A wave of scrutiny is building around the clothing choices in the latest season of the show, extending beyond a single garment. Viewers have pinpointed Rue’s appearance in a strikingly expensive patchwork jacket, originally priced at $4,050 and later discounted to $2,835, sparking debate.
The focus isn’t limited to Rue’s wardrobe. Jacob Elordi, who plays Nate, has been seen sporting a $6,080 Bottega Veneta plaid shirt, and a $1,143 brown polo from the same luxury brand. These choices have amplified the conversation surrounding the show’s styling.
The timing of these fashion moments feels particularly pointed given a scene in the season premiere. Nate discusses keeping wedding costs down with his fiancé Cassie, a conversation met with resistance – a stark contrast to the high-end clothing surrounding him.
Interestingly, Elordi’s connection to Bottega Veneta as a brand ambassador emerged in 2024. However, the costume designer, Natasha Newman-Thomas, revealed she selected Nate’s wardrobe *before* knowing about the partnership.
Newman-Thomas explained a deliberate layer to the styling. To those unfamiliar with high fashion, Nate’s clothing might appear ordinary, like a simple flannel. But keen observers – representing the character’s world of investors and power – would recognize the subtle cues of wealth, like a woven leather belt or a Rolex watch.
This latest wave of discussion taps into a long-standing tension: how the show balances its raw, often difficult storylines with undeniably luxurious aesthetics. For some, the juxtaposition feels jarring, undermining the authenticity of the characters’ struggles.
Others counter that many viewers wouldn’t even recognize the designer labels, perceiving the clothing simply as everyday hoodies or plaid shirts. The impact, they argue, is less about the brand and more about the overall visual presentation.
Newman-Thomas shared that the Saint Michael brand, featured in Rue’s outfits, is owned by a friend, Cali DeWitt. She and the showrunner, Sam Levinson, specifically sought a “Gonzo journalist aesthetic” for Rue, and Saint Michael’s clothing aligned with that vision.
The show’s former costume designer, Heidi Bivens, previously addressed these concerns with a blunt honesty. During the first season, she admitted to being sensitive to criticism about realism.
But by the second season, Bivens embraced a different approach. She declared a “f* it” attitude, acknowledging that the show wasn’t striving for strict reality. Levinson had given all departments permission to push boundaries and abandon preconceived notions of what the show *should* be.
