Top Gun: Between Ray-Ban and Mustaches, the Trendsetting Film

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The long-awaited moment has arrived… After 36 years of waiting, Tom Cruise, aka Pete Mitchell, is back in Top Gun Maverick. A critically acclaimed sequel that is already topping the box office, even surpassing the unbeatable Titanic! A film that captivates and generates buzz, and not just for the F18s… Dressed in his iconic Ray Bans, aviator jacket, and charming smile, Tom Cruise steals the screen, alongside Miles Teller and his mustache, provoking many reactions and a new fashion statement #topgunmustache. Because yes, Top Gun impacts and inspires fashion, and we reveal why.

How do films impact fashion?

For as long as anyone can remember, films have played a role in shaping trends. Both with pieces that highlight current fashion trends, like Saturday Night Fever and its flared jeans, and also with other pieces that challenge conventions, such as Diane Keaton dressed in a masculine style in Annie Hall. Beyond contributing to the film’s universe, these pieces become true fashion statements that audiences love to adopt as they leave the cinema, to walk in the footsteps of their heroines and heroes for a day.

The preppy style of Gossip Girl, or the chic New York version of Carrie Bradshaw, leather pants and bombers from Grease, the cuts of Rachel Green in F.R.I.E.N.D.S… These styles are well thought out, as the stylist of the series Emily in Paris confided to us.

Films and series thus play on two fronts to integrate into our daily lives:

• Merchandising, with pieces designed based on the film (Example: Harry Potter sweaters or Stranger Things branded socks)
• Fashion pieces that echo films/series without being directly linked to them (Example: headbands following the success of Gossip Girl)

What explains the success of Top Gun?

Films that influence fashion are primarily films that have had a significant impact on their viewers. So much so that they want to slip into the shoes of the characters. If the first Top Gun inspired and touched the public so much, it is because it was released at a key moment, both in American history and in Tom Cruise’s life.

A troubled America

The first Top Gun, directed by Tony Scott, was released in 1986 in a particular climate for America. With a need to forget Vietnam, and amidst the Cold War, an airstrike by the USSR in 1983 on Korean Airlines flight 007 had just left 269 passengers dead, leaving America in shock. In response, Top Gun was conceived alongside the U.S. military.

The film was the biggest box office success of 1986 in the USA. And for good reason, through the film, especially the sequence of Maverick’s infamous middle finger, America responds to recent events. Moreover, youth is once again represented on the big screen. All in an action film that promotes an American image. Following the film, the Navy experienced a 500% increase in enlistment applications!

The turning point in Tom Cruise’s career

If the first Top Gun was so successful, it was also thanks to Tom Cruise. Although a beginner actor, his few lead roles quickly brought him to the forefront, due to his performance and maturity, all sprinkled with a charming and relaxed physique. Following his breakout performance in Risky Business, all eyes were on him as he took on the role of pilot Maverick. This acclaimed role would make him the new icon of America.

The success of the film also rests on his commitment at every stage of production. Participating from the writing to the editing, the 25-year-old actor did not want to let it fall into a simple war film but wanted to give it sensitivity and depth. A total investment that led him to participate in stunts and flights himself, aiming to provide a true embodiment for the viewers. This work ethic has characterized his approach to projects since this film.

Why is Top Gun Maverick so successful?

After repeatedly refusing to make the film, Tom Cruise agreed to reprise Pete Mitchell on one condition: to create a film beyond expectations. To achieve this, the cast of Top Gun Maverick had to train for several months alongside the U.S. military, with Tom Cruise himself, a pilot, to fly the F18s themselves.

This involvement and work from the actors, along with a well-crafted script, and the technical prowess of onboard cameras from the technical teams, proved to be rewarding. The film has been acclaimed, breaking box office records and positioning itself as the biggest success for Paramount and Tom Cruise’s career, restoring his image.

How did Top Gun 1 influence fashion trends?

With a film this popular and reaching such a vast audience, the path was clear for new trends to emerge and be adopted by young people wanting to achieve a Top Gun style.

Like the blue work jumpsuit, which has resurfaced in recent years, bombers and other pieces branded with the NASA logo, military jackets and patterns that have made their way into our wardrobes… Pieces from work uniforms always catch the attention of fashion enthusiasts, eager to incorporate them into everyday life.

Thus, when we saw the pilots’ wardrobes on the big screen, especially the jacket/sunglasses combo worn by a charming Tom Cruise, everyone wanted to imagine themselves as part of the Top Gun academy. Following the film, the brand Ray Ban, which produced the model of aviator sunglasses worn by Maverick, saw a 40% increase in sales of that model! The second installment seems to highlight a new pair, those worn by Rooster, which are slightly more vintage and serve as the “cherry on the cake” of the laid-back style of Goose’s son, played by Miles Teller, who is also winning hearts.

Another accessory featured in the film is the Chronograph 1 watch by Porsche Design worn by Maverick. A tool that allows, among other things, to track the speeds reached by the pilots, and which has once again been included in the cast of Top Gun Maverick. However, this model is the original and was acquired by a producer of the first installment, so Tom Cruise borrowed it and is the only one wearing it in the second installment. The other pilots wear a Mark XVIII TOP GUN Edition “SFTI”, crafted by IWC.

Just a note, if you want to swap your Casio for one of these models, the Top Gun watch worn by the pilots in the second installment is produced in limited quantities each year, priced at €6,100. Meanwhile, the reproduction of the Chronograph 1, worn by Tom Cruise, is around €9,000. Not everyone can be a pilot!

The aviator jacket, with its numerous patches, also received a spotlight in Top Gun, with many variations making their way into our wardrobes.

Does Top Gun Maverick signal the return of the mustache?

If there is one trend emerging from Top Gun Maverick, it is not a pair of jeans or a cap, but a mustache! Yes, Rooster, played by Miles Teller, sports a mustache in reference to his father, Goose, Maverick’s former teammate who died during a mission beside him.

A mustache that has had an unprecedented effect, becoming a trend on social media with the hashtag #topgunmustache, dedicated Instagram accounts, and thousands of videos of people recreating it!

An artistic choice that may seem trivial, but was decisive for Miles Teller in securing the role. The directing team even placed a fake mustache on the actor’s audition footage to check how it would look and validate it.

A mustache that is reminiscent of Tom Selleck in Friends and Magnum, and also refers to a tradition among aviators who grow mustaches during missions.

So, whether it’s a mustache, sunglasses, or aviator jacket, here are some tips if you too want to achieve a supersonic style!