We all buy clothes, but no two people shop the same. It can be a social experience, and a deeply personal one; at times, it can be impulsive and entertaining, at others, purpose-driven, a chore. Where do you shop? When do you shop? How do you decide what you need, how much to spend and what’s “you”? These are some of the questions we’re putting to prominent figures in our column “How I Shop.”

If you’re remotely tuned into the theater scene, you’ll almost certainly recognize the name Tom Francis — and chances are, you’re already obsessed with him.

After leading the groundbreaking Jamie Lloyd-directed production of “Sunset Boulevard” on London’s West End (which eventually won him the Olivier for Best Actor in a Musical), Francis traveled with the show to New York, earning himself a Tony nomination and a popstar-level fanbase — particularly within the Broadway community.

After each performance, Francis would enter into a sea of fans waiting for his signature at the stage door, having just changed out of his minimalist costume (a semi-controversial aspect of Lloyd’s directing) into an equally sleek and stylish personal outfit. Anna Wintour — famed theater-goer — picked up on the actor’s knack for style and selected him as her guest of honor for the 2025 Met Gala. “It was the most incredible experience I’ve ever had. Just to be in a room with so many people who are at the top of their game,” Francis recalls to Fashionista.

He wore a custom suit by Todd Snyder, a designer he’s been working with frequently for red carpet outings. “I had met Todd and gone into his store and tried on some of his stuff and was just blown away with the way it fit off the rack,” he says. “For the Met Gala, we really wanted to lean into the theme of Dandyism, so we just went for absolute elite tailoring and, I mean, it was the nicest suit I’d ever worn.”

Francis has also demonstrated an interest in accessories — a category in which he leans a touch more into maximalism. On his off-days, the artist devotes his time to @Sodascout, a TikTok dedicated to trying and rating new beverages. In each video, he wears a very specific pair of green, almost Ozian sunglasses.

“That account is kind of a character, and those frames felt the most appropriate for that character,” he explains. “I remember, as a kid, coming home from having my eyes tested, and I spent the whole ride back putting my glasses on and taking them off and putting them back on. From that point onward, I became obsessed.”

Francis is bringing that passion to a new collaboration with luxury eyewear brand Morgenthal Frederics. “They’re just an exceptional brand,” he says. “Everything they strive for is exactly what I want to be attached to.” Of the four offerings in his collection, the actor says he’s reaching the most for The Brando, a $2,495 rectangular frame that comes in several color variations.

Now, post-playing Joe Gillis in “Sunset Boulevard,” Francis looks back on how the role impacted his own style, the wardrobe staples he reaches for off-stage, his growing vintage collection and more. Read on.

“I grew up in a really rural place in the U.K. and there weren’t many people around, but it was quite an affluent area. I remember being pretty obsessed with charity shops growing up because they were kind of like the rural version of a vintage shop. I was always going in and trying to figure out what my style was as a young kid.

“I was never really interested in Abercrombie & Fitch, which everyone was obsessed with when I was 10 years old. I didn’t really care for that.  I liked the weird checkered shirts from Oxfam. Then, when I moved to a big city, I got really into vintage shopping.

“Right now, my go-to style is activewear because I’m doing a lot of sport at the moment with the movie that I’m filming. I’ve got lots of different tracksuits and stuff like that. I love Adidas ones.

“When I started ‘Sunset Boulevard,’ I would be happy to have that one [costume] and it be my entire closet. So I guess [the show impacted my style], because before I used to have loads of different outfits. Now, I just circulate between a white T-shirt, some blue jeans and black loafers. I’ve never thought about it like that. Thank you, Jamie Lloyd.

“I’ve got a pair of blue Carhartt jeans that I wear to death. I normally reach for them with some Fendi loafers, a white T-shirt and a leather jacket.

“I love the way Fendi fits on my body as well. It just feels really classy.

“My favorite T-shirt is from Theory — it’s a cotton blend that feels like cashmere, but it’s not, but it’s soft as hell.

 “Looking back at the Met Gala, I remember Todd [Snyder] wanting the suit to be really grand, and he felt like those materials and the color were the best sort of fit. I would tell him I wanted it to be double-breasted and other details. The rest of it, I left up to him. He is just brilliant at what he does. He knows my skin tone very well, too, so I just trusted him to choose everything.

“I love to collect vintage watches and jackets. I’ve got a few denims and a few leathers. And I love an accessory. 

“I remember spending a lot of money on a very nice vintage Guess jacket. It’s cracked leather — there’s loads of photos of me in it as well. It’s just so sick. I also recently bought myself a Rolex after booking this film. It’s a really nice 1950s Oyster Perpetual, and it’s got this beautiful patina on the front face.

“I’m a big fan of Williamsburg for vintage shopping. Also, there’s a shop I love around the Union Square area.

“My team really has its finger on the pulse when it comes to finding designers. They’re just incredible. I owe pretty much everything to them. If there’s a cool designer that’s emerging, they’ll let me know and I’ll check them out.

“I’m a strategic shopper, but then I become a compulsive shopper as soon as I get into a shopping center. I’ll go in being like, ‘Oh, I need a jumper,’ but I don’t need a jumper. Then I end up coming back home like, ‘Why did I do that? Now I’ve got loads of fucking shoes.”

Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. In no way does this affect our editorial decision-making.

We offer unique services and partnership opportunities for brands big and small to get in front of Fashionista’s community of 1M readers. Learn More.

#Shop #Tom #Francis