Idris Elba is famously gorgeous and stylish, so it was no surprise that he teamed up with British clothing company Superdry to create an Idris-designed and Idris-approved line of menswear. That must be one of the easiest sells in the world: “Buy Superdry and you too can look like Idris Elba.” I think the collaboration is going well, at least well enough that Idris + Superdry launched their second collab. To promote the latest collection, Idris chatted with People Magazine about clothes, how he actually loves Yeezys (the shoes), and what he thinks of Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift. Some highlights:
He’s a total sneakerhead: “I can’t even say [how many sneakers I have]. I have a whole room that has a container — half that container is trainers and shoes.”
He’s a fan of the Yeezys: “Believe it or not, the Yeezys are really nice stuff and I just got a nice pair that I love. I am going to send him some of my gear and see if he likes that.”
The Superdry line: “This line is something that is cool and affordable and represents me. I spend a lot of time in clothes and I’ve been complimented for a few years about the way I dress and that’s always been a nice feeling. Whenever I go on red carpets I definitely pay attention … Long story short is yes, I kind of did have a beeline to want to be noticed in fashion a little bit. But not in a way that I am going to be the highlight of men’s fashion week and make a big splash like that.”
Working with Tom Ford for his Met Gala tux: “Tom Ford’s team is just immaculate to the inch. Every single detail is accounted for even to how you walk, where your hands should be. I was told not to put your hands in the pockets. I was like, Oh, what do I do! I’m a man who puts my hands in my pockets. But I took away when you’re someone that is in fashion and you’re considered fashionable it’s all about that one moment when they take the picture, so look immaculate for it. It’s a fleeting second. And I definitely am a lot more conscious of that now that I am on the red carpet.”
His teenage daughter’s criticism: “She thinks I am cool — sometimes. She says to me, ‘Dad, don’t you think your shorts are a little short?’ Oh no, I don’t actually, thank you very much.”
He’s nominated for an Emmy against Tom Hiddleston: “Tom and I are good friends. I’m looking forward to seeing him.” And Hiddleston’s date (who also happened to be a Met Gala co-host with Elba) Taylor Swift? “Psh – moving on!” he says, laughing. “Nah, I’m happy for him. He’s a great guy.”
I would love to see the video of this to see Idris’s face when he said “Psh – moving on!” Is that a “Psh” of “I don’t want to talk about it because I have a lot to say and I’m trying to be polite”? Or is it “Psh, Tom is crazy with this Tiddles stuff”? Or is it “Psh, nothing to see here”? And I love that he compliments Kanye West’s Yeezys in the same interview as “psh- moving on.” I know a lot of people do love Yeezys though – as it turns out, Kanye designed a great shoe that’s a big hit with the sneakerheads especially.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.
Ah, the sight of gorgeous Idris to clear out the images from that insulting Balmain video.
wait he is in that? now I have to watch it… i only saw pics, they are so stupid. models crying… probably since they had to work with KK…
He isn’t in it. I watched it and needed something beautiful to clear away the misogyny. Idris is something beautiful.
That’s psh don’t drag me into your gossip shiznit, thankyouverymuch.
I do approve. If I were an actor and were to be asked about another actor’s love life (even if it were a laughable love life) I would do the same.
The Sixlets are VERY big on Superdry. New for Christmas and birthdays but they force their father to haunt eBay for second hand bargains when it’s their allowance they’re spending. Mr Sixer is a slave to the eBay desires of the Sixlets.
It just isn’t professional. Yet they keep asking and some keep answering. Idris did the right thing and showed professionalism and class, especially given that one of the subjects is a colleague who he has identified as a friend and with whom he is about to spend several weeks working with down in Australia. No ball gags necessary today. If only more would behave with such maturity.
But really, it’s like they just randomly insert the question about TH and TS in every interview that has nothing to do with them whatsoever. Why? Why should anyone even have an opinion on Tiddles like they are something important in this world? Let’s talk about burning issues in the world- terrorist attacks in Europe, ISIS, presidential elections in US and ofc, the Tiddlesbanging 2016. So stupid.
Yeah I think Idris handled it just right. Classy and gracious. The media is going to keep trying to trap people into responding. They would be wise to follow his example.
I agree. He pretty much said everything he needed to to not make anyone mad. “I’m sending Kanye some clothes and I’m happy for Tom.”
Plus, although I didn’t actually SEE him say it, I feel like he said it all while looking gorgeous.
I can totally picture Idris responding with a dismissive “psh” and a wave of his hand. And looking gorgeous as his does it. Good on him for not taking the bait.
