7 minute readAlthough few in the fashion industry had foreseen this move, Pete Davidson emerged as one of New York Fashion Week’s biggest headlines. Despite the snow and the deep Brooklyn location, the 32-year-old comedian, actor, and internet boyfriend showed up to the front row of the Cult Gaia show wearing a Von Dutch hat.
The trucker cap was baby blue and ping-pong paddle green and featured the name of Davidson’s own clothing brand, Double Soul, prominently displayed. He famously promoted it on Shark Tank last year. (Jewelry designer Kendra Scott is now a co-investor.) His Fashion Week appearance with the Double Soul hat was a fortuitous hard launch. The official collaboration with Von Dutch goes on sale today and includes the famous trucker hat (priced at $48) and seven pairs of socks (priced at $14 each).
Naturally, we had questions too. So we asked Pete Davidson to answer via video call from London.
Pete Davidson, Lucas Gage and Becky G attend the Cult Gaia New York Fashion Week show on February 15, 2026.
Hey Pete!
Hey! Is the ELLE team in Milan for Fashion Week? Is that what’s happening now?
that’s right. where are you? Are you video calling us from the street?
Yeah, I’m in London…I just came out of the (Killing Satoshi) movie set. I basically drove home from a movie set, which was a giant black hole. My friends are actually bothering me because I don’t really leave the house or come off the set. It’s like, “Please come outside. Please.”
I asked you to leave the house.
You made me see the light of day. Yeah.
And he’s wearing a hat!
here it is. Check it out (pointing to hat). I swear it’s a really nice hat.
That’s cool. Were you one of those middle schoolers who fell in love with Von Dutch?
I completely missed the wave. I have no idea what it was at the time. I came into this world when the only cool clothes were weird-smelling clothes sold in vintage stores run by random guys. I looked at these hats and thought, “This is so fucking cool.” Then I Googled it and realized that back in 2002, everyone wore hats. It was the era of Ed Hardy, Affliction, and juicy tracksuits. And like all of them, Zoo York, a cool brand I loved, is gone.
Do you still like Y2K style?
of course. I think everything is coming back because people are really hungry for nostalgia. The current world is so bad that everyone wonders, “Was it fun back then?” And that was a time when people wore Dutch hats, downloaded music illegally from Limewire, and bought pirated DVDs from barbershops. Remember piracy? Those things were the best.
Some collaborations are cool, and some are lame. Why is this the right thing to do for a double soul?
Fits perfectly.[Co-founders]Ben (Rosenbaum) and Alison (Stramayer) are really smart. they are very selective. If you do too much of one thing, it will disappear quickly. If you rotate it slowly, it may live longer. That’s why our selection isn’t just 17 pages long. And honestly, it just fits my vibe. I like to dress comfortably. I don’t want to think about it too much, especially now that I have a baby. My fashion sense is basically, “Is this pretty? I’ll try wearing this.” I’m so glad this trend started thanks to Adam Sandler, but what’s cool right now is not putting any effort into what you’re wearing. And I say that in the best way possible. As a new father, I’m obsessed with this idea.
Why did I go to the Cult Gaia show during New York Fashion Week? That brand definitely puts a lot of effort into their exhibit!
No, absolutely. they’re great. A friend of mine from Staten Island is good friends with them, so that was the connection. But I actually think their clothes are really cool. And to be honest, I was just curious. This is your job. You always go to shows. I kept thinking, “Why do you guys do[Fashion Week]every year and cause so much traffic and ruin everything?” I just wanted to see it! It was a cool show and everyone was really nice, so I think it was good for me too. Actually, I don’t go out much. We are quite reclusive. My friend Colson (Baker, aka Machine Gun Kelly) has made it his biggest goal this year to get me out more.
So this is the interview.
Yeah.
Your daughter Scottie is almost 4 months old, right? Babies can make things more difficult than they were before.
she is the best She is so cute and so amazing. However, it is difficult to leave the house with a 3 and a half month old child.
