Cannes has always been a place of cinematic celebration and sartorial spectacle. But this year, Alexander Skarsgård took things to a whole new level. The Swedish actor showed up to the 2025 festival not just as a star, but as a subversive style icon—blurring the lines between classic red carpet glamour and unapologetic fetish fashion. While the Croisette has seen its fair share of bold looks, Skarsgård’s Saint Laurent-clad appearances sent shockwaves through the crowd. Whether channeling the dominance of his new film role or simply enjoying the freedom of expression Cannes affords, Skarsgård has redefined what masculinity can look like on a red carpet—and it involves leather, buckles, and a whole lot of attitude.
The boots heard ’round the Riviera
It all began at the premiere of The Phoenician Scheme. Skarsgård arrived looking every bit the classic leading man in a sharp, double-breasted Saint Laurent tuxedo, crisp white shirt, and traditional black tie. But below the waist? That’s where tradition ended. The actor confidently strode in wearing over-the-knee black leather boots with rounded toes, squared heels, and silver thigh buckles—a signature look lifted directly from Saint Laurent’s provocative Fall 2025 menswear collection.
The boots were not just a style statement; they were a full-on challenge to the sartorial norms of male red carpet dressing. Traditionally a space of glossy shoes and muted accessories for men, Skarsgård’s footwear introduced a radical alternative: one that embraced power, sensuality, and androgynous edge. It wasn’t just fashion—it was fetish glamour, reimagined for the mainstream. The reception? Instant and electric. Cameras flashed, Twitter ignited, and fashion editors whispered in giddy disbelief. In a festival known for dramatic couture, Skarsgård’s boots arguably stole the show.
Doubling down on leather and subversion
If the boots weren’t enough to get people talking, Skarsgård made sure to fan the flames at the Pillion photocall. He appeared in skintight black leather pants and heavy biker boots, doubling down on the hypersexualized styling. His T-shirt—a tongue-in-cheek graphic of a leather boot stepping on a man’s face—left little to the imagination. The message? Skarsgård was leaning all the way into the kink.
The choice of wardrobe wasn’t random. In Pillion, which premiered at Cannes to a roaring seven-minute standing ovation, Skarsgård plays the brooding leader of a biker gang who becomes entangled in a BDSM relationship with a younger man. Directed by Harry Lighton, the film explores themes of dominance, submission, masculinity, and desire—making the actor’s wardrobe choices a natural extension of the story’s tone and tension.
During the post-screening celebrations, Skarsgård kept the energy alive. He was seen embracing a man in a full latex pup mask and even planting a kiss on co-star Pedro Pascal, who incidentally wore the same Saint Laurent fetish boots during a press tour earlier this year. The moment—unexpected, joyful, rebellious—felt like a celebration of cinematic and sartorial risk-taking.
From viking warrior to leather-clad icon
Alexander Skarsgård is no stranger to transformation. From the brutal, bloodied Viking in The Northman to his critically acclaimed roles in Big Little Lies and Succession, the actor has consistently shifted shape and subverted expectations. But his Cannes appearances suggest he’s doing something new: turning his body into a political and artistic canvas.
Gone is the overly sanitized Hollywood leading man. In his place stands a figure who embraces sexuality, vulnerability, and theatricality—qualities that male celebrities have often shied away from on the red carpet. In a festival notorious for outdated fashion rules (no flats for women, no nudity, no risks), Skarsgård’s thigh-high boots were a quiet revolution.
It’s no coincidence, perhaps, that this moment is happening in Cannes. The festival, long criticized for its conservative undercurrents, has recently been a site of change. Filmmakers are pushing boundaries, queer narratives are gaining visibility, and stars like Skarsgård are stepping into the spotlight with something to say—not just on screen, but with every detail of their look.
Kink, camp, and cultural commentary
Of course, it would be easy to write off Skarsgård’s look as mere provocation, a publicity stunt wrapped in leather and hype. But that would miss the point. His styling—intentional, referential, and deeply tied to the themes of Pillion—invites a larger conversation about gender, power, and the aesthetics of desire.
In a press note before the film’s screening, director Harry Lighton made his intentions clear: “I want the film to make you laugh, make you think, make you feel, and make you horny.” It seems Skarsgård took that to heart, turning the film’s promotional circuit into an extension of its provocative world.
The actor’s bold fashion moment also taps into a broader cultural trend. Fetishwear—once the domain of underground clubs and subcultures—is increasingly influencing high fashion, from Balenciaga to Mugler to, of course, Saint Laurent. In embracing these aesthetics on a global stage, Skarsgård isn’t just dressing the part—he’s helping to normalize conversations around kink, consent, and identity.
Alexander Skarsgård, the new face of fearless fashion
By the end of his whirlwind Cannes run, one thing was clear: Alexander Skarsgård isn’t afraid to use his platform—and his wardrobe—to challenge expectations. In doing so, he’s not only promoting his latest film but making a compelling argument for a freer, sexier, and more expressive red carpet.
Whether he’s kissing castmates, wearing boots that practically purr, or stepping into roles that demand emotional and physical vulnerability, Skarsgård is operating with a confidence that feels deeply modern. He’s not just a movie star—he’s a symbol of how fashion and film can collide to spark conversation. And those boots? They were made for much more than walking. They were made to stomp, seduce, and shake up the status quo.
