Nate's 13 Best Outfits from Euphoria

May 29, 2023 - by Themba Mahlangu - 9 min read

Jacob Elordi’s character, Nate Jacobs, plays a prominent role as the classic high school jock and a major antagonist in HBO’s Euphoria. As the star quarterback at East Highland, Nate is notorious for his toxic behavior and actions.

Nate’s wardrobe reflects his discomfort with anything that he perceives as not being masculine enough. He prefers to wear basic, muted colors such as dark blues, greys, and blacks, and his outfits consist mainly of simple tops, jeans, and sneakers.

While his fashion sense may be lacking, his choice of dark colors also mirrors his darkened psychology, particularly his tendency towards aggression and violence. Black, in particular, is a fitting color for Nate, given his sinister tendencies and the harm he has caused to those around him.

Throughout Euphoria, Nate’s clothing serves as a visual representation of his internal struggle. Join us as we review some of his most fashionable moments from both seasons and decode the messages hidden in his outfit choices.

  1. Nate’s Grey Henley Shirt (S1EP2)

Nate’s casual outfit in Euphoria includes a pair of Reebok Classic sneakers, denim jeans, and a grey Henley Shirt. His simple style allows Maddy to shine brighter next to him.

Nate met Maddy in high school; one of the first things he noticed about her was her hairless body. Yeah, weird lol, I know! But Nate literally made a mental checklist about what he liked and disliked about women. Some of the most hilarious things he included were: liking jeans cut-offs but not the ones with visible pockets, disliking sneakers and dress shoes but being okay with sandals if they were accompanied by a fresh pedicure, hating cankles and girls that sat like boys… but there was nothing on planet earth he hated more than body hair.

  1. Nate’s Grey Shirt and Nike Sneakers (S1EP3)

Nate’s fashion sense is pretty basic and uninspired. His go-to outfit usually consists of a plain grey top, denim jeans, and Nike or Reebok sneakers. In this scene, he opts for low Nike Blazer sneakers.

If you’re looking for fashion inspiration from this character, you won’t find it. Nate’s fashion choices are intentionally low-key, reflecting his desire to appear masculine. He sticks to basic pieces like jeans, hoodies, and solid-colored t-shirts. When it comes to color, he usually chooses dark neutral colors like black, navy, and gray. This choice in clothing allows him to blend in with the crowd and appear like your average straight guy so that no one would second guess his sexuality.

  1. Nate’s Seam Grey Sweatshirt at School (S1EP3)

The popular high school couple at East Highland Highschool may seem like the ultimate power duo, but their relationship is anything but healthy. It’s concerning to see the toxic behavior they exhibit, even though they appear confident and in control.

If you want to channel Nate’s style, all you need is a casual outfit that includes a long-sleeved shirt with seam details, black jeans, and sneakers. And of course, don’t forget to master his blank yet overpowering stare.

  1. Nate’s Halloween Costume (S1EP6)

The carnival was supposed to be a fun night, but things quickly took a turn for the worse when Nate and Maddy got into a heated argument. Nate’s controlling behavior became apparent as he started telling Maddy what to wear and how to act. But we all know that Maddy won’t let anyone tell her what to do. So when Maddy refused, Nate got physical and choked her, which left some serious bruises on her neck. It was a terrifying situation!

Just a few days later, Nate showed up at the Halloween party dressed as a prisoner, which was all too fitting considering the ongoing police investigation into his abusive behavior towards Maddy. Despite being the prime suspect, Nate somehow managed to avoid punishment. Seeing him in the prisoner costume was a clear provocation and incredibly frustrating. Let’s be real; after what Nate did to Maddy, we all wanted to see him behind bars!

  1. Nate’s Adidas Sweatshirt (S1EP7)

Nate is wearing a black
* Adidas Originals Sweatshirt
* when he shows up at Milk - Fez’s Convenience store. Fez asks Nate to stop going after Rue and Jules. But instead of backing down, Nate set his sights on the drug dealer. Unblinking, Fez tells him if he keeps messing with his friends, he’ll kill him. However, later that evening, the police get a tip-off from Nate and arrive at Fez’s. The brothers scramble to destroy all evidence before the cops can bust them.

It’s ironic how Fezco and Nate both find themselves involved in criminal activities, but their situations couldn’t be more different. Fezco had to take on the family’s drug business at a young age after losing his grandmother, while Nate enjoys the privilege and safety net of his wealthy white family, headed by his father, Cal Jacobs, who seemingly owns the entire town.

This has given Nate a sense of entitlement that allows him to get away with almost anything. He can call the cops, beat up Tyler and force him to confess to a crime he didn’t commit, and even blackmail Jules into lying about witnessing Tyler’s assault on Maddy. Nate is ruthless and unpredictable, with no regard for anyone but himself.

While Fezco had no choice but to turn to a life of crime in order to survive, Nate’s privileged background has enabled him to act with impunity and indulge in harmful behaviors. The stark difference in their circumstances underscores the deep societal inequalities that exist in our society.

