Austin Butler Has Donned the 'Miami Vice' White Suit

Back when Miami Vice first hit TV screens, being told you resemble one of its characters was a cool thing. The show helped define the decade's look: bright colors, big shoulders, wacky prints. But as fashion moved on, dressing like Sonny Crockett or Ricardo Tubbs became less cool. Which is quite unfair, really. Now Austin Butler is helping turn that rep around.

Yesterday, the Oscar nominee was snapped filming a scene on Monday for the upcoming redux film, Miami Vice ’85. Butler plays Detective Crockett and was spotted alongside Dominic Sessa and Danny Ramirez in a parking lot in Wayne, New Jersey, casually leaning against a retro white Cadillac Coupe de Ville with Florida plates.

Butler was wearing exactly what you might expect. Like the OG Crockett, he had a deep tan and his blonde mullet was gelled into a quiff. Ray-Ban Wayfarers sat on his nose—useful against all that glare. He wore a teal Henley shirt with a bright white linen suit, and slightly heeled crochet espadrilles on his feet. The film's costume designer, Erin Benach, nailed the brief.

Crockett is a menswear icon, albeit a somewhat disregarded one. Guys are really into 2000s indie-sleaze icons and ’90s skater boys right now, but there's room to love a cool, slightly moody, fictional ’80s detective, too. His loose suits echoed the Armani tailoring in American Gigolo, while the pops of color gave them a distinctly Miami feel.

Annoyingly, you're going to have to factor in our weather if you want to emulate the look. Linen isn't the best material for a windy, autumnal day. But that shouldn't stop you from adding some color. A turquoise knit is an easy way to bring in Crockett's palette; wear it with a broad-shouldered, baggy suit in wool. And when it's sunny, throw on a pair of Wayfarers.

A version of this story originally appeared in British GQ.