Denzel Washington, Actual Dad, Nails "Dad Style"

Denzel Washington’s personal style can be summarized like so: He loves dark clothes and he loves them roomy. And he's a sneakers man. He's also kind of a master of the finishing touch, whether it’s a shiny gold watch giving his tailoring some ‘80s Wall Street power, or a pair of Common Projects infusing his suit with 2012’s minimalist mood. (This is not just a thing he does on screen.)

Yesterday at the premiere of “'The Equalizer 2” in Spain, Washington rolled up in his signature rig: black shirt, black jacket, black pants, all big. He capped off the outfit with a pair of chunky black New Balance sneakers. The look was all-out dad by dad style standards, but also very cool by 2018's weird-is-wonderful menswear standards.

Did Denzel Washington plan to dress like one of Demna Gvasalia's baggy blazer-loving acolytes? We're going to assume not. But the actor was sporting—knowingly or not—some of same vibes that make the Vetements and Balenciaga creative director's clothes so coveted (see: the heavy normcorporate situation happening here). And he's also doing some excellent accessorizing, arch support and all. But Denzel isn’t the only 60+ celebrity taking full advantage of the current state of menswear. There's a slew of over-60 men who have more in common with John Mayer in the menswear department than they do your average sextagenarian. That is to say decked out in some fire jawnz, ready power walk the mall in the year 2070.

Which makes sense. Just as muscle heads love muscle tanks, and skinny rockers love skinny jeans, old guys love old-guy clothes. When those items become trendy again, the core demo has a field day, and continues on loving that thing, even after the rest of us (and Denzel) have moved on. So tell your gram, tell your auntie, tell your dad for god sakes, that there’s a comfort party and they’re all invited. Have they heard of Stone Island? Do they own any ACG? They’re going to love Balenciaga’s new Track sneaker. Probably even more than you.