“The way we get dressed every morning is as personal as it gets. There are outfit repeaters, vintage treasure hunters, and even emotional dressers. But while everyone loves a good fashion trend, here at InStyle, we’re interested in the deeper stuff, too: the way jewelry makes us feel, the way a beloved coat can spark joy on a cold day, the way a pair of shoes can pull a whole look together. How I Get Dressed unpacks fashion routines, rituals, and go-tos—straight from the fashion tastemakers we love.“
When it comes to taking the wheel of one’s career and going full pedal to the metal, there’s no one in Hollywood quite like Damson Idris.
The British-born actor has raced to the top of the pack after getting his big break in the FX crime drama Snowfall, where he played the show’s lead protagonist Franklin Saint for six seasons, garnering critical acclaim and winning multiple BET and NAACP awards. Now, Idris has entered another league, starring alongside Brad Pitt in the summer sports blockbuster F1 as a young upstart driver Joshua Pearce who goes toe-to-toe (or is it helmet-to-helmet?) with Pitt’s more seasoned character.
Getty Images
Idris at the ‘F1’ premiere.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Formula 1 racing has permeated nearly all corners of pop culture, quickly becoming the hottest and, dare we say, the most fashionable sport in the world. With major fashion brands like Louis Vuitton, TAG Heuer, Puma, Abercrombie & Fitch, Reiss, and more jumping on the F1 bandwagon, the race car drivers have become fashion figures in their own right, which translates on-screen through the film’s costume design. “I love the direction they’re moving in regards to fashion,” Idris tells InStyle. “It’s definitely looking a lot more luxurious with the boldness of the colorways, but also it’s casual and comfortable.”
Getty Images
Idris at The 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”.
Donning bold attire is certainly in Idris’s wheelhouse. Aside from being a scene-stealer in whatever he stars in, Idris has become a fashion darling, showing up on red carpets and editorials clad in high-end designer duds. Take, for instance, his appearance at this year’s Met Gala, where he made a grand entrance by pulling up in a race car wearing a white leather F1 race suit—complete with a Swarovski-encrusted helmet. Once on the carpet, two ushers tore away his suit, revealing a smashing silk suit. “It was such a special moment because I partnered up with Tommy Hilfiger not only because of the movie, but also because I think it’s such an innovative brand,” Idris recalls. “So when we came up with the oxblood suit, that was testimony to dandyism, but also (the brand’s) heritage.”
This year’s Met Gala also served as the official debut of Idris’s luxury jewelry house, DIDRIS. The jewelry blends timeless elegance with contemporary flair, with each piece crafted with passion and rich storytelling, inspired by Damson’s mother, Silifat. “It was beautiful,” Idris says, “ I made this jewelry line because I wanted to pay homage to my mother’s old jewelry she wore when she was a lot younger.” He continues, “I also made it because I want to leave a legacy for my children. So to debut it on the world stage, something as large as the Met Gala, was a really special moment.”
InStyle spoke with Idris about everything from F1 fashions, jewelry, and personal style. Ahead is Damson Idris’s How I Get Dressed.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Why He Loves Fashion
“I think it stems from all the heroes I had when I was growing up. I love Marlon Brando and Sidney Poitier, Humphrey Bogart, [James] Bond… anyone who was leaning into fine tailoring. Also, Prince and Michael Jackson, people who were bold and made a statement with how they dressed. I always, even before acting, wanted to emulate that. So it’s something I carry on today.”
Getty Images
Damson Idris attends Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition Preview Party.
Who Inspires Him
“My mom is an absolute fashionista. She would throw these parties in the house and just dress to the nines and be dancing in the living room. It was surreal for a young boy to come downstairs, see your mom dressed as if she’s about to attend a wedding, but she’s staying in the living room. All her friends are coming over to dance with her. It was just how we grew up. It was real Nigerian culture and Fela Kuti or Fuji music that we played in the background. She’s always the one who’s motivating me, particularly with my jewelry.”
Courtesy of Didris
Damson and his mother Silifat.
Where He Shops
“Harrods, I love. I love walking around Harrods because everything’s there. It’s the convenience of it. I also do love Rodeo Drive, except sometimes I get bothered by a couple of TikTokers.”
How He Styles His Didris Jewelry
“I am very minimal. I love it being subtle. I like to wear the clothes first. So, if I were putting on the blue shirt you’re wearing, I’m like, okay, cool, that chain is going to sit on the skin. That’s exactly the way I’d wear it. But, the amount that you’ve buttoned it down is very important, too. There are some people who like to wear their chains directly on top of their clothes. That’s a no-go area for me.”
“I definitely like to add pieces according to what I’m wearing. With this first didgeridoo collection, it was my essential items. So if I had to travel quickly, what would I bring? Okay, I’d bring a ring, I’d bring my studs, I’d bring a nice beaded necklace, with some tourmaline or some favorite stones, and a nice bracelet. So that is how I do it. And I mix and match according to the occasion. Every day wear and special days are seamless, though.”
Getty Images
Damson Idris attends the 2025 Met Gala.
His Thoughts on Men’s Fashion
“I think men should care more about style than fashion because style is personal, whereas fashion is, in my opinion, more trend-based. It’s like following trends—it’s a lot more special to be personal when you’re dressing. For men, going towards style is definitely the way.”
“But I do think people are being a lot more bold and daring, which I love to see. People are experimenting with different colors, and especially from the perspective of a Black man, I think it’s brilliant to see people take a swing, take chances, and really stretch out the possibilities of what the traditional Black man is supposed to be. I’ve been seeing that, and I’ve been trying to contribute as much as possible, too.”
His Favorite Costume from ‘F1’
“I had loads of favorites. But I will say my favorite was the race suit. The white and black race suit is just an iconic image. It’s definitely going to be a Halloween fan favorite. I love the colors again. I love the logos. And for me, anytime I wore it, I immediately felt like 100% Joshua Pearce.”
Getty Images
Damson Idris and Brad Pitt on the set of ‘F1.’
How Costumes Inform His Performance
“You’re living in this race suit, so it does affect the way you act and move 100%. Joshua Pearce loves his pearls. He loves casual, comfortable wear, but still luxury. He loves beige. Beige was a big thing that we brought to the character. And as soon as I wore those clothes, I knew this guy was cool. So randomly that year we started. I was obsessed with beige. I was wearing beige every single day.”
“I knew he was charismatic. That informed how I played the part. I definitely do feel that, specifically with me, costumes do drive how I’m going to approach a character and, more importantly, how that character is going to exist around other people. It’s a very social sport. And Joshua Pearce is someone who, when he walks into the room, because of what he’s wearing, his aura just stands out.”
Getty Images
Damson Idris attends the British Vogue x Self Portrait Summer Party at Chiltern Firehouse.
On Following Your Style Intuition
“I can say what I did: I found people that I admire who had style that I loved, and then I added to it and made it my own. I think that’s a good starting place.”
“It’s difficult to throw stuff at a wall and hope it sticks. I think it’s really important to watch shows and see what pops out to you and ask yourself why you love Beyoncé or why you love Lady Gaga. A lot of the time, it’s because of their fashion sense. Then you can see how to incorporate it into your style and make it unique, make it individual, but when in doubt, keep it classy.”
Read the original article on InStyle
