Mads Mikkelsen Broke an Essential Style Rule—And It Paid Off
StyleThe Danish actor went all-in on breezy khaki in Cannes.By Jeremy FreedMay 15, 2025Jacopo RauleSave this storySaveSave this storySaveThe Cannes Film Festival—or, as it should rightly be known, the Oscars: Linen Edition—is reliably the source of some of the year’s biggest fits and, thanks to the balmy Mediterranean climate, a trove of inspo for the summer season ahead. Maybe it’s the ghosts of Picasso and Jean Cocteau, or perhaps it’s the endlessly flowing Château Margüi rosé, but the world’s most stylish celebrities tend to swing extra hard when they hit the Promenade de la Croisette. Thankfully, this year has been especially fruitful, particularly if you’re looking for a how-to in tone-on-tone dressing. While Jeremy Strong’s head-to-toe pink corduroy (complete with a matching rust-colored Richard Mille watch) embodies a more advanced take on the genre, it’s Mads Mikkelson’s subtler khaki-on-khaki ensemble that’s going on our summer mood boards.CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 15: Mads Mikkelsen is seen during at Hotel Martinez during day three of the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2025 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/GC Images)Jacopo RauleSo what’s going on here exactly? Firstly, Mikkelson’s khaki linen safari jacket and pants harness the fabric’s signature rumples to maximal effect, not to mention being a perfect way to beat the heat of the French Riviera. Lean too far into the whole safari look, however, and it can easily veer into the realm of costume, which is what makes the addition of a sand-colored knit polo and a pair of khaki trail runners so important. Not only do they balance the sartorial seriousness of the linen, their slight variation of colors and textures provides just the right amount of visual contrast to make the whole thing come together.Likewise, conventional wisdom tells us that someone with pale skin and light hair like Mikkelson, who has leaned into his salt-and-pepper era in recent years, should steer away from similar-hued clothing to avoid looking washed-out. As you can see here, however, with the right combination of neutral colors and varied textures, it can be a big win. For anyone looking to try something similar it’ll likely take some trial and error, but fortunately you’ve got the whole season to get it right (and fewer paparazzi to fend off if you get it wrong.)
The Cannes Film Festival—or, as it should rightly be known, the Oscars: Linen Edition—is reliably the source of some of the year’s biggest fits and, thanks to the balmy Mediterranean climate, a trove of inspo for the summer season ahead. Maybe it’s the ghosts of Picasso and Jean Cocteau, or perhaps it’s the endlessly flowing Château Margüi rosé, but the world’s most stylish celebrities tend to swing extra hard when they hit the Promenade de la Croisette. Thankfully, this year has been especially fruitful, particularly if you’re looking for a how-to in tone-on-tone dressing. While Jeremy Strong’s head-to-toe pink corduroy (complete with a matching rust-colored Richard Mille watch) embodies a more advanced take on the genre, it’s Mads Mikkelson’s subtler khaki-on-khaki ensemble that’s going on our summer mood boards.
So what’s going on here exactly? Firstly, Mikkelson’s khaki linen safari jacket and pants harness the fabric’s signature rumples to maximal effect, not to mention being a perfect way to beat the heat of the French Riviera. Lean too far into the whole safari look, however, and it can easily veer into the realm of costume, which is what makes the addition of a sand-colored knit polo and a pair of khaki trail runners so important. Not only do they balance the sartorial seriousness of the linen, their slight variation of colors and textures provides just the right amount of visual contrast to make the whole thing come together.
Likewise, conventional wisdom tells us that someone with pale skin and light hair like Mikkelson, who has leaned into his salt-and-pepper era in recent years, should steer away from similar-hued clothing to avoid looking washed-out. As you can see here, however, with the right combination of neutral colors and varied textures, it can be a big win. For anyone looking to try something similar it’ll likely take some trial and error, but fortunately you’ve got the whole season to get it right (and fewer paparazzi to fend off if you get it wrong.)
