Paris
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While all eyes were on the Louvre following the shocking theft of France’s crown jewels, one of the most stylish figures on the museum grounds has captured the internet’s attention. It was a well-dressed young man in a three-piece suit and a fedora.
Amid speculation about the identity of the so-called “French detective” pictured at the scene, 15-year-old Pedro Elias Garzón Delvaux was enjoying his new double life.
The teenager met with CNN at his home, about 30 miles southwest of the French capital Rambouillet, to discuss the social media uproar.
Mr. Pedro may point to the fictional Belgian detective Hercule Poirot as his style icon, but he admitted he was not involved in any investigation and never recovered the 88 million euro ($102 million) stolen treasure.
He learned about the viral photo when a friend showed him a TikTok video containing the now-famous image. This video has been viewed approximately 6 million times.
“That moment was very funny, and I went back to the Louvre to see people’s reactions,” he told CNN. “People may have recognized me, but I don’t know.”
Pedro had planned to spend October 19, the day of the Louvre robbery, with his mother and grandfather at the famous museum. By the time the three arrived, the museum was closed, and the stylish high school student had unwittingly been photographed documenting the crime scene by an Associated Press reporter.
What many online commentators thought was detective attire is simply Pedro’s everyday wear.
“For me, it’s important to dress classically. And I love history, especially the 20th century, so I like to dress like that,” he said.
The young history buff has been embracing 40s fashion for nearly a year now, he said. His obsession with this style began when he dressed up as Jean Moulin, a hero of the French Resistance during World War II, during Carnival, the festive period celebrated in many countries prior to Lent. With parades and costumed festival goers gathering, he liked the new look.
“He recognized the impact he had on other people,” explained his mother, Félicité Garzon Delvaux. “Everyone seemed impressed. I see, there’s something going on there.”
Since then, I have incorporated vintage style everywhere, including at school.
Unlike many of his classmates, Pedro does not own sweatpants. But sometimes he reaches for his cargo pants.
Good taste has long been a topic for the Garzon Delvaux family.
Pedro’s mother, who took him to the Louvre on that eventful day, grew up in Chartres, about 80 miles southwest of Paris, in a “museum” neighborhood, where his mother was an art curator and his father was a prolific French storyteller.
In Rambouillet’s home, the walls and shelves are lined with paintings, antiques, and knick-knacks, reminiscent of an exhibition.
“For our family, the beauty of things has always been very important,” Félicité declared.
Due to her husband’s job as a diplomat, the family moved frequently, living in England, Spain, Bangladesh and