Daniel Day-Lewis and Ethan Hawke have both been dressing cool for decades. Different kinds of cool, sure—but cool all the same. Even before Day-Lewis became the final boss of workwear, the three-time Oscar winner effortlessly cycled through dandy tailoring, classic Americana, and gorp-inflected gear throughout the decades. Hawke, meanwhile, carved out his lane as a poster boy of ’90s style, a flannel-wearing beacon for the sartorial spirit of Generation X. So it was both a surprise and a delight to see these two beloved actors turn to the same menswear staple last week: the always reliable double denim look.
Let’s start with Hawke, who was in Los Angeles last week to promote his new FX series The Lowdown on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Before slipping into his dressier talk show outfit—a double-breasted blazer and tailored trousers from the newly launched label Haitch—Hawke arrived on the studio lot in a high-fashion riff on the Canadian tuxedo. Both the jacket and jeans, crafted from raw indigo-washed denim, came courtesy of Bottega Veneta. (Please note the turn-ups, enough to make any denimhead swell with pride.) On foot? A pair of evergreen suede Gola sneakers, adding just a splash of laid-back color to the ensemble.
PG/Bauer-GriffinWhile Hawke’s outfit had a crisp newness to it, DDL’s take on double denim boasted more of a worn-in feel. The 68-year-old actor is back in the spotlight with Anemone, the new film that he stars in and co-wrote with his son, Ronan Day-Lewis. (The movie also marks his return to acting after a hiatus that began after 2017’s Phantom Thread.) Appearing on stage at a New York Film Festival event, Day-Lewis wore a dark denim jacket paired with equally dark—but not quite matching—jeans. That subtle mismatch? A stylistic win. DDL also delivered one of his longtime signature moves: an elegantly tied neckerchief peeking out from an artfully unbuttoned shirt. (He even matched the tint of his glasses to the scarf, no less.) And he upped the outfit’s brawn with a pair of ultra-rugged work boots from Nicks Handmade Boots.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Daniel Day-Lewis speaks during the "Anemone" Press Conference during the 63rd New York Film Festival at The Film Society of Lincoln Center, Walter Reade Theatre on September 26, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for FLC)Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesNow, we’ve long extolled the virtues of the Canadian Tuxedo. It’s timeless and trend-proof. There’s a reason icons like Steve McQueen and Marvin Gaye were both loyal to double denim. If you’re looking to try it out yourself, Day-Lewis and Hawke have given you two slightly different but totally valid approaches to follow here: one fresh and polished, the other lived-in and comfortable. Whether you’re reaching for something spiffy and new or perfectly patinated, denim-on-denim is always the right move.
