‘Paul Mescal has the men of Brooklyn in a chokehold’: Irish writer living in the US claims Gen Z men are copying the Normal People actor’s short shorts – and now look ‘like they play GAA’

For a ‘man of the hour’, Paul Mescal is undertaking a very long stint at the top and his popularity shows no sign of waning.

He shot to fame in 2020 after playing Connell in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, before going on to become a darling of the indie film industry.

As his star has continued to rise, so has his heartthrob status; but he has also become known as a fashion icon as he has, perhaps unwittingly, influenced men’s style around the world since he first appeared on screens. 

First, men across the globe began sporting ‘Connell’s Chain’ after Mescal’s Normal People character sent fans wild with his necklace – and now, as the summer months are upon us, Gen Z men are after the Irish actor’s ‘short shorts’ look.

While men in the UK and Ireland began to find themselves influenced by the 28-year-old’s style some time ago, an Irish man living in Brooklyn, New York, has revealed that the actor’s style has left Gen Z men in the US city ‘in a chokehold’ as they emulate his classic out-and-about style on the streets.

Paul Mescal’s short shorts style has left Gen Z men of Brooklyn ‘in a chokehold’, an Irish writer who now lives in New York has claimed

Posting on X/Twitter, journalist Cahir O’Doherty, who is originally from Donegal but now lives in New York, said: ‘Paul Mescal has Gen Z in a chokehold in Brooklyn. They men all look like they play GAA for Mayo now. It’s like the early days of Beatlemania here. People don’t understand the scale of the colonization.’

After a fellow Irish pal expressed his amusement at the writer’s observation, hhe added: ‘I live on the Lorimer stop, Liam. At the weekend it looks like an all-Ireland just let out from Croke Park. They even have the Conal chains. That show changed lives during the pandemic I think. It has absolutely changed fashion. We’re in the Mescal topless summer. It’s a thing.’

He posted an accompanying photo of Mescal wearing a navy hoody and shorts, plus sunglasses, while carrying his phone in his hand and listening to music through wire earphones – his signature look.

As the ‘short shorts season’ takes hold in New York City when spring turns into summer, one TikToker has ‘blamed Paul Mescal’

It’s not just Mescal setting the trend; as GAA players including Linus Boidu Sayeh, pictured with a friend in New York City, are also showing off their thighs in the garment

Taylor Reed, an influencer and model based in New York, has recently shared with his followers his own Paul Mescal-inspired outfit

Replying to the post, one reader said of Mescal: ‘You can get O ‘Neill’s shorts with pockets and earphones without wires, yet he refuses to use either.’

Another lamented: ‘Why wasn’t he in New York doing his little shorts thing when I was there damn it.’

One Irish X user joked: ‘You can take the boy outta Maynooth, but…’

Although Cahir didn’t show any photographic evidence of this trend which has the men of New York City admiring Mescal’s style, other people living in the city appear to have confirmed men are opting for the look as spring turns into summer – and that they’re taking inspiration from Mescal.

Posting on TikTok, male model and influencer Taylor Reed, who is based in New York City, showed off his Mescal-inspired outfit which included short shorts and a T shirt, and credited the Irish actor with inspiring him.

He said in a clip: ‘You’ve probably seen this Paul Mescal outfit on the internet recently; I love it, so let’s style our own version.’

Taylor went on to show off his black short shorts, gifted to him by a brand called East by East.

For New York based men wanting to emulate the ‘GAA’ style Mescal favours, the New York GAA website sells its shorts for around $28

He then noted how, in the image he had chosen of Mescal, the actor was ‘rocking a cropped white T shirt as his base layer’ – something which he then copies.

Taylor completes his outfit with another cropped layer- a black hoody – which he has also chosen in line with Mescal’s fit.

Finally, Taylor chooses white ankle socks, trainers, and a two-tone cap.

And, while the actor isn’t currently in New York City (he has been filming Gladiator II in Sussex), his influence, and the influence of the Gaelic Athletic Association, appears to be taking hold in the city as the weather heats up.

Michael Hernandez, a TikToker and photographer based in NYC, posted a clip of himself swooning over passersby as ‘short shorts season’ comes into effect in the city.

Posting the video on the social media platform, he added: ‘I blame on Paul Mescal.’ 

Elsewhere, Mescal’s style is emulated by GAA players in the city; of which there is a whole community on both hurling and Gaelic football teams.

One of the stars setting the trend is footballer Linus Boidu Sayeh, who plays for Westmeath but who spent time in New York for his athletic career, who often opts for short shorts both when he’s working out at the gym and out and about in real life.

For any New York men wanting to pick up the GAA-inspired look, promoted by Paul Mescal, for themselves; the Official New York GAA store has plenty of options – with O’Neill’s shorts for adult men coming in at around $28 (£22). 

It’s not just in New York City where Mescal’s style has taken hold; around the world, including in the actor’s native Ireland and his London home, Hackney, men are being inspired in their outfits to follow ‘Paul Mescal Core’ as they opt for chains, short shorts, and earphones with wires.