Rebel Alliance: Oscar Isaac and the Partnership with Brioni
Oscar Isaac, a man whose stylistic guises over the years have proved as eclectic as his C.V., talks to THE RAKE about his visually stunning partnership with Brioni.
His style once got him into serious trouble — admittedly, his style of taking on a malevolent military junta in a galaxy far, far away. As for the real Óscar Isaac Hernández Estrada, born in Guatemala in 1979, his considerable sartorial panache offscreen came to the world’s attention in 2021, when the costume designer Miyako Bellizzi posted some photographs of Isaac from the set of HBO’s Scenes from a Marriage. Soft sweaters, corduroy and New Balance trainers made up the seductive ensembles on that occasion, a far cry from the style influences (including punk, ska and grunge) of Isaac’s youth. “This [character] was a middle-aged professor in the suburbs, and yet it’s testament to Miyako, the way she put certain things together, the combination of that, and me finding that character within those clothes — there was something created there,” he said later.
Bellizzi’s initial post quickly garnered 20,000 likes — virality no doubt enhanced by the fact that Isaac was by then a major star. Dune had done the cinema circuit, and he’d also played lead roles in the thrillers Operation Finale and The Card Counter as well as the sci-fi movie Annihilation (Moon Knight and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse would follow shortly afterwards).
Now, a new chapter in Isaac’s style evolution has begun: he was named the face of Brioni’s spring/summer 2024 campaign, one that, according to the Italian tailoring giant, captured the “spirit of slow luxury”. The Brioni Chief Executive, Mehdi Benabadji, referred to Isaac as “the embodiment of the Brioni man: charismatic, authentic, and with a strong personal style” in a statement also unveiling Isaac as a Brioni brand ambassador. In the photographs and exclusive interview on these pages, Isaac gives credence to Benabadji’s words.
Self-expression has always been important to me. In my younger days it was about asserting my individuality.
Are there any factors that immediately attract you to, or turn you off, a role?
I look for there to be space in a script to be able to create something that’s fun and meaningful to me. It’s like falling in love — hard to explain how or why, something just ignites my curiosity, and I follow it.
Is a lot of it down to diligence? Ethan Hawke has talked about how you really go for it with vocal coaching, research, liaising with writers, and so on?
I suppose the only thing an actor really has control of is their craft. For me, that kind of preparation is how I engage with the material, explore possibilities, and hopefully tease out some inspiration. And I’m a bit of a nerd, so I enjoy it!
You moved around lots in your formative years... Which place was the most formative, and why?
I’d say South Florida is really where I began to see a path for me open up in terms of what would be my life’s work. It’s where I first stepped on stage, first played music, got my first jobs both in theatre and film. It’s where I met the people that encouraged and supported me, along with my family, to believe that the life of an artist was possible.
How has your personality — and therefore your style — evolved over the years?
My style, as with most things, hopefully, has certainly evolved throughout the years. I work with my stylist, Michael Fisher, and we have fun pushing the boundaries a bit while also staying true to what feels right. Since my first meeting with Brioni, it felt easy and natural and like the perfect fit.
Was there a catalyst moment when you knew style would be a big part of your life?
Self-expression has always been important to me. In my younger days it was very much about asserting my individuality, rebelling against convention. I still have that spirit in me, though it’s admittedly simmered a bit since becoming a dad.
Why is Brioni so compatible with where you’ve ended up, in terms of style and character?
We first started working together on my press tour for Moon Knight, and the relationship evolved from there. There was an ease to working together, so that when the opportunity came to keep growing with the house, it made sense to partner up in an official way. I’m excited for our collaboration to continue to grow.
All clothes by Brioni.
