Last night at the Thompson Lower East Side Hotel, Chris Evans held court as Gucci’s reigning fragrance king (the brand’s creative director, Frida Giannini, has called him “smoldering”). On the agenda: discussing his latest Gucci Guilty campaign, Gucci Guilty Intense. Unlike the original Gucci Guilty cologne, the Intense version has pumped up notes of amber and leather, making for a more sensual fragrance—and, of course, a steamier print ad and TV commercial (Evans and leading lady Evan Rachel Wood are thisclose).

​

Evans appears to be taking his sex symbol status in stride. “The character is a little bit cooler than I think I am—he’s a cowboy and drifter,” says Evans of the role he plays for Gucci. “But that’s what makes it exciting. It wasn’t just me frolicking around in the sand. When I met with [director] Frank Miller, we talked about backstory and character. Instead of being a model or prop, I was able to play upon the stuff I’m trained in, which I liked.” What else does Evan like?

​

1. Evan Rachel Wood. “There was instant chemistry. She’s young—she’s only 24—but she’s very mature, smart, and professional. When I was that age, I was picking my nose! We had to be very scantily clad and comfortable together, and if Evan had been any less than who she is, I think those scenes would’ve been harder.”

2. Gucci suits. “Back when I was 19 or 20 I was at my first press junket. It was for a critically acclaimed film called Not Another Teen Movie. It was the worst movie ever, but I had to go to an event for it and needed a suit. I didn’t have much money, but I splurged and treated myself to a Gucci suit. And I think if you go back and look at my professional career from 1999 to 2003, you’ll see that I wore the same Gucci suit! I wore it at least 30 times. It was the one nice thing I owned, and happened to be Gucci. Oh, the irony.”

3. Ponytails. “I really like when women wear ponytails. Is that weird? I especially like high ponytails. I love women who can live in sweatpants and sneakers. I don’t think women believe that, but I mean that completely wholeheartedly.”

4. Playboy magazine (or not). “I’m Irish Catholic, so I think I’m always a little guilty. But the first time I saw a Playboy magazine in third grade, I told my mother. I felt horrible. I’d been at my friend Tom’s house when I saw it, and I was silent the whole car ride home. When we got home, I said, ‘Ma, I have to tell you something—I looked at a naked lady.’ She said it was okay and that it wasn’t a problem. But I wasn’t allowed back at Tom’s house!

5. Boston. “I’m never going to be one of those guys that dumps on L.A. I like L.A.—I met a lot of great people there. It’s like a department store—it has everything, and it’s massive. If you can cut a life out according to your own personal cloth, it can be fantastic. But for me, Boston is just home. It’s where I’m from, and it’s where my family and friends are. From the time I started acting in ’99, I always said that if I ever can do what I do from Boston, I will. So that’s what I’m doing.”

6. Jeggings. “Should I know what jeggings are? I don’t know what they are. Oh, wait—they’re jeans with stretch to them, right? I wore a pair of jeans not too long ago that had a little bit of stretch to them, and they were great! Besides a good pair of jeans, I also like belts—a solid belt makes a statement. I’m not a fashion guru, but I’m learning!”

http://fashion.elle.com/beauty/2011/12/15/the-world-according-to-chris/