HBO really was like, “How can we fully explain rich white male privilege without saying the words?!”

  1. Nate’s Football Uniform (S1EP8)

As the quarterback of the East Highland High School American football team, Nate is used to staying one step ahead. He approaches everything like it’s a game, constantly analyzing and strategizing. It’s like he’s playing a chess game, always thinking ahead of his opponents.

This behavior is perfectly exemplified in the way he avoided any charges for abusing Maddy. The way he managed to strategize and twist the situation was unbelievable. First, he found a willing patsy in Tyler, who was coerced into taking the fall for him. Nate further solidified his false statement by blackmailing Jules into corroborating his narrative. His calculated approach to everything is concerning and shows how far he’s willing to go to stay in control!

  1. Nate’s Winterformal Outfit (S1EP8)

Nate keeps it classic for his high school’s winter formal event, donning a sharp and sleek black suit. He arrives with another girl after a fight with Maddy about his sexuality. However, Nate later convinces her to dance with him. Even though Maddy tells him they’re not meant for each other, their toxic relationship is known to be on and off all the time, so seeing them back together in Season 2 wouldn’t be a shock.

  1. Nate’s Light Grey Sweatshirt at School (S2EP3)

If you want to make an accurate guess at what Nate is wearing today, just think “basic grey top, denim jeans, and Reebok or Nike sneakers” - chances are you’ll be right about 95% of the time.

  1. Nate’s Black Bomber Jacket (S2EP3)

Despite agreeing to meet with Cassie for a hook-up session, Nate ended up standing her up to visit Maddy at her babysitting job. He was wearing a black bomber jacket when he arrived and even brought Maddy a bouquet of flowers. The scene made it abundantly clear that Maddy held a higher place in Nate’s priorities than Cassie, who was simply a backup option.

  1. Nate’s Contrast Trim Shirt (S2EP4)

As Nate talks to Cassie, it’s hard to ignore his stylish dark grey-blue shirt with white details. But their conversation quickly becomes uncomfortable when Cassie confronts him about his recent visit to Maddy. She’s clearly not happy about it. “If I would have known you were going to get back together, I wouldn’t have done this,” she says, referring to their hook-ups. Of course, Nate responds with his usual arrogance. He dares Cassie to tell Maddy the truth, well aware of her fear of Maddy’s fiery temper.

Cassie then goes on to reveal a darker side of herself that is willing to do anything to prevent Nate and Maddy from rekindling their toxic relationship, even if it means facing Maddy’s wrath. She even goes as far as to blackmail Nate into a relationship with her.

“What you don’t understand, Nate, is I am crazier!” Nate responds by cautioning Cassie, “That’s not something you should be proud of, Cassie.” But Cassie remains unyielding, “No. But it is something you should be scared of.”

It’s ironic how karma catches up to Nate, who previously blackmailed Jules into making a false statement.

  1. Nate’s White T-Shirt (S2EP4)

Nate’s father Cal causes a scene at a bar and gets kicked out. He goes home and urinates in the entryway while his family watches. In a fit of anger, he blames his family for his problems and regrets having Nate as his son. Cal decides to embrace his queer sexuality and turn his back on his fake family life. He leaves, seemingly for good.

It’s noteworthy that Nate is donning a white outfit when his father leaves, which is an uncommon color for him to wear. The white symbolizes his newfound sense of freedom from his father’s influence.

Cal had a secret life of aggressive sexual encounters with young men. Nate’s discovery of his dad’s porn collection when he was 11 years old shattered his childhood innocence and left him with nightmares of Cal as a sexual predator. Nate’s biggest fear is becoming like his father and confronting the trauma he inflicted upon him.

  1. Nate’s Grey Shirt (S2EP6)

In this scene, we can see Nate in a grey shirt while drinking whiskey and speaking to his mother Marsha the morning after his father’s departure. During their conversation, Marsha reveals that she noticed a significant change in Nate’s behavior when he was around eight or nine years old. She remembers a shift in his personality from the sweet and loving son she once knew to a darker version of himself, but she has no idea of what caused this transformation.

Some have speculated that Nate may be suffering from multiple personality disorders, particularly those belonging to Cluster B. There are indications that he could have borderline personality disorder and narcissistic traits. This could explain some of the erratic behavior and anger management issues that he displays throughout the show.

However, these are just speculations since the creators and directors of Euphoria have not confirmed any particular diagnosis or mental health condition for Nate’s character.

  1. Nate’s Dark Grey Pullover at School (S2EP7)

In this scene, Cassie and Nate arrive at school together. While Nate is wearing one of his signature “your average straight man” outfits, Cassie has drastically changed her appearance to fit Nate’s ideal image of her, resembling a creepy Barbie doll.

As we eagerly anticipate Season 3 of Euphoria, fans are hopeful that we will witness a transformative journey for Nate. After all, his greatest fear is the possibility of turning into his father and the deep-seated trauma that he unknowingly inflicted upon his son. With Cal’s arrest in the Season 2 finale, Nate might finally have a chance to confront his demons and free himself from the burden of his past.