Archie Madekwe’s guide to spring layering for MATCHES

One of the stars of the huge movie Saltburn, Archie Madekwe has collaborated with MATCHES on a guide to spring layering. Comfort is key for Madekwe and here he can be seen dressing for winter-to-spring transition with four layered looks.

Behind the scenes of Saltburn, Madekwe seized the opportunity to bring sartorial ideas to the table. ‘Clothing changes everything for us,’ he says, ‘The way we hold ourselves, the way we walk into spaces, the way people judge us.’ His character, Farleigh Start, whose delicate ties to an aristocratic British family are one misstep away from unravelling, is keenly aware of the part clothes play in making an impression. ‘Farleigh takes real pride in the way he dresses. I wanted to have some ownership over it because it would influence how he acts, and it’s so much fun to have a say in how your character presents to the world.’ The outfits, distinguished by preppy knit vests and Gucci loafers, signal his attempt to fit into his surroundings: a stuffy English country estate where his presence is never quite validated. Madekwe’s personal style is a lot more laid-back: ‘The most important thing for me is being comfortable. I’m 6’5, and I don’t like feeling claustrophobic.’ It’s for this reason he finds himself drawn to the oversized silhouettes of designers like Raf Simons.

Despite spending increasing lengths of time in Hollywood and rubbing shoulders with cinema royalty – Florence Pugh and Jacob Elordi among them – Madekwe is a Londoner through and through, so naturally, the British weather informs his fashion choices. ‘You have to layer because the weather is all over the place. All of a sudden, it's 10oC and sunny today.’ ‘The beauty of layers,’ he explains, ‘is that you can shed what you don’t need. I always walk around with a big bag I can stuff a jacket or scarf into just in case. I’m attached to my LOEWE Puzzle bag.’ It’s this same practical approach coupled with a city sensibility that Madekwe showcases in the four looks he wears for MATCHES, each homing in on new-season layering with a twist.

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