The red carpet has long been a no-man’s-land when it comes to arms. Bare too much and you risk looking like a gym bro on holiday; bare too little and you're just another tux in a sea of tuxes. Then came Pedro Pascal at Cannes—sleeveless, suave, and utterly unbothered. In a black button-down shirt shorn of sleeves, paired with pleated trousers and trademark Pascalian poise, he proved that men can go sleeveless without losing their edge—or their dignity.

This wasn’t about showing off gains. It was about loosening the chokehold of traditional tailoring and making room for something softer, more lived-in, more now. If you’re wondering how to show skin without looking like you’ve lost the plot, take notes. Pascal didn’t just make a fashion statement—he made a case for a whole new silhouette.

How To Nail Sleeveless Tops Like Pedro Pascal

1. Structure Is Everything

In frame - Alexander Wang Men's Puffed Logo Top

The mistake most men make with sleeveless shirts is assuming it’s just about lopping the sleeves off and calling it a day. Wrong. Pascal’s shirt worked because it still followed the basic architecture of tailoring, a sharp collar, a clean placket, and weighty enough fabric to hold its shape. This wasn’t a DIY hack job or a beach tank in disguise.
 

Want to pull it off? Start with structure. Look for stiff collars, defined armholes, and a slightly boxy silhouette—something that feels like it used to be a dress shirt but has evolved.
 

Pair it with tailored trousers—nothing skinny, nothing sloppy. Aim for a relaxed, pleated fit that balances the bare arms. That contrast is what makes the whole thing feel like fashion, not a fitness instructor’s day off.

2. Get the Mood Right

In frame - Bershka Rustic Waistcoat

Pascal’s brilliance wasn’t just in what he wore, but how he wore it. There was no loud accessorising. No statement jewellery or screaming colours. The confidence came from restraint. He let the silhouette do the work. That’s the trick.
 

Keep the colour palette tight—black, navy, beige, white. Let the shirt be the visual centrepiece. And skip the over-styling. You’re already showing arms. You don’t need to shout.
 

In Frame: Louis Vuitton Major Loafer

Footwear? Think grown-up. Loafers, leather sandals, maybe a suede derby. Nothing that looks like it could survive leg day.

3. Groom Like You Meant It

In frame: Calvin Klein Jeans Sleeveless Cotton Poplin Shirt

Here’s the bit no one wants to say: you don’t need jacked arms—but you do need presentable ones. Pascal’s arms were real—strong but not shredded, like someone who lifts books more than barbells. But they looked groomed. Not waxed, not manicured. Just...taken care of.
 

Moisturise. Maybe exfoliate. Trim stray hairs. If you’ve never thought about your forearms before, now’s the time. You don’t need a six-pack to pull this off—but you do need to look like you tried.

4. Know When and Where

Let’s be honest: not every setting is sleeveless-appropriate. This isn’t an airport look or something you throw on for a meeting. Pascal wore his at Cannes—a humid, high-fashion petri dish where taking risks is encouraged.

In the real world? Pick your spots. Rooftop dinners. Gallery openings. Fashion weeks. Summer weddings where you’re not the groom. First dates that require effort. If you’re second-guessing whether it’s too much, bring a jacket and throw it over your shoulder. It says: I have options, but I made a choice.

5. The Confidence Equation

In frame: Uniqlo Pleated Wide Pants

This look isn’t just about style—it’s about conviction. You’ll be clocked the second you walk in. And that’s the point. Sleeveless dressing isn’t background noise. It demands attention. But if the fit is right, the grooming is on point, and the styling is controlled, it doesn’t read as thirsty—it reads as evolved.
 

Think of it as the fashion equivalent of a mic drop. You don’t ask for approval. You show up like you know better.

6. The Bigger Shift

Here’s what this moment signals: a loosening of the rules. Menswear is getting freer, less obsessed with structure-for-structure’s-sake. The sleeveless shirt—when done like this—isn’t rebellion. It’s evolution. A quiet shake-up of old codes, tailored for the man who knows that showing skin doesn’t mean losing sophistication.

Sometimes, losing your sleeves is the most grown-up move in the room.