Levi’s is releasing “A Complete Unknown” capsule collection for the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic of the same name, offering 501 XX jeans and more recreations of the costume donned by star Timothee Chalamet in his portrayal of the music icon.
The film’s costume designer Arianna Phillips worked closely with Levi’s to create the costumes for the movie, according to HypeBeast, which were a staple of Dylan’s wardrobe.
Dylan, the lauded singer-songwriter famous for songs like “Blown’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” was a bit of a fashion icon in his own right. As GQ wrote in a 2016 article, “His look: low-key, unassuming, with a thrift store quality, helped define the visual tone of the music scene in downtown New York during the 1960s, a look that soon spread across the country.”
Key among his style were his 1955 Levi's jeans, which the company is selling as a “stitch-for-stitch reproduction inspired by a pair Bob Dylan wore” for $495. Inside the watch pocket of the jeans is a note taken from an early Dylan lyric, ”“I’ll let you be in my dreams, if I can be in yours.”
“I was honored to consult on this film and work with Arianne and team to authentically bring Bob Dylan’s early Levi’s styles to life,” said Paul O’Neill, design director for Levi’s Vintage Clothing, in a statement. “It was exciting to reproduce Dylan’s original jeans with the inserted panel and include unique ephemera in the presentation, ensuring our new collection captures the film’s romantic themes while faithfully recreating the iconic Levi’s look of an unparalleled genius.”
In addition to the jeans, a limited-edition Dylan-inspired jacket is for sale at $1,200. Just 200 were produced, and the Levi’s online store had yet to sell out as of Friday afternoon.
The attention to detail is obvious and a clear byproduct of the close working relationship between the brand and the film’s production team.
“While researching costumes for the film, I kept noticing that Bob Dylan wore Levi’s consistently throughout his career, both on and off stage,” Phillips said in a statement. “So I worked with Paul O’Neill at Levi’s to help me source original Levi’s denim and produce the bootcut 501 jeans, as well as recreate the Super Slim Levi’s jeans that Dylan wore in ‘65.”
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.