Chef-turned-actor Matty Matheson has been in the spotlight lately, especially during award season as his show, The Bear, continues to rack up awards. Despite considering himself a “D-lister,” Matheson has been mingling with A-listers, and his fashion choices have been turning heads.
When analyzing Matheson’s outfits over the last 18 months, it’s safe to say the fashion world has let him cook. The Canadian chef has seen his media coverage do a 180, trading best-of recipe listicles for GQ best-dressed selections and a profile in the Wall Street Journal proclaiming him to be the best-dressed man in Hollywood.
“To some, it’s not Ryan Gosling or even Matheson’s Calvin-Klein-ad-starring co-star Jeremy Allen White who deserves the title of best dressed in Hollywood right now,”says Wall Street Journal writer Jacob Gallagher. “It’s this tattooed-to-the-fingernails, would-rather-sear-a-steak-than-sit-through-an-acting-class chef.”
Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Matheson grew up around workwear. When he isn’t wearing pinstripe aprons and adding grease stains to his classic white T-shirts, Matheson is donning Carhartt and Dickies, pairing oversized denim and cotton twill trousers with old-school Vans silhouettes, paying homage to his laid-back Californian lifestyle.
His off-red carpet, and now off-screen, fashion persona is defined through his accessories, making trucker hats and beanies staple headwear regardless of the season. Since calling Fort Erie home, Matheson has doubled down on his trucker aesthetic, exposing his tattoos underneath denim overalls and sleeveless undershirts.
He’s parlayed his obsession with workwear and general farmer aesthetic into his own label, Rosa Rugosa, which he rocked while playing Neil Fak on award show darling The Bear. Working out of Parkdale, the brand creates contemporary workwear, from single-hued utility trousers to summer-ready trucker caps.
As a self-described “baked potato with some toothpicks stuck in it,” Matheson often wears T-shirts that fall right at the belt line and midway down his biceps. Favouring graphics over solids, it’s rare to find an overly monochromatic outfit from the chef, although he dabbles here and there.
When he does, it tends to be in his red carpet looks. Matheson has been bestowed icon status for his ability to go from fundamentally casual skater park looks to a distinguished, tailored expert in menswear. His award show looks have been noted by some of the industry’s greatest minds, as he trades double denim for double-breasted.
“I’m just looking for, like, what’s Jack Nicholson wearing in ’78,” Matheson told the Wall Street Journal. “I always just look at all those old photos of ’70s De Niro and Pacino on red carpets, I think they are just phenomenal.”
This year’s Emmy’s look featured a classic black and white tuxedo, tailoring the beltless pants to sit just about mid-stomach. He accentuates the look with a wallpaper white dress shirt, which is matched by his socks. Generally, white socks are a no-no when it comes to menswear tailoring but in this instance, they worked under a pair of strappy fisherman shoes.
He continued showing off his unique range at a Vanity Fair party in January, applying his pinstripe livery to a suit, paired with chunky peak lapels. The look was cool enough for publications to pick up on his unique sense of dressing, which was doubly confirmed at this year’s Golden Globes where Matheson rocked a black bowtie and an oxblood suit with velvety lapels — purchased at Harry Rosen in Toronto, which he humorously thought might make him resemble a “flag wrapped around a f-ing basketball.”
Matheson’s journey from Fort Erie’s kitchens to Hollywood’s red carpets highlights his Midas touch. From restaurants to producing, acting and now fashion, Matheson’s success speaks for itself. His knack for transitioning between industries while staying true to himself shows his versatility and creativity. His continuous commitment to stunting on the red carpet and keeping it simple at home is an inspiration for men who may be on the edge between a few genres of dressing. If Matheson can make it work, so can you.
As Matty Matheson’s fame grows, one thing becomes clear: he’s more than just a chef, actor or fashion icon. He’s a cultural phenomenon, making waves across the food and entertainment industries and beyond.