It takes a brave man (and a seriously stacked physique) to wear a pair of Speedos next to Dwayne Johnson, but Zac Efron isn’t your everyman. The face that launched a thousand crushes in High School Musical has, in recent years, grown from teen hunk to bona fide leading man – and one with a serious sense of style.
Of course, where stylish men go, brands follow, so it was only a matter of time until Efron landed a big fashion campaign. His partnership with Hugo Boss as the face of the brand’s iconic Hugo Man fragrance aims to celebrate everything confident, charismatic and classic about the pairing and aims to empower men to act on their passions to achieve their goals.
To mark the start of their partnership, we spoke to the 29-year-old about his style icons, his tips for success, and how he dresses a body that’s so Baywatch-level stacked, even The Rock called him an “animal”.
FashionBeans: As one of the world’s most stylish men, what pieces in your wardrobe and grooming rotation can’t you live without?
Zac Efron: It might sound boring, but I really do live in black T-shirts. My life can be quite hectic, but with black T-shirts, I can run in them, but they’re classy enough to go somewhere cool or to go to a meeting in. I own dozens.
As for grooming products: sunscreen. I can’t live without it, especially in LA. And a dab of cologne, you never know who’ll be smelling you.
You’ve spent the past few years building a signature look. But who’s your personal style hero?
Steve McQueen, he’s my number one, he’s just classic and cool and never tries too hard. But on the other hand, I also love Michael Jackson. He was so crazily stylish, have you seen his clothes on stage? Unbelievable.
You’ve seen your fair share of the red carpet. What are your tips for nailing tailoring?
I like to look at the classic style of Hollywood for inspiration, Steve McQueen obviously, and the old-school guys who wore suits so well back in the day, and then emulate them as they always just got it right.
I also have a great stylist, Jamie, and we’ve worked together for years, so she just gets it, which helps. I like things simple and classic, but I guess I’m lucky that I fit things off the rack pretty well, so we don’t tend to have to do too many adjustments.
What’s your go-to day off look?
On my days off, I’m usually working on something anyway, how sad is that? So it’s pretty much what I always wear – jeans, a bomber, a T-shirt.
I haven’t worn a tracksuit for, like, two-and-a-half years, but this year I’m going to take a break and chill out in one for sure.
We’ve seen you looking bulked up for Baywatch, how are you finding dressing for a more athletic shape?
Believe it or not, I wasn’t that much heavier or bulkier before; I just got leaner. I was pretty much the same size in measurements, but during Baywatch, I had basically no body fat. I wanted to look more toned, like Bruce Lee, because obviously in terms of bulking I didn’t want to compete with The Rock.
Luckily I didn’t have to change it too much; my style is already quite athletic, so it worked. That’d be my advice for guys with a muscular physique – go for athleisure.
You’re a well-known actor and now you’re moving into producing films too, so what are your tips for success?
It’s a cliché, but it’s true – life really does begin at the end of your comfort zone. Don’t ever be scared to try something new; I make sure I try something new every day. If you fail, so what? You tried, and that’s what counts in terms of success.
In the long term, making those leaps will pay off. Even if it’s just going for a run and seeing if you can get a six-minute mile. Push yourself, make time for yourself and success will come.
Zac Efron is the ambassador of the new HUGO MAN campaign #YourTimeIsNow, a movement set to energize younger generations to act on their passions and fulfill their goals. HUGO MAN is available to purchase from The Perfume Shop nationwide in the following sizes 40ml RRP: £35, 75ml RRP: £45, 125ml RRP: £55, 200ml RRP: £71