What has been the best thing about fatherhood so far?
when she laughed. Or when you made her stop crying. Or when you burp. Those are the big three. She likes the Bee Gees, especially “Nights on Broadway.” She gets really excited about it. And she likes the song “Baby Elephant Walk” (written by Henry Mancini). Meanwhile, she also smiles. She is very curious and will just stare at the art on the wall for about 30 minutes. I can’t wait to see what she gets into, but for now I just want her to sleep.
Is she staring at art at 4 months old? She will be very smart!
Oh, I hope so. The Davidson family tree has to change, right? Get the genius.
I think you are selling yourself short. Did you know that the New York Times called your new show “the most visually original Netflix podcast”?
they didn’t. oh my god. I told you, I didn’t leave the house…I didn’t see it. That’s very cool. But do you know what it is? We put minimal effort into it. That’s why they think it’s great! To be honest, that Netflix series is actually in my garage. All the other podcasts are very serious. There’s a guy on his laptop and everyone’s asking, “So, how was 2009 for you?” For me, I just walk into the garage, start talking, and keep my camera on the whole time. that’s it. It’s a “visually interesting” Netflix podcast to the New York Times.
So, you’ve got a podcast, you’re about to go on tour, you’ve got Killing Satoshi and a few other movies, you’ve got Double Soul… Do you just vibe code your choices now, or do you have a bigger end goal – a production company, a fashion empire, etc?
Yes, there is an endgame. I just don’t want to do this level of exposure forever. Ideally, we would tour once every three years and make a movie every three or four years. That would be very lucky. I’m very passionate and serious about everything I’m working on right now, especially about sobriety, having children, and starting a family. I truly believe in double souls. Here’s the plan: We established ourselves as a socks brand and stocked our socks in stores. Hats are cool, but they’re also a bit of a challenge. Because we are a socks company. Simplicity is very important to brands. Staying in your lane will always give you longevity.
When you write your next movie, will you be working with John Mulaney? Please say yes for Claire, my editor.
Claire, I get it, we’re always trying to find something. John is on a great tour right now, doing Wrigley Field, which is insane. Cubs field?! Are you kidding me? And he’s also starring in David O. Russell’s new film. But we’re working on something together that we know will be great, and we’re always trying to figure it out. It will happen.
What could it be?
I think people are hungry for really stupid, vulgar comedy. They appear only once or twice a year and do not always land. I think that’s what we want to do.
Isn’t it a “prestige” comedy like “The Bear” where everyone is crying?
No, come on, if people are going to see a Pete and John movie, they’ll hope it’s not as heart-breaking as Manchester by the Sea. We need a fun buddy movie. Let’s make it. I understand that.
Are you good at giving advice?
In many cases yes, but it depends. i will try.
I was abandoned.
Oh my god. I’m really sorry. Understood. First of all, don’t go on social media. Don’t look at what someone else is doing. Filter yourself so you don’t re-traumatize yourself every time you see their photos. That’s the best. Second, enjoy movies and sadness in bed for the first week. That’s fine and necessary. But after that? Let’s go out and do something. Please be really careful. Do what makes you happy. Surround yourself with friends and family and stay active. And if it was meant to be, it will come back, which sometimes happens. If not, it’s like a favor was done for you. Keep remembering that and go out and have sex. And I realized the irony of me saying that now.
But Pete, this interview is to promote your socks. I’m sure they’ll somehow tell you that double soul socks are a good way to break up.
Obviously, yes. Also great tissues! Very absorbent. You can cry right into your double soul socks.
That’s great advice. And tell her that her essay was really moving and wonderful.
I appreciate you saying that because what she did was very difficult and especially vulnerable in her position and we’re talking about a very scary subject. She’s exposed, right? Now people are following her. But I’m so proud of her. Because she explained her position (on breastfeeding) and did not criticize others or impose her position on others. She wasn’t trying to sway you either way. She just wanted to make it clear that all women should do what works for them without prejudice. That’s really, really difficult. She did a great job. Everyone please read it too. If you are reading this article now, please read her article. I told you, there are real geniuses in my family. Please read her book!
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
