Skyler Gisondo on His New Fashion Campaign—and Dressing Like Harrison Ford in the ’90s

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.Bonobos5 min readSkyler Gisondo is remarkably easy to talk to. If you’ve seen him on one of your various screens—whether as Decoy Dan from Primetime, Jimmy Olsen from Superman, or maybe just that meme of him from a decade-old red-carpet photo—you probably assumed as much. It’s the big smile, the friendly eyes, the freckles, the general sense of wholesomeness. But I can confirm it, because even though I know we’ve got a relatively brief window of time to discuss his new campaign with men’s fashion brand Bonobos over Zoom, we spend the first few minutes of our chat just … shooting the shit. It feels like catching up with a buddy you haven’t seen in a while. Relaxed. Natural.Thankfully, the vibe continues as we start digging into matters of style. Gisondo tells me he’s always been interested in dressing well but hasn’t always known where to start. “I would see a cool dude walking down the street or something, and think, ‘Man, I want to look like that guy.’ But I never knew how. I always felt lost,” he says. He describes his 20s as a decade of “desperately trying on shoes that didn’t fit or something.”He turned 30 recently, though, and “I really feel like over the last couple of years, I’ve homed in on my sense of style, what I feel good and confident in.” A very good time, then, to star in a fashion campaign—especially considering this seems like a breakout moment for the actor. He’s been working consistently since he was a kid, but his performance in Primetime as a young actor who gradually realizes just how toxic the entertainment industry can be has clearly launched him to another level. And he still has his upcoming role in Focker-in-Law this November and a couple more appearances as Jimmy Olsen (in Man of Tomorrow on the big screen and The People v. Gorilla Grodd on television) on the docket for 2027.Over the course of our conversation, we touch on everything from dressing like a cowboy (a mistake) to using Harrison Ford in the ’90s as your style North Star (a very good idea). We also chat about the stuff he’s stolen from sets for his own wardrobe, the psychological validation of joining the Shrek franchise, and why, after Primetime, we can expect more creative big swings in the future. Read on for a few highlights.This interview has been condensed and edited. Bonobos“I feel like the sweet spot for fashion is when what you look like reflects how you feel inside—when you get to this equilibrium and it allows you to be a more fully realized version of yourself.”On developing his personal styleIt's ultimately about your own confidence. I feel like the sweet spot for fashion is when what you look like reflects how you feel inside—when you get to this equilibrium and it allows you to be a more fully realized version of yourself. We all grow and our sense of fashion evolves with us but ultimately like I feel like there should be some current that runs through all of it. The stuff I’m drawn to is the more timeless, classic stuff. I look at Harrison Ford in the ’90s and I’m just like, it doesn’t get cooler, you know?On Westernwear missteps For a while, for whatever reason, me and every actor I know were like trying to look like a cowboy. And it just hit me one day: “None of us have ever worked a day in our lives on a cattle ranch, man.” I don’t even know how to use a hammer! Like, what are we doing? Can we just be ourselves?BonobosFor a while, for whatever reason, me and every actor I know were like trying to look like a cowboy. And it just hit me one day: “None of us have ever worked a day in our lives on a cattle ranch, man.”On vintageI’m pretty active. I surf and hike a lot when I’m at home. And I love walking; if I have an hour or two between meetings, I’ll just walk a few miles and take calls. I want something comfortable and functional, and I find a lot of vintage workwear just hits that and fits me well. And the story is so compelling to me. The idea of, “Who’s worn this? What were they getting up to?”On his Bonobos campaign styleWhat drew me to the campaign and to the clothes is that there’s a kind of timelessness to that style. My mom thought I looked amazing in the photos. My girlfriend, too. My grandma and my sisters thought I looked great. It’s this very accessible and sort of classically cool thing they have going on. And I felt like me. I felt confident—so much so that I stole several items from the set.Bonobos“What drew me to the campaign and to the clothes is that there’s a kind of timelessness to that style. My mom thought I looked amazing in the photos.”Is this a pattern? With shows and movies, the fear is that it’s a one-of-one item that you might need back for another season. But that’s when you hit them with the “pretty, pretty please?” You say, “I swear to God, I’ll guard it with my life.” And they say, “Okay, but you can’t tell anybody.” With a campaign, it’s probably easier because they’re excited for you to have it and represent. But probably 80 percent of my closet is basically just clothes stolen from characters and sets. It’s fun because you get to try on a bunch of versions of yourself and learn what you like.For instance, with Jimmy Olsen in the first Superman movie, they did a fantastic job with this retro-future thing. And then in The People v. Gorilla Grodd, they went a little more vintage-y in a way that felt more like me, Skyler, personally. I tried to steal almost the entire closet.BonobosOn stealing clothes from the set: “With shows and movies, the fear is that it’s a one-of-one item that you might need back for another season. But that’s when you hit them with the ‘pretty, pretty please?’”On what’s nextWell, right now I’m doing press for Primetime and Focker-in-Law. I’m doing another movie for A24 called Goblin that I’m not sure how much I can say about; I really don’t want to get fired. But I’m so excited. It’s the most insane script I think I have ever read, and it’s definitely a big swing. We have Man of Tomorrow coming out in the summer, and then Shrek five. The number of texts I got when I got Shrek … “You made it, man! Oh my God! I had no idea you made it!” I was like, “Thank you. Yeah, baby! Shrek five!”But ultimately, it’s a very exciting moment because it’s the first time I have people asking, “What do you want to do?” And I’m like, “Damn! I never really thought about that!” I feel like Primetime lit a fire under me in a real way. And even though I've kind of been doing this my whole life, I feel a sense of drive that I’ve never felt really in this way before. So, yeah, man, I'm excited.