The next biographical film A Complete Unknown draws attention to Bob Dylan’s low-key but influential fashion choices, particularly his long-standing relationship with denim Levi’s. Academy Award-nominated costume designer Arianne Phillips teamed up with Levi’s to authentically recreate the folk legend’s iconic looks for Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of young Dylan.
Through meticulous research, Phillips discovered that Dylan had a consistent preference for Levi’s throughout his career. “ While researching costumes for the film, I noticed that Bob Dylan regularly wore Levi’s throughout his career, on and off stage Phillips revealed during our conversation about the wardrobe development process.
The collaboration between Phillips and Paul O’Neill, design director of Levi’s Vintage Clothing, was essential in capturing the authentic details of the era. Their partnership has further revealed rare denim pieces from the brand’s archives, including the legendary Lot 501 XX and the coveted Lot 606 Super Slims.
A fascinating detail about Dylan’s signature boot-cut style has emerged. His former girlfriend, Suze Rotolo, played an unexpected role in creating his iconic look. According to Phillips, “ she helped him find his style because his jeans didn’t look good on his boots. She literally cut the inside seam of her jeans and inserted another piece of denim to make it fit the boot. »
The film shows the evolution of Dylan’s style through different cuts of Levi’s. Viewers will see the progression of his style from the looser-legged 501 jeans of his early days in the Greenwich Village folk scene to the Super Slim jeans he wore during his controversial electric period in 1965. They will also be able to discover his looser-legged 501 jeans from his early days in the Greenwich Village folk scene, to the Super Slim jeans he wore during his controversial Electric period in 1965.
La prochaine collection Levi’s Vintage Clothing x « A Complete Unknown » will feature carefully crafted reproductions, including the iconic suede trucker jacket that became synonymous with Dylan’s performances in the early 1960s.
O’Neill expressed his enthusiasm for this project: “ I was honored to consult on this film and work with Arianne and the team to authentically revive the style of Bob Dylan’s early days. »
The partnership between Levi’s and the production team represents years of research and dedication. Before James Mangold’s involvement in the biopic, Levi’s had already acknowledged Dylan’s influence on fashion through a vintage 2019 capsule collection celebrating the Greenwich Village folk movement.
