Michael Pitt is Swapping Converse for Celine at Cannes
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The Cannes Film Festival is as glitz and glam as it gets. Arrive, take the limo straight to the red carpet, then emerge amid a Côte d'Azur of photographers in your best ball gown or tux. Five-star fashion meets five-star luxury in a fête to celebrate the newest in film.
For Michael Pitt, it wasn’t always this way. Twenty years ago, when Pitt first hit the carpet at the festival, his vibe was decidedly dressed-down. “I just looked at a picture of myself from the first time I was here, and it’s hilarious,” he says. “I look like I’m twelve, and I’m wearing ripped up jeans, a white T-shirt, and Converse. And a tie around my neck and a black jacket, because they had to give me a tie and a jacket to get in.”
Pitt's come a long way since 2002, and this year he's showing up in one of the cleanest looks of them all. He’s decked out in head-to-toe Celine, featuring a shawl lapel tuxedo jacket, a smoking trouser, and shiny Chelsea boots to finish the fit.
Ahead of the premiere of Black Flies, Pitt called me to chat through all that’s going through his mind. From Celine to paint stains to a deep-rooted fear of bees, there’s a lot to this mysterious man. And trust me, he is a mystery—but one that we are slowly uncovering.
On Celine
Well, I’m wearing a tuxedo by Celine. A very good friend of mine—Hedi Slimane—is incredible. I’ve known him for so many years, and we met pretty organically in New York. Maybe, oh God, maybe like twenty years ago. He’s just a really humble person, an all-star, so pretty much whatever he wants I’m going to do. He’s also an incredible photographer.
On Style
I love a three-piece suit. When I was younger, I wasn't really into that, and then I caught the bug. I’m sure it had something to do with my maturing and also my success. I love wearing those suits, but I still don’t like paying for them. But when I’m in my house, I have a lot of designer clothes with paint all over them because I always end up painting and usually end up painting all over my clothes.
On Phonies
I don’t like phony people. I really like realness. Especially working in this business, it gets hard and the fakeness multiples. I have some great, great friends who put up with me, and I am so grateful. Also as the fakeness multiplies, they become so valuable. Sometimes, things you have to deal with, they have to deal with, too.
On Fears
I’m afraid of bees. I’m not afraid of a lot, but bees, I’m afraid of. A bee hive fell in the hood of my jacket when I was a kid. I kept trying to run away from them, but they were actually in my coat. If we were sitting somewhere and there was a bee, I would literally jump up, scream, and start running.
On What’s Next
Well, I just made a really good film with my friend Jack Huston, and it was his first time directing. And, you know, I think we did it. We worked really hard. I’m looking forward to seeing how people are going to respond to the film. It’s called Day of the Fight, about a boxer.
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