Play the ball not the man – as we say here in Britland. It’s not ‘ard and you do retain some integrity.
It’s for we civilians to take the piss!
We use that phrase in basketball too.
That’s how I took that psh too and just wanted to write the same.
Exactly
Yup, you called it Sixer. Idris sees through the media game. That was, “Psh, don’t bother me with this low rent, non-real gossip scandal. I’m a pro.”
Yeah that’s how I interpreted it too.
Probably thinking he has better things to talk about than those 2. I can hear how he said it in my head as well LOL
Tiddlesbanging 2k16 is getting boring now. They need to spice things up if they want to keep us interested. I really wonder if she will go to the Emmys. She loves having all the attention on her so maybe.
James Bond!
“I’m happy that this clown is making an ass of himself in a way that can only benefit me and the other more talented actors who usually get passed over in favor of twee tryhards. We seem 100 times more adult in comparison.”
Basically.
If Idris gets Bond, Taylor Swift will probably get pregnant to draw attention away, though. She can’t let herself get upstaged by a black man yet again…
Miouw
hisss
Taylor?!
Idris’s personal life has been a bit messy, a good deal messier than Tom’s and doubtful he would want that all discussed openly by his friends and colleagues so he’s not going to discuss the personal lives of his friends, but spin your theories.
He is messy, I think the ladies here don’t know the extend of his messiness.
Hiddles looks like a pastor compared to idris.
Whether Idris’ personal life is messy he isn’t dating Taylor Swift. That’s why he was asked about Tom.
I’m often surprised at how little he is dragged for his messy private life. He doesn’t meet the standard of a good partner, and that’s before any pearl clutching.
@Becky, and he should not be asked about his co-stars personal lives and if asked he should not answer. And he didn’t. He blew off the question because the question was inappropriate.
Lak, Idris appears to have a different fanbase, or a different appeal than Tom so from what I can see he hasn’t had the same scrutiny, I don’t follow any Idris fanblogs however.
Also his gf isn’t well known so as a couple they don’t draw the same attention. I believe she’s a make-up artist and that’s how they met.
Lilacflowers, I agree but it isn’t surprising he was asked considering how much press his friend/co-star’s personal life has had recently, whether the question is inappropriate or not. And good for Idris to not rise to it.
Pretty sure there was an article on here about his messy love life and he was dragged for it. The thing is his ex is not famous and thus the “in your face” part of the gossip is not there. Plus he isn’t a tab fodder person either..he doesnt court press because he’s private. Had he been more out there pap wise there would be more coverage I think.
Idris has a truly messy love life. He has also said many cringetastic things in interviews.
He is also much less often featured in those PR-driven awards (eg GQ) than the likes of Bendy and LEGS. I take it from this that he is much less interested in a gossipy profile than the likes of Bendy and LEGS and so his PR isn’t hustling for him in this department. You can kinda tell this because I’m sure a larger proportion of women lust after Idris than, say LEGS, but Idris gets a tenth the number of comments hereabouts than LEGS. (That’s not a dig at LEGS – just that EVERYONE fancies Idris, while most actors are fancied by a subset.)
None of this really detracts from his choosing the high road here. In fact, it probably speaks to the fact he’s less PR-driven than many. It’s a good thing he waved the question off with a bit of disdain. More of them should do that.
Idris has a messy adult love life. Tom has a messy tween love life 😂
Lol that psh was probably real ‘NKT’ which black do all the time, its really a dismissive kissing the teeth sound.
Absolutely. “Psh” especially coming from a son of African immigrants is incredibly dismissive. Nothing beats “nkt” when it comes to conveying utter disdain though.
But disdain for being asked to gossip about a colleague’s love life? Or disdain for that colleague’s love life? That’s the question being asked. Sounded like the former to me.
I agree. Idris is a professional, and he behaved as such.
Clearly the former imo.
The former.
It’s the former. I mean, come on.
See my point below, Sixer. You worded it better than I did.
former, clearly
Sixer is right, obviously.
He looks great in clothes. I would like to remove them for him. He’s so very sexy!
He does say “I spend a lot of time in clothes.” First thought-well, you don’t have to! Duh.
But I hate that messy love life.
Dear God, Idris in that tux . He’s GORGEOUS!
Idris does have a habit of speaking out of turn (like that interview he did about 2 yrs ago that he’d just been filming Thor 2 reshoots)
Love Idris. That is all.
I wonder what Tom’s reaction would be if asked about Idris’s somewhat chequered love life?
I imagine he’d have handled the question in the same respectful no-nonsense ‘Nah, not my business, move along’ way that Idris did.
I think he would as well.
