Julien Baker‘s look in Boygenius: The Film pairs utilitarian workwear with raw visual accents. Centered on an oversized high-visibility safety vest thrown over a white knit top and dark denim, the outfit takes standard industrial gear and turns it into a stark, memorable screen presence.
The contrast between clean wardrobe staples and vivid blue paint markings defines the aesthetic. Recreating it comes down to balancing relaxed streetwear proportions with deliberate, expressive distressing.
The Base Layers
Start with a clean White Sweater as the core foundation under the vest. A crewneck with a classic knit texture works best here, providing subtle structure at the collar and cuffs without competing with the outer layer. Keep the fit slightly loose so the sleeves bunch naturally around the wrists, matching the relaxed, unstudied feel seen on screen.
For the bottoms, pick a pair of Black Straight Leg Jeans. A straightforward, non-distressed cut keeps the lower half grounded and lets the bright orange upper body dominate the silhouette. A mid or high rise pairs well with the untucked knit, sitting comfortably beneath the hem of the vest without bunching awkwardly.
The High-Visibility Safety Vest
An Orange Safety Vest forms the central focal point of the outfit. Standard commercial vests with silver reflective striping match the industrial aesthetic Julien wears. Since the vest goes directly over a knit sweater, size up if you want a boxy, relaxed drape rather than a snug worker fit.
Leaving the front zipper or hook-and-loop closure open lets the white knit show through down the middle, breaking up the bright neon block. If the vest material feels too stiff straight out of the package, a gentle wash or brief hand-crumpling helps soften the polyester mesh so it hangs naturally against your frame.
Working with the Blue Paint
Vivid blue pigment is the defining visual signature of the costume, appearing across the skin and clothes in raw, intentional strokes. Because you are dealing with both textiles and skin, using separate products tailored to each surface keeps everything clean and long-lasting throughout a full day of wear.
Use dedicated Blue Face Paint for any marks on your face, neck, or hands. Water-activated or cream formulas give you rich pigmentation that glides on smoothly with a flat brush or fingertips. Setting the finished marks with a translucent powder or setting spray stops the pigment from transferring onto your sweater collar whenever you turn your head.
For the sweater and vest distressing, turn to Blue Fabric Paint instead of standard craft paint. Fabric paint bonds directly with fibers and stays flexible once dry, meaning the blue smears will not crack, flake, or turn brittle as the knit bends. You can dab the paint on with a dry sponge or flick it with a stiff-bristled brush to mirror the spontaneous, textured splatters from the film.
If you are carrying themed props like tools, scrap hardware, or customized work boots, Blue Acrylic Paint provides dense, opaque coverage on rigid surfaces. It dries quickly onto plastic, leather, and metal, letting you tie your accessories into the same vivid blue color story across the entire presentation.
