Skip to main content

Interview: TV’s Leading Man Joshua Sasse on His Style, Suiting and Sturdy Workwear

Although he has worked in film and on the stage, 27-year-old British actor Joshua Sasse has made the biggest splash as the titular star of the ABC musical comedy TV show “Galavant,” which was recently renewed by the network and is currently filming its second season in the UK. Described by some as a kind of “Monty Python and The Holy Grail” meets “Glee,” the silly yet ultimately clever show features Sasse as a medieval knight who is trying (quite unsuccessfully) to win back his love from an evil king. The series has already featured such notable guest stars as Ricky Gervais, Rutger Hauer, “Weird Al” Yankovic and Hugh Bonneville and will return to its Sunday night time slot in early 2016.

Sasse, who splits his time between LA and the UK, was recently in New York to attend shows during the city’s first dedicated menswear fashion week. In between poses and outfit changes during a photo shoot with James Weber, who specializes in shooting actual old-fashioned tintypes, the handsome, affable actor spoke to me about his personal style, how being British has influenced his approach to dressing and the joys of donning a suit instead of jeans.

Recommended Videos

How would you describe your personal fashion style?

I suppose I am an amalgamation of classic British style and Japanese workwear. I like the juxtaposition of smart and scruffy.

You recently attended New York Fashion Week: Men’s. Did you see anything you liked?

Yes, I loved Robert Geller’s collection in particular. That is totally up my alley. I think he is doing really well that amalgamation and exactly that mix of streetwear and tailoring and making it more wearable. I think people are fairly trepidatious to wear suits in their spare time, especially guys who work in an office. I feel like when it comes to that smart tailoring they feel like they are too made up to wear on the street and what Robert is doing is really bridging that gap.

What are some of your favorite pieces in your own wardrobe?

My Brooks Brothers suits–those are my pride and joy because there is nothing more comfortable than a suit. If a suit is tailored really well and it’s made with a really great fabric there’s nothing comfier. You see guys so often wearing jeans and they are crossing their legs and they are uncomfortable and their thighs are too tight or they are wearing it around their ass and it’s too tight around their waist and it’s never comfy. But a good suit is just the perfect thing. It’s not too hot, it’s not too cold, it’s not too heavy and it’s not too light. I believe a man should look like a man.

What are your other go-to fashion pieces?

I’ve got a Levi’s vintage artist’s jacket that I will sling on every single day because I like to have clothes that I don’t have to worry about getting messy or roughed up and can take the wear and tear because I’m always around the house with my dogs or I am cooking or gardening. I do a lot of gardening so if I can’t garden in it I’m not likely to wear it.

How has being British affected your sense of style?

I definitely think it has had an influence on it. My stepfather wore a shirt every day and he always wore a jacket and brogues every day. He’s an artist but he’d work in that so that was definitely an influence for me. But my style icon is unequivocally Prince Charles. I love that and that’s where I come from. I love tailoring.

How important is clothing to you when you are playing a character?

It can be very important, especially in the construction of a character. That piece of clothing can completely transform your understanding of who that person is. Lots of times in rehearsals a hat or a jacket is fundamental in preparation because you embody that character slowly but surely and in a few rehearsals you might wear a little bit more and a little bit more. If you are playing Richard III you are going to want to have a hump on and you are going to want to work with that throughout the process. And if you are a king you want to have that crown that sits heavy on your head and is symbolic.

Has there been a specific situation when clothing has helped you develop a character?

I don’t work as… and I don’t want to say as consistently as that. The way I enter a mindset jumps in and out. I need to be able to step away from a character to get back into it. I’m quite reflective so I’ll give it all I have and then I will strip it bare again and do it again. I’m much more experimental so I’ll try a plethora of things and take a step back and see what kind of sits the most with me. I’m very improvisational so for me it’s less about having an idea and running through with it as it is about having a lot of ideas and giving everything a chance. But in the show I’m doing now to have my boots on or something like that just reminds you [of who your character is]. I’ve got to shoot with high heels on and it makes me walk a different way.

What do you think about the style in Los Angeles at the moment?

Not very much. The problem with LA is that it’s warm all the time so it dictates dress code in a sense whereas in New York you change with the seasons and that creates an evolution of style from one year to the next. As seasons come and go so do the styles and you grow with that from year to year whereas in LA it doesn’t. And I think style is stinted and stolen as opposed to original. I think a lot of the cultural aspects that come from LA are not from LA. They’re from Europe or the East Coast.

