By Rifan Muazin 
It has already been a notoriously punishing winter across the United States, but New York City is currently grappling with a particularly grim atmospheric reality. The metropolitan area has been locked in a cycle of oscillating temperatures, creating a phenomenon where the snow on residential streets undergoes a perpetual process of melting and refreezing. Over the past fortnight, this has resulted in a literal "fossilization" of urban life; layers of ice have trapped discarded litter, canine waste, and remnants of Lunar New Year streamers in distinct geological strata along the sidewalks. In the world of high fashion and street style, nasty weather inevitably breeds equally "nasty" dressing—a utilitarian, often monochromatic approach to warding off the elements. This winter, that aesthetic has manifested in its supreme form: an outfit formula known colloquially as the "groutfit."
A portmanteau of "gray" and "outfit," the groutfit has long been the uniform of the unbothered, the hungover, and the gym-bound. However, what was once a sartorial white flag has been transformed into a high-fashion statement. While the groutfit has been spotted frequently in the wild this season, few iterations have felt as culturally resonant or as distinctly relatable as those donned by a trio of A-list icons this week: Bradley Cooper, Pedro Pascal, and Timothée Chalamet. These men, each at the pinnacle of their respective careers, are signaling a shift away from the hyper-manicured "quiet luxury" of previous seasons toward a more rugged, "slacker-chic" realism that mirrors the grit of a slush-filled Manhattan.
Bradley Cooper, a veteran of the New York City street-style circuit, stepped out for a walk through Manhattan on Wednesday, embodying the "Workcore" evolution of the groutfit. Cooper opted for a taupe Carhartt hoodie, a choice that aligns with the current banner year for customized workwear. His particular piece was a bespoke iteration, featuring a small duck logo and a cryptic inscription in both English and Chinese text that appeared to read, “We Don’t Skip.” This blend of heritage workwear and personalized storytelling elevates the humble hoodie from a gym staple to a piece of wearable art.
Cooper paired the hoodie with creased drawstring sweatpants—a nod to the "lounge-anywhere" ethos of the post-pandemic era—and rugged suede lace-up hiking boots. The boots provided a necessary textural contrast to the softness of the jersey fabric, grounding the look in practicality. He punctuated the ensemble with a charcoal Burberry beanie, gray-tinted aviator shades, and dark blue AirPods Max headphones. The accessory choice is telling; the AirPods Max, in particular, has become the de facto crown of the modern urbanite, signaling a desire for sonic isolation amidst the chaos of the city. Cooper’s look wasn’t just about comfort; it was about the strategic layering of textures—suede, knit, and heavy cotton—all within a narrow, muted color palette.
Taking a similarly monochromatic tack earlier in the week was Pedro Pascal. The Last of Us star was photographed emerging from the Bowery Hotel in a unique assortment of "upscale-laundry-day" garb. Pascal’s approach to the groutfit is a masterclass in the "high-low" mix, a styling technique that combines accessible basics with astronomical luxury. He began with the "crusty classic" of gray fleece joggers, but elevated them through tasteful wintertime layers: a light blue crewneck peeking out from under a classic denim jacket, topped with a scarf striped in multiple shades of gray.
The pièce de résistance of Pascal’s outfit was a charcoal Canada Goose bomber featuring a plush shearling collar. Canada Goose, a brand that has become synonymous with elite winter protection, provided a structured silhouette that countered the inherent sloppiness of the sweatpants. However, it was Pascal’s accessories that truly defined the expansiveness of his groutfit. In one hand, he carried the quotidian accoutrements of a busy actor: a sapphire-blue Saratoga Springs water bottle and a plastic-bagged take-out order. On his shoulder, however, hung an object of intense fashion envy: a leather flap bag from Matthieu Blazy’s tenure at Bottega Veneta (often mistaken for Chanel in its refined elegance). To complete the look, Pascal wore weathered On Cloudtilt sneakers. The choice of footwear is significant; On has seen a meteoric rise in the luxury market, moving from a niche running brand to a favorite of the fashion elite, thanks to its blend of Swiss engineering and minimalist aesthetics. Pascal’s "weathered" pair suggested a man who actually walks the streets he inhabits, rather than one who is ferried from black car to red carpet.
