This morning, pop star Troye Sivan touched down at the Cannes Film Festival, where the singer was on hand to host a listening party for some of his new music. Given that the festival doubles as a glamorous fashion event, Sivan naturally brought a statement look to the affair. Opting for a casual-cool vibe, the star came in hot with a bold styling choice—wearing underwear as outwear.
Sivan’s ensemble, by Prada, consisted of a white tank top, cable-knit sweater vest, and checked dress trousers. But it was his pink satin boxers peeking out the top of his pants that was the real focal point. The exposed briefs move may be suggestive of a sleazy skater dude, but paired against the more polished pieces, it totally worked. Plus, the hint of a boxer brief is runway-approved: The recent catwalks at Miu Miu, Bottega Veneta, and The Row have all put boxer shorts front and center.
Why, however, is the exposed boxer all the rage in fashion? For starters, the look is effortless and youthful, and makes an otherwise button-upped outfit feel a little less serious. There’s also the fact that wearing your underwear out in public feels scandalous—naughty, even!—and seeing just a hint of them makes your look feel just a tad more subversive. The key, however, is approaching the styling move in a dressy way, à la Sivan. It has to be intentional; You don’t want to look like you just rolled out of bed and forgot to pull your pants up.