Top Gun: between Ray Ban and mustache, the trend-setting movie

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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 highly anticipated sequel, which is already at the top of the box office, surpassing even the unbeatable Titanic! A film that captivates and generates buzz, and not just because of the F18s… Decked out in his iconic Ray Ban sunglasses, aviator jacket, and charming smile, Tom Cruise steals the show, alongside Miles Teller and his mustache provoking many reactions and a new fashion statement #topgunmustache. Because yes, Top Gun has an impact and inspires fashion, and we’re here to reveal why.

How do movies impact fashion?

Movies have always had an influence on trends. They both contribute to highlighting current fashion trends, like Saturday Night Fever and its flared jeans. And they also challenge fashion norms, like Diane Keaton’s masculine style in Annie Hall. Beyond contributing to the construction of the film’s universe, these pieces become true fashion statements that viewers love to embrace after leaving the theaters, in order to live in the footsteps of their favorite heroines and heroes for a day.

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

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

• Merchandising, with pieces designed specifically for the film (e.g. Harry Potter sweaters or Stranger Things branded socks)
• Fashion pieces that are inspired by or reminiscent of films/series but not directly related to them (e.g. headbands following the success of Gossip Girl)

What explains the success of Top Gun?

Movies that have an influence on fashion are first and foremost movies that have had an impact on their viewers. So much so that they want to step into the shoes of the characters. If the first Top Gun inspired and resonated with the audience so much, it’s because it was released at a key period, both in America’s history and Tom Cruise’s.

A Turbulent America

The first Top Gun film, directed by Tony Scott, was released in 1986 in a unique climate for America. With a need to forget the Vietnam War and in the midst of the Cold War, an aerial attack by the USSR in 1983 on Korean Airlines Flight 007 had just left 269 passengers dead, leaving America in shock. It was in response to this event that Top Gun was conceived alongside the U.S. military.

The film was the highest-grossing film of 1986 in the USA. And for good reason, through the film, especially the famous middle finger scene by Maverick, America was responding to the events. But also, the youth was once again represented on the big screen. All of this in an action film promoting the American image. Following the film, the Navy saw a 500% increase in enrollment applications!

A Turning Point in Tom Cruise’s Career

If the first Top Gun film was such a success, it was also due to Tom Cruise. Although he was a beginning actor, his few lead roles immediately thrust him into the spotlight with his skill and maturity, all sprinkled with an attractive and confident physique. After his breakthrough performance in Risky Business, all eyes were on him to play the role of Maverick. This acclaimed role made him the new icon of America.

The success of the film also rests on Cruise’s commitment at every stage of the film. From participating in the writing process to the editing, the 25-year-old actor didn’t want it to be just another war film, but rather one that had depth and sensitivity. He even went so far as to participate in stunts and flights in order to offer a true embodiment for the viewers. This work ethic has characterized his approach to work ever since the film.

Why is Top Gun Maverick so successful?

After refusing to make the film many times, Tom Cruise agreed to reprise the role of Pete Mitchell on one condition: to make a film that exceeded expectations. To achieve this, the actors in the Top Gun Maverick cast had to train for several months alongside the U.S. military and Tom Cruise himself, who is also a pilot, in order to be able to fly the F18s themselves.

This level of commitment and the actors’ hard work, combined with a well-crafted script and the technical prowess of the onboard cameras by the film crew, have paid off. The film is acclaimed, breaking records at the box office and becoming the biggest success for Paramount and Tom Cruise’s career, restoring his image.

How did Top Gun 1 influence fashion trends?

With such a popular film that reached such a wide audience, it was inevitable that new trends would emerge and be adopted by young people who also wanted to have a Top Gun-style.

Just like the blue work jumpsuit, which has resurfaced in recent years, the bombers and other pieces branded with the NASA logo, the military jackets and patterns that have found their way into our wardrobes… Pieces inspired by work uniforms always catch the attention of fashion enthusiasts who want to incorporate them into their everyday lives.

So, when we saw the pilots’ wardrobes on the big screen, especially the combination of jacket/aviator sunglasses worn by a devastatingly charming Tom Cruise, everyone wanted to imagine themselves as a member of the Top Gun academy. After the film, the brand Ray Ban, which produced the model of aviator sunglasses worn by Maverick, saw a 40% increase in sales for that model! The second installment seems to give visibility to a new pair, the one worn by Rooster, slightly more vintage, they are the “cherry on top” of the semi-casual style of Goose’s son, played by Miles Teller, who is also winning hearts.

Another accessory featured in the film is the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 watch worn by Maverick. This tool, among other functions, allows pilots to track their speeds, and it has made a return appearance in Top Gun Maverick. However, since this model is the original and has been acquired by a producer from the first film, Tom Cruise borrowed it and is the only one wearing it in the second film. The other pilots wear the Mark XVIII TOP GUN Edition “SFTI” model made by IWC.

Just a little clarification, if you want to trade in your Casio for one of these models, the Top Gun watch worn by the pilots in the second film is produced in limited quantities each year and costs €6,100. As for the reproduction of the Chronograph 1 watch worn by Tom Cruise, it is priced around €9,000. Being a pilot isn’t for everyone!

The aviator jacket, with its numerous patches, has also received the spotlight in Top Gun, with many variations finding their place in our wardrobes.

Does Top Gun Maverick bring back the mustache trend?

If there’s one trend that emerges from Top Gun Maverick, it’s not jeans or a cap, but a mustache! That’s right, Rooster, played by Miles Teller, sports a mustache as a tribute to his father, Goose, Maverick’s former teammate who died on a mission with him.

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

This artistic choice may seem ordinary, but it was crucial for Miles Teller to secure the role. The production team even added a fake mustache to the actor’s casting footage to see how it looked and approve it.

This mustache also brings to mind Tom Selleck’s mustache in Friends and Magnum, and it also references a tradition among aviators who grow mustaches during missions.

So, whether it’s a mustache, aviator sunglasses, or an aviator jacket, here are a few tips if you want to have a supersonic style!