In today's newsletter:

— Our first fall issue cover star

— Meet Sandy Liang's stylist 

— The Nike prognosis

— Great dark-wash jeans

BEHIND THE SCENES

The typical Sam Rockwell character is easily recognizable. He's probably a quirky antihero, or a racist curmudgeon, or even a total psychopath — as in 2012’s Seven Psychopaths, Rockwell’s first in a series of collaborations with director Martin McDonagh (who also directed the 2017 film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, for which Rockwell won an Oscar).

This fall, Rockwell stars in McDonagh's latest movie, Wild Horse Nine, where he plays a CIA operative (alongside his personal idol, John Malkovich). It's a more restrained and "adult" role than what Rockwell is used to. He tells writer Elissa Suh in our first fall issue cover story: "I couldn’t do this movie 10 years ago, even five years ago. It takes life experience to play certain parts.” At its Venice premiere last week, Wild Horse Nine apparently earned a 14-minute, 44-second standing ovation. 

Elissa's cover story goes on to unpack Rockwell's career as a bona-fide cinema MVP, as well as the, well, wild level of commitment with which Rockwell prepares for his roles ("There’s a modality that Sam has that I could never follow," as his friend and White Lotus co-star Walton Goggins says.) But for a bit of movie trivia to take with you into theaters this November: Just know that because Wild Horse Nine was was shot on Easter Island, a few more set restrictions abounded. "He told me he had to trek nearly a mile to the porta-potty every time he needed to go," Elissa recalls (peeing anywhere near the statues is strictly forbidden).

But that's the difference between Sam Rockwell, the extremely committed Hollywood actor, and all those singularly Rockwellian characters — whom you can totally picture getting into that kind of trouble, can't you?

MODEL'S OWN

GOOD POINT

—Highsnobiety's Jake Silbert on the swoosh's removal from the S&P 100

SHOPPER SELECT

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES

FASHION'S NEW FAVORITE ACCESSORY? LITERAL ROCKS

Are recent sediment-centric fashion campaigns a result of the OG gorpcore enthusiast, Odysseus? Or is #hoistingrock the new #touchinggrass?

THIS IS SECRETLY THE MENSWEAR DEBUT OF THE YEAR

The cult favorite label HYKE’s Spring/Summer 2027 collection includes a menswear line that's just as good as its womenswear.

A​N OG REEBOK FITNESS SHOE BECOMES A BUTTERY CELINE SNEAKER
Celine's Reebok Freestyle Lo sneaker lands in eight creamy colorways.

BEING JOHN MALKOVICH MEANS BEING WILDLY STYLISH
More Wild Horse Nine news: The actor's fashion cred got shown off once more at the Venice Film Festival with an instantly unforgettable Dior fit.

ALSO...
We hear there's a new Alastair McKimm joint in town (Business of Fashion);  Miss Claire Sullivan is showing ready-to-wear at NYFW (NYT); and the GapBag launch event looks, well, huge (@gap).