But my (rather obscure) point is that nobody has asked Idris’s friends. should have put a smiley in again Lilac.
See my reply to Sixer.
Smileys abounding.
I think he would have waved it off too. Just with a few extra polysyllables. Idris does an NKT. LEGS goes with the Oxbridge-goes-Hallmark vocab.
I prefer the former! Predictably enough!
“few extra polysyllables”
ahahah.
Yes, fully. Tom would be classy about it, as Idris is, even if he isn’t currently dating Rihanna (that would be amaaaaazing…excuse me while I enjoy this fantasy).
He wouldn’t be asked as Idris is not dating a very famous pop star who publicises her private life.
Do you not see that the question was inappropriate?
Yes I can see its inappropriate!
Whether it’s appropriate isn’t my point: the press are GOING to ask about your friend/co-star when they’re involved in a highly publicised romance with a famous pop star, especially when it appears so staged that some of the press think it’s a publicity stunt.
Kudos to Idris he said “psh” then restrained himself from saying anything else.
True Idris is not in a highly public relationship with an overexposed Pop Star with a pho-scandal in progress. That’s the irony of tabloid gossip. The chatties would have no problem tearing down Hiddles for his inauthentic relationship and PR playing that’s based on nothing real, no real crime or scandal. Whereas Idris had some very real personal messes that obviously gossipers would gladly cast judgement on if it were to have blown up into mainstream tabloids. The irony.
I’m not advocating to judge and gossip about Idris btw. Just contrasting the two situations under the scope of reality and real personal drama verses what is unimportant, gossip fodder – aka ‘Un-Real’, tabloid manufactured drama.
@Spidey – Still not getting your point. Idris keeps his private business private so there’s no reason for it to come up randomly in interviews with his actor friends. Hiddleston, on the other hand, has made his private business very public so only he is to blame for it coming up in random interviews.
But just because a celebrity is private doesn’t mean that their personal life messes doesn’t make news (or tabloid news). This stuff with Idris seems to be in the past now, but the media don’t stop running with stories, especially real stories, just because the celeb involved is private.
Well, Idris has had a checkered past indeed, according to his Wikipedia page:
(a) Elba married makeup artist Hanne “Kim” Norgaard in 1999. He moved her to New York but they separated while Norgaard was pregnant with their daughter Isan Elba (born 2001) and officially divorced in 2003.[citation needed]
(b) As The Wire filmed in Maryland, he lived there. On the Eastern Shore is where he met real estate attorney Sonia Nicole Hamlin. They married in 2006 with the marriage only lasting six weeks before Elba left her.[62]
(c) After dating since 2013, in 2014, Elba’s girlfriend Naiyana Garth gave birth to their son Winston Elba. In 2016, Garth and Elba separated.
Idris’ situation was of an adult –mildly to unpublicized caliber, while Tom’s current situation, on the other hand, is on the level of 16 Magazine/Tiger Beat/Young Miss, etc.
Troian take note. This is how to say no comment without saying the words “no comment”
Great interview! I love the way he talks about fashion, he approachs it well.
No legitimage journalist is going to ask questions about another actor/celebrity’s love life, no matter how much it’s being whored about in the press by the parties involved.
Legitimate journalist, now that is thought provoking.
We did exist, pre-Internet and social media. Sadly a dying breed now
Times was legitimate until their posts started resembling Buzzfeed, which rips all their content from Tumblr.
Exactly
Is Tumblr considered “social media”? Because that is a dark place.
The scary thing is that social media drives traditional journalism now and not the other way around. Literally anything can be printed and taken for truth these days- fact checking, which was so vital to journalists, is now a thing of the past.
And yes, Time’s turn to the Dark Side is indicative of how far the media has fallen- and what a PR stunt this relationship is considered to be.
I am actually writing about this. The death of journalism via social media, I mean. It’s a modern tragedy.
@MI6
A serious tragedy. The final fall of credible journalism to the abyss of social media is truly scary, and we’ve been seeing the results unfold before us in our national elections. Now the criticism of an uninformed electorate is nothing compared to a misinformed one. The repeal of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 which gave rise to Rush Limbaugh and his ilk, and now the internet and social media have killed just about all credible journalism in US.
Its funny that he doesn’t say anything nice about Taylor he knows her from the met . He’s just like pst moving on, toms a nice guy whatever.
He’s probably team Kanye 😂
I LOVE HIM!!! He is perfect.
I just spent the last few days watching “Luther” on Netflix, and now I have a MAJOR crush on this guy. Oh my goodness. Ps he would make an amazing James Bond
this guy, psh moving on. next!