(BBC) – In 2014 it was the hat that generated the heat. Where did he get it? Was it inspired by a Canadian Mountie or the logo from the fast-food chain Arby’s? Was he hiding something underneath its prodigious aperture?
On Sunday, however, the musician returned to what can only be called a style crusade for him – the shorts-suit. Business on top and casual down below, Pharrell first sported the unusual pairing at last February’s Academy Awards. Now the wardrobe is back, with a twist – a 3M designed fabric that made the grey cloth appear bright white when illuminated by a photographer’s flash.
Early reaction from the celebrity-fashion world ranged from quiet acceptance to disappointed tut-tutting.
“Pharrell has gone and taken the athleisure movement to new, red carpet-ready heights,” writes InStyle’s Andrea Cheng.
Bustle’s Sara Tan was less circumspect.
“It looks a bit like Pharrell just threw on a suit jacket over his gym outfit, amirite?” she says. “Maybe it’s the Adidas stripes on the side or the fact that he’s just wearing shorts with a suit jacket, but something about those bottoms are just a bit underwhelming for the Grammys.”