Leonardo DiCaprio Has A Real Big Lebowski Thing Going In PT Anderson’s New Movie. How The Plaid Robe Happened

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Sometimes, a costume becomes as memorable as the character wearing it. Think of Jeff Bridges and The Dude’s bathrobe, or Tony Soprano with his signature robe. Now, Leonardo DiCaprio has earned a place among these iconic looks in Paul Thomas Anderson’s new and highly praised film, One Battle After Another. And now, we’re getting a behind-the-scenes look at how that distinctive plaid robe came to be featured in his 2025 movie!

As reported by Variety, the distinctive plaid outfit wasn’t originally intended. Costume designer Colleen Atwood shared that Bob, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character-a man who goes from revolutionary to laid-back father-was first planned to simply wear a sweatshirt. However, in a moment reminiscent of “The Dude,” someone-either director Paul Thomas Anderson or DiCaprio himself-proposed, “What if he just wears his robe?” And that’s how a now-iconic movie look was born. Atwood told the publication:

I came across some fabric that looked like it was from another era, and used it to create several pieces for the robe… It’s basically an old, simple robe – the kind dads often wear. It’s really comfortable and cozy. We also did a lot to make the fabric look older and more worn.

Furthermore, DiCaprio adopted a style that brought to mind the memorable outfits from a classic ‘90s film. At the movie’s premiere, the Academy Award winner confessed his inspiration came from Bridges’ legendary Lebowski character, playfully describing Bob as “a man who spends his days relaxing at home and smoking marijuana.” Simply put, The Dude remains… but reimagined for 2025.

Honestly, the robe was just *part* of what made Bob’s look so perfect. It was the whole combination – the sunglasses, the dad hat, and the sneakers – that really pulled it together. I heard Leonardo DiCaprio actually chose those sneakers himself! According to Atwood, he specifically wanted Killers of the Flower Moon star to wear Altra Lone Peak trail runners, because they give your toes plenty of room. (It just goes to show, even cool dads in PT Anderson movies need comfortable shoes!)

Interestingly enough, you won’t see this robe hanging in any fancy designer stores. Atwood playfully mentioned that if you’re planning to dress up as Bob for Halloween:

A nice Goodwill shop will do the job.

This detail perfectly captures the essence of Bob’s character. He has a knack for discovering beauty, humor, and humanity in the overlooked and fading aspects of American life. The robe reveals just as much about him as his words do. He’s a man who used to battle the establishment, and now he’s struggling against stagnation within his own home.

One Battle After Another, based on Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland, centers on Bob, portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. He’s a disillusioned ex-revolutionary attempting to shield his strong-willed daughter, Willa, from the turmoil around them, while battling his own anxieties. When a past enemy reappears and Willa vanishes, Bob is reluctantly pulled back into the life he’d tried to escape. Their desperate search compels them to confront unresolved issues from their history. This movie marks Paul Thomas Anderson’s second attempt to bring a Pynchon story to the screen, following Inherent Vice in 2014.

Even after over 25 years, The Dude and his comfortable clothes remain iconic, meaning DiCaprio isn’t likely to replace him as the ultimate robe-wearer anytime soon, though this new film will certainly be a strong contender. You might even feel inspired to visit a thrift store after seeing it, hoping to find the perfect plaid robe! One Battle After Another is already being called one of the year’s best films and is currently playing in theaters, so check your local listings for showtimes.

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2025-09-30 22:03