THE JOURNAL
Mr Murray Bartlett and Mr Nick Offerman in The Last Of Us (2023). Photograph by Ms Liane Hentscher, courtesy of HBO
“Even though you can survive by yourself, what are you surviving for? What’s left?” Mr Neil Druckmann, the writer of the video game The Last Of Us and co-writer of its TV adaptation, recently posed this question on the official podcast running as a companion piece to the HBO series. Which is apt, since companionship is at the heart of the show. And particularly the third episode (the story of Bill and Frank – we didn’t cry, honest), to which Druckmann was referring. But more than that, there is something that is perhaps missed by other post-apocalyptical shows (ahem, The Walking Dead), something deeper. What’s the point of life if you can’t live it?
This theme was similarly touched on by writer Mr Douglas Rushkoff in his 2022 book Survival Of The Richest. By more accident than design, Marxist theorist Rushkoff found himself offering counsel to billionaire preppers, whom are keen to see out “the event”, as they call it, in their well-appointed luxury bunkers. His advice? “Don’t just invest in ammo and electric fences, invest in people and relationships.”
To that, we would add your clothes. After all, the clothes we wear are perhaps our closest companions. It’s a core tenet is woven into the fabric of The Last Of Us, right down to the wardrobe.
Take Joel, the begrudging hero of the show [light spoilers from here on]. On the surface, his chosen attire is built around durability and whatever he could salvage from the back of drawers on his journey, but there are still nods to the person wearing them and what he holds dear.
“His rugged waxed-cotton trucker jacket, Wrangler western denim shirt, fatigued jeans and hunting boots enable him to keep a low profile – he moonlights as a black-market smuggler – but are utilitarian enough to endure and survive all the physical challenges that come his way,” says Ms Sophie Watson, MR PORTER’s Junior Fashion Editor.
Then there’s his watch, which we see fixed in the first episode, but clearly has seen better days when we rejoin him 20 years later. “It has stood the test of time – if not in working order – as his last sentimental link to his life before the outbreak and the love he still holds for his only daughter,” Watson says.
“Take your inspiration from the runways of CELINE HOMME, Dries Van Noten and Gucci and go out in a blaze of glory”
“This show is really about performance,” as Ms Cynthia Summers, the show’s costume designer, told the entertainment website Digital Spy. “It’s less about grand costume, which makes it harder. As we all know as people trying to find the right pair of jeans, all of those really basic pieces are really hard to find, just personally.”
“Summers made a key decision to exclude black clothing in favour of lighter, washed-out tones and natural, dusty shades,” Watson says. “This ties back to the main thematic arc of the cordyceps itself, the fungi villain, and the organic apocalypse the protagonists find themselves navigating. It also sets it apart stylistically from series such as The Walking Dead, where many of the characters are clothed in menacing black and inky tones.” Watson points to the message that runs through The Last Of Us: “When you’re lost in the darkness, look for the light”.
Say you were to equip yourself for the end of times, what should you wear? “If I were to take clothing cues from the heroine Ellie [whom Joel is tasked with guiding across the newly rewilded American landscape], I would be scavenging a mid-weight field jacket, much like the ones from OrSlow and RRL,” Watson says. “Multiple pockets will be essential for stashing tools, snacks and maps, and a well-loved, fatigued finish never goes out of style.
“Ellie’s preference for Converse sneakers would make my arches scream in agony. Joel makes the right choice in his vintage boots. The mid-calf height provides ample ankle support while the rubber lug soles deliver good traction and are quiet when tiptoeing around the clickers. ROA, Diemme and Canada Goose do similar styles.”
If the end truly is nigh, you could make like Bill and Frank and dress for the occasion. “On the site of their fenced-off town lies an untouched clothing boutique,” Watson says. “Over the years, we learn that this gives them a sense of normality, purpose and routine. The effort of dressing up for rare visitors and special occasions stems mainly from Frank, whom we assume to have had an eye for style before the outbreak. He wants them to share something together in their final days on Earth. In their later years and last days, we see them smartening up and donning suits and shirts, to finish life looking their best.”
So, what should the stylish survivalist be looking to hoard this season? “I would recommend high-octane colour, embellishments and clashing prints to match your fashion fantasies,” Watson says. “Take your inspiration from the runways of CELINE HOMME, Dries Van Noten and Gucci and go out in a blaze of glory. You’ll probably catch me in an outrageously fluffy mohair cardigan, sequined T-shirt, wide-leg leather trousers and 1970s shades, right before the mushroom-headed zombies get me.”
Good luck running in a pair of Cuban heels, we say.