Elliot Page on Getting Dressed These Days: 'It's Joyful, It's Fun'

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Elliot Page pauses for a moment, looking off to his right at something I can’t see. He’s one of the stars of the latest campaign for Gucci Guilty, and we’ve just kicked off a video chat with a question about fragrance and sense memory—what kind of personal connection he has to scents in his past. At first, I think he’s taking a moment to consider. Then I worry that the video has frozen. Finally, he explains what’s actually happening.

“Oh, my dog’s about to bark,” he says. In a hoodie and black-framed glasses, Page exudes a casual coolness. He seems comfortable, considered, centered. Calmed by that demeanor—or, perhaps, chastened by a look from Page—our canine friend doesn’t make a peep. So, back to smells.

“One of the first I remember really gravitating towards is sandalwood,” Page says. “That very earthy, around-a-campfire, bold—but open, sensual—kind of smell. It's almost like you smell something and you have an ethereal response.” Fitting, then, that the campaign for Gucci Guilty, which also features A$AP Rocky and Julia Garner, is all about evoking that kind of can’t-put-your-finger-on-it emotion that Page is talking about.

Of course, there’s more to making a major campaign like this than the final product. So, over the course of our conversation, Page and I touch on everything from what it was like on set and the style cues he’s borrowing from his costars to how he’s dressing—and feeling—these days. Read on for the highlights.

On working with A$AP Rocky and Julia Garner

We had a blast together. And I'll speak for myself I guess, but within moments of meeting Rocky and Julia, we just, I don't know, we felt connected, we were comfortable. We never stopped laughing, we played different music. And so, to be honest, overall the whole experience was just natural and organic—to the degree that when the fourth day was ending, there really was that sensation between us of, "Oh no, we're not going to see each other tomorrow."

On rediscovering style since his transition

For the most part, I dress in T-shirts, hoodies, indie—very uniform in that way. What was interesting was, I remember in my closet there were a couple tucked-away, older sweaters that I'd never really worn much. And then I put them on and I realized why before I'd been so uncomfortable in them, and now it was like this whole new experience.

They're sort of small moments that you don't necessarily expect. Or I could be at a wardrobe fitting for something where something in the past it could have caused or elicited a negative response, or uncomfortable, or dysphoria, or what have you, and now the reaction's completely different.

In so many ways it will just continue to be a discovery. The more comfortable I get in my day to day life, the more I can be boring. But when it comes to, say, a fitting, I'm actually much more open and excited to explore in a way that I was just so uncomfortable to do before. So I think there's potentially going to be all these new moments and experiences with clothing and what have you that I didn't even expect would feel so good, versus the ones that you're dreaming of.

On taking style inspiration from his costars

I don't know if it's necessarily a specific thing I can remember, in terms of an actual piece of clothing, but I think in general it's how open they are, and all the range of what they want to explore and try. And I think that relates to what I just said, because I'm coming from a point of feeling comfortable in myself for the first time, versus not. Now, the idea of getting to be in those spaces and try those clothes and that Gucci and the artistry—it's joyful, it's fun. Something I've gotten out of this is seeing the joy and the curiosity and the exploration that can happen.

It's about embodying, too—whatever that means for the individual. You might wear the same hoodie every single day, or you might try something new every day. It's about what feels right for the person. And I suppose how we feel day to day, as well.

On the appeal of Gucci

In regards to the clothes, it's the sort of timeless, sleek quality, but mixed with the exploration, mixed with the openness, mixed with the sort of range. And for me—just like that tux that I just got to wear at the LACMA gala or film gala—it’s the craftsmanship, the tailoring, the cut. Everything about it was just ... I felt very lucky, and I felt very myself. I was looking in the mirror and getting to see someone I never thought I'd see.

And then in regards to the clothes that I have that I wear in my everyday life, I think there's similar qualities, in regards to the fit and the cut and the tailoring, mixed with more explorative elements and color, and different textures than I'm used to, and these different aspects that I'm loving wearing and trying. It's been fun.

On his signature silver chain

It’s a gift from someone who's very close to me. They gave it to me after my top surgery and after coming out as trans. And I think … no, I don't think. In the past, I remember trying to wear, wanting to wear a necklace, and wanting to have a bit of a chain and what have you, but for certain reasons it never felt right. And it would always end up getting taken off.

Now the feeling's completely different. I never take this off. And I love it so much, and it makes me think of the person who gave it to me, who is very, very important to me. Who has been in my life for a long time and helped me through a lot. It's the only thing that's ever stuck.

On the current attacks on LGBTQ rights in America

With everything going on, if people aren't already engaged with or aware of what's going on with the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ bills being pushed and passed in the United States, particularly aimed towards trans and trans youth, it's really important that they become so. And it's pretty horrendous what's happening right now. The ACLU is a great resource. They have an actual tracker online, so you can look at all the individual bills. And it’s good to seek out grassroots organizations and states that are affected. It'd be really great if people could show up in support.

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