LONDON — Every month a new heartthrob is declared the internet’s boyfriend, a term used to describe emerging actors who have quickly become Romeos through streaming service franchises on Netflix, Apple TV+ or Amazon Prime Video.
Among them have been Netflix’s leading men — Corey Mylchreest from “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,” Luke Newton from “Bridgerton” and Joe Locke from “Heartstopper” — who all share one secret weapon: their stylist, Holly White.
She plays the role of a fairy godmother of fashion and has worked with them from the start of their skyrocketing careers. She has also helped open the fashion gates for them and helped them get scooped up by luxury brands to sit front row at shows.
Mylchreest, Newton and Locke may all share the same stylist and streaming provider, but when it comes to style, they couldn’t be more different.
Matthew Broome and his stylist Holly White.
Saira Macleod/WWD
White met each actor through their agents, where she was set up on a Zoom date to meet them.
“It’s a bit like dating — there’s an energy you get from someone through conversations,” she said in an interview.
She recalls that most of her fittings with Newton are spent laughing. He’s one of her clients who “really loves fashion. Our WhatsApp chat is just a stream of pictures, videos and details. I really like to encourage my clients to feel like they can communicate with me and that we have a space to throw ideas in,” said White.
As the leading man of “Bridgeton” Season Three, she strategized with Newton to strike a balance between subtle nods to the show’s romantic mood and its huge fan base, while also retaining the actor’s own style identity.
Luke Newton in Dior.
Getty Images
White said Newton is a fan of tank tops and wide-leg trousers, so on the show’s press tour, she sourced from Filippa K, Loewe, Amiri and Dior.
At the Dublin premiere of “Bridgerton,” he wore a black jacket with a pearl-embellished notch lapel from Irish designer Simone Rocha — a salute to his costar Nicola Coughlan’s nationality and the show’s use of costume jewelry.
Another look that leaned into the show’s romantic nature was a boxy gray two-piece suit from Emporio Armani that had floral sequin embellishment details on the shoulders.
“It was cool and sexy and just the perfect balance between Luke and what the show was promoting,” said White, who has been working with the actor for four years.
The stylist is well-versed in the “Bridgerton” universe, but is careful to keep each client’s style separate and unique. As men’s fashion has become more democratic on the red carpet, there are still clients of White’s who prefer a traditional approach to all the glitz and glamour.
When it comes to dressing Mylchreest, she’s often given creative freedom. The actor starred as a young King George in “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” and will be leading Netflix’s upcoming rom-com “My Oxford Year.”
“He has a strong preference for darker silhouettes and keeping things a little bit more classic and minimal. It’s exciting for me because it’s a challenge, and it means I’m always looking out for those modern details or interesting ways of making an impact on the carpet without him feeling like it’s ‘too fashion,’” said White.
Corey Mylchreest in Saint Laurent.
Getty Images for BAFTA
At the “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” premiere, Mylchreest wore a beige Prada suit with a black shirt and a necktie featuring the brand’s metallic logo.
His looks are consistently classic, from a burgundy Fendi suit to a black ensemble from Givenchy by Matthew Williams with a little bit of wiggle room for a denim shirt or green knit jumper from Loewe.
At the 78th BAFTA awards last month, Mylchreest opted for a head-to-toe Saint Laurent look that had a “French effortless energy to it.” White added a pair of black round aviator sunglasses that “made the whole look come together.” She later received a text from the actor saying, “This is the best I’ve ever felt.”
A big part of White’s job is cultivating trust with her clients. In the case of Locke, she has worked with the “Heartstopper” actor since he was 17 years old. The pair have come a long way since his muted looks of yore. “Since he’s joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we’re really leaning into a darker, sexier and slightly grungier look,” said White.
Joe Locke in Celine.
Penske Media via Getty Images
A big moment for Locke was earlier this month attending his first Academy Awards red carpet. White turned to Celine for the occasion — choosing a modern take on a morning suit with a gold waistcoat that featured 44,000 sequins.
“I wanted to find something that felt really memorable for him. We went a bit more formal than before,” said White. “If I had shown him something sleeveless or a three-piece three years ago, he would’ve laughed at me, but my job is about building people’s confidence and getting them to a point where they feel like they want to start taking fashion risks,” she added.
White’s magic touch is not limited to internet’s boyfriends; she also works with emerging ladies of the stage and screen such as the South Korean singer and actress Yerin; “Paris Has Fallen” actor Ritu Arya and Charithra Chandran, a “Bridgerton” alum.
