If you follow Formula 1, you’re probably aware that the Austin Grand Prix is a decidedly American affair. You know the vibes: flags, barbecue, Matthew McConaughey. So imagine our surprise when Texas’s very own Glen Powell showed up in Austin rocking an outfit that looked extremely…British.
Just a few minutes before Max Verstappen jumped out of the P1-block to claim his third win in four races (promptly inspiring every McLaren fan nearby to begin their meditative breathing exercises), Powell found time to show off the iconic Stone Island badge—twice.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Powell wore a white T-shirt beneath a Stone Island stretch cotton jacket and matching organic twill chinos, both in light beige, an appropriate choice given the sweltering temps on the track—but not quite the rebooted Americana we’ve come to expect from the actor. Gone was the Stetson, the western shirt, the creased jeans. (Somewhere, Waylon Jennings weeps.) In their place: good ol’ British gear.
And, yes, we know Stone Island is technically an Italian company. Sure! Despite the actual location of its HQ, though, the brand simply feels very British. After all, the cultural phenomenon of ‘getting the badge in’—proudly displaying your Stone Island credentials—has its roots in the UK, and has since become part of the brand’s modern-day lore.
Before you go accusing Glen Powell of stolen valor, though, rest assured the man has done his research. Observe, for example, the way he artfully turned towards the camera, offering the lens a full view of his left side, the better show off that telltale Stoney badge. Powell may be a born-and-bred Yankee, but yesterday, he was as British as a crumpet.
This story originally appeared in British GQ.