The groutfit phenomenon is not restricted to the slushy streets of New York. Just over the weekend, New York native Timothée Chalamet proved that the aesthetic can thrive even in the temperate, if currently "grimy," climate of Los Angeles. Chalamet, who is currently navigating a high-profile career peak with the Dune and Wonka franchises, leaned into the "slacker" side of the spectrum not once, but twice.
His first appearance occurred at a Valentine’s Day screening of his breakout film, Call Me By Your Name, hosted by Cinespia at the Los Angeles Theatre. During a post-screening panel with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Chalamet appeared in a look that redefined oversized proportions. He wore baggy dark pants and his signature Chrome Hearts Timberlands—a collaboration that represents the pinnacle of "rugged luxury." Above the waist, he donned a comically oversized zip-up gray sweater with a popped collar from The Elder Statesman. As Hollywood’s favorite purveyor of ultra-luxury cashmere, The Elder Statesman is known for its $2,000-plus knits that possess a deceptively "thrifted" appearance. On the svelte Chalamet, the checkered knit was so voluminous it took on the silhouette of a vintage nightie, blurring the lines between masculine workwear and feminine loungewear.
Chalamet’s second, and perhaps more culturally explosive, semi-groutfit appeared on his Instagram story. In a "fit pic" shared with his millions of followers, he was seen wearing navy blue Adidas sweatpants that pooled around white basketball trainers. The focal point of the outfit was a promotional T-shirt for Eclipse, the third installment in the Twilight saga. The shirt featured Taylor Lautner’s character, the werewolf Jacob Black. This "Team Jacob" endorsement sent shockwaves through the "Twihards" fanbase and fashion commentators alike. It was a perfect example of the "ironic vintage" trend, where Gen Z and Millennial icons repurpose mid-aughts pop culture artifacts to signal a sense of self-aware nostalgia.
This final look from Chalamet solidified his position as the "champion" of the unofficial Groutfit Olympics. It captured a very specific "girlish grunge" reminiscent of a 2010s sleepover, yet it was worn by one of the most influential men in modern fashion. By pairing high-end Adidas with a mass-market movie promo tee, Chalamet signaled that the modern groutfit is less about the price tag and more about the "vibe"—a state of being that prioritizes comfort, humor, and a refusal to engage with the traditional rigors of "dressing up."
The rise of the groutfit can be analyzed through a broader sociological lens. Fashion historians often note that during times of economic uncertainty or environmental harshness, consumers tend to retreat into "protection dressing." The groutfit, with its soft fabrics, muted tones, and oversized silhouettes, acts as a sartorial security blanket. According to market data, the global athleisure market is projected to reach over $600 billion by 2030, driven by the permanent shift toward hybrid work and a cultural de-prioritization of formal attire.
Furthermore, the "gray-out" aesthetic serves as a blank canvas in an era of digital overstimulation. In a world of neon-drenched social media feeds and "main character energy" fashion, the groutfit is a form of visual silence. It is the clothing equivalent of a "Do Not Disturb" sign. When Bradley Cooper wears a custom Carhartt hoodie or Pedro Pascal carries a Bottega bag while holding a plastic take-out container, they are projecting an image of "attainable stardom." They are saying that even with all the resources in the world, the most luxurious thing one can own is the freedom to look like you just rolled out of bed.
Ultimately, the groutfit’s current dominance among the A-list suggests that the "nasty" winter weather has finally broken the industry’s collective will to be uncomfortable. Whether it is fossilized dog poop on a Brooklyn sidewalk or a rainy night in Hollywood, the message from the fashion vanguard is clear: stay warm, stay gray, and if you must make a statement, let it be through an ironic Twilight T-shirt. The Groutfit Olympics may be an unofficial competition, but as long as the temperatures remain low and the slush remains high, the winners will continue to be those who choose fleece over finery.