Timothée Chalamet’s “scarf method” dressing for A Complete Unknown has the internet in a chokehold, desperately trying to untangle if he’s embodying Bob Dylan or just trying to out-scarf 2004-era Ashley Tisdale.
For months now, Chalamet’s Oscars campaign for his role as young Bob Dylan in the biopic A Complete Unknown has been impossible to ignore. Should Chalamet take home the trophy this Sunday, he will make history as the youngest winner yet in the category. If his recent campaign stunts are any indication, he’s playing to win.
Those stunts include riding a Lime bike onto the red carpet in London, singing Bob Dylan songs on Saturday Night Live, and fully committing to method dressing by wearing scarves. Lots and lots of scarves.
A fashion staple of Dylan’s, these scarves have become a key part of Chalamet’s promotional ensembles, sparking internet debates about whether his method-dressing approach is genius or just, well, over-the-top.
For those unfamiliar with “method dressing,” it’s when an actor aligns their red-carpet style with the character they’re portraying—think Zendaya’s desert-chic looks in Dune promotional events or Margot Robbie’s Barbie-inspired outfits. In Chalamet’s case, it’s all about the scarves.
The first major “scarf method” moment came at the New York premiere of A Complete Unknown. There, Chalamet fully committed to his Dylan portrayal by donning a blonde wig, blue beanie, and, of course, a black-and-grey scarf that immediately sparked online chatter.
“This is so unserious lol… give the man an Oscar already,” one Reddit user quipped. Another added, “It’s like he’s attending a Bob Dylan lookalike contest.”
While some fans couldn’t help but poke fun at his Dylan cosplay, others were intrigued by his unique take on method dressing.
“Timothée Chalamet is taking Bob Dylan method dressing really really far,” one fashion influencer wrote on Instagram. “I’m intrigued but also slightly concerned lol.”
Chalamet’s scarf obsession only escalated from there. At the Paris premiere, he unveiled a skinny pink Y2K-style scarf, prompting comparisons to early-2000s Ashley Tisdale and her iconic scarf-heavy style.
“I’m picturing him telling Kylie, ‘Babe, so for the Paris premiere, I’m thinking Ashley Tisdale circa 2004 vibes,’” one TikToker joked.
Chalamet’s scarves have grown bolder with each red-carpet appearance, from a massive green scarf in Rome to a silky blue number at the Golden Globes, with each new scarf continuing to spark both delight and confusion from the internet.
With the Oscars on Sunday, the only question remains: Will Chalamet’s scarves secure him the win, or will they tie up his chances in knots? Either way, he’s already proved that no one does red carpet fashion quite like him—one scarf at a time.
