Tom Rhys Harries on Cartier, acting and his upbringing
The actor sits down with Gentleman's Journal to discuss his first time at the Cartier polo
Tom Rhys Harries is still a bit bewildered. "This is so far removed from anything I've been to before, and especially my upbringing," the Cardiff-born actor, who now lives in Peckham after a brief stint in the countryside, tells me over the phone. "I was surrounded by these super expensive ponies that are however millions of pounds." Harries has just been to the Cartier Queen's Cup polo, where he was a guest of the brand - "I love their watches so much" -, and he jumped on a phone call with Gentleman's Journal the day after to discuss what went down.
Held down at Windsor, the Cartier Queen's Cup is one of the glittering events on the French luxury brand's heaped calendar, and indeed one of the most celebrated polo events in the sport. Champion players aside, it brings out a starry array of people, from King Charles III himself to Lucien Laviscount and Tom Blyth. And for White Lines actor Harries, who doesn't drink alcohol, it was the chance to kick back. "I like to be selective about what I go to, as I think you can dilute the fun of it all."
For the polo, Harries, who will soon star in the hotly-anticipated Odyssey epic The Return alongside Ralph Fiennes, wanted to have fun with the way he was dressing. Traditionally a place for the formal, the polo is hosted by the prestigious Guards Polo Club, and a suit of a certain standard - tie and all - is expected. But Harries went for something a little left field. "My relationship with fashion had been merely functional, and I always just needed to have enough pockets and be comfortable," he laughs. "But I had crossed paths with Rain Chan at Cahaya Studio, and I just loved what she was doing. She geeks out on fabric and design, which is amazing to see, and so I thought I'd try something a little more experimental."
Harries' unique suit was pleated, with an overall effect that looked as if it had been crushed, and was entirely the product of working hand-in-hand with Chan. "We worked closely to make something that complemented my skin tone and hair colour, and so we settled on this sort of grey-navy which never really reached deep blue. It's super interesting." Chan told Gentleman's Journal ahead of the polo that Tom "is quite versatile and fluid when it comes to self-expression through fashion. Take the navy set which Tom is wearing for example - it is an unconventional suit, a classic with a modern twist. " To top it off? A Cartier Tank Louis timepiece, of course. "Tom embodies Cahaya’s vision for modern man, that dares to be different and embraces his sensitivity in the most authentic way."
But the suit, which Harries wore a sheer top under, almost landed him in hot water with the dress code police. "Apparently wearing a tie is procedure! A couple of us were wearing suits and shirts with no collars, so it was a little tricky. But luckily I didn't need to. A little bit of modernity there."
Nonetheless, Harries is appreciative of his big polo experience. As an actor, who he explains is lucky enough to be approached by big fashion brands, he is often given a "peep into worlds he doesn't necessarily belong in." He continues, "it's an extension of being in my position and it is never boring. I'm really keen on looking behind the curtain, whether that's at the madness of the very British polo as a humble Welsh guy, or the amazing way in which my suit was created. I love to engage with people on different shit and this sort of opportunity opens those doors."
Photographer Carys Huws
Stylist Olga Timofejeva
Grooming Maria Comparetto
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