What will your next major fashion purchase be?

Probably a warm coat from my wife. I don’t go out and buy clothes a lot. I’m very content with what I have. I’m not an avid shopper like that. I will wear something until it falls off me.

How extensive is your wardrobe?

A little more extensive since I have been working with Brooks Brothers. My suit collection has grown a lot but not too much. My wife will say I pretty much wear the same thing every day in my life.

And you’re happy with that?

I am very happy with that. I don’t think about it too much and I think to be an artist you have to stop looking in the mirror. Day to day and as an actor a lot of your downtime is spent, for me anyway, reading and researching and writing and that’s the majority of what I do. I think to be an actor it’s about experience. You have to further your own knowledge and understanding and to do that you have to constantly try to grow. What I wear is not a big part of that.

Image credit: James Weber

Christopher Blomquist
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Christopher is a native New Yorker who lives and works (mostly) in Manhattan. A longtime fashion journalist, he served as…
LOEWE and On reunite for second collaboration – and it’s boldly subtle
LOEWE, On release new sneaker
LOEWE On sneaker on orange concrete

While the new year is just beginning, LOEWE and ON are already treating fans to a continuation of their partnership. In their previous collaborative design, the two brands took on Cloudtilt 2.0 with a bold and bright series of colorways. The duo is again remixing the design but adding a more subtle touch. For fans of neutrals and subdued pops of color, this new sneaker is the perfect opportunity to showcase this high-fashion partnership. Built with On’s recognizable footwear technology and LOEWE’s stylish details, this collaboration continues to serve practicality and fashion. With more high-fashion and luxury brands looking to enter the athleisure and lifestyle space, the partnership between LOEWE and On continues to stand apart. 
LOEWE x On Cloudtilit 2.0 

 

Read more
5 ’80s men’s fashion trends that are making a comeback
Revitalize these 80s trends for today's style
80s men fashion couple

Big hair, bright colors, hair bands, and some of the greatest movies ever made; the 1980s were a great time. Nostalgia plays a big role in our lives. Any time you start doom-scrolling social media, you are hit with everything from AI videos reimagining the time of our childhoods, younger people discovering Guns N Roses for the first time, and the reviews of a Back to the Future rewatch. Of course, every decade has its version of the same telling aspects like music, movies, and culture, but there is one aspect of every decade that sets it apart from every other quickly: fashion. Men's fashion in the 80s was known for acid-wash jeans, neon colors, and cropped shirts. But as with every decade, there are trends that come back, and you should be ready to revisit old times with these 80s men's fashion trends that are making a comeback.

I am a huge fan of a good comeback trend, and Will Giddon, director of brand at Rothmans NYC, shares the sentiment and loves some of the trends he sees on the comeback trail. "I love that the fashion of the 1980s is making a comeback in modern men's wardrobes. It adds a bit of a nostalgia factor and gives some extra personality to the way men are dressing."

Read more
Salehe Bembury and New Balance announce a surprising collaboration
New Balance, Salehe Bembury release new sneaker
side view of new balance sneakers

While it seems as if New Balance always has a new collaboration in the works, the athletic company still manages to surprise with each release. Via retailer, A Ma Maniére, New Balance and Salehe Bembury unveiled a brand new design ideal for neutral lovers. Using only small hints of vivid color throughout the shoe, this release is perfect for those looking to add a luxurious touch to their wardrobe in the new year. Although the sneaker appears to be your everyday sneaker, hidden details let users make a statement at the lift of a foot. Unlike previous New Balance collaborations, this partnership is only available via a draw, making it an even more exclusive design. 
Salehe Bembury New Balance Made in UK 1500 V1

In this new release, both Salehe Bembury and New Balance opted for a subtle approach on the 1500 model, while infusing bold details. Warm beige suede overlays, gray mesh on the toe box, and gray leather on the collar compose the shoe's exterior. The branded logo on the tongue and heel adds a pop of bright yellow to the design. For those looking for a bigger pop of color, the sneaker’s soles offer a chance for a statement-style moment. The tan-yellow midsole is updated with a brown block at the heel, while a purple and orange accent is found on the side. The grey outsoles are also emphasized with a green panel in the center heel and a bright blue accent on the heel. This collaborative sneaker is priced at $275 and will be sold to those picked in a lottery conducted via A Ma Maniére. Only those chosen in the raffle will get the opportunity to purchase the sneaker instantly.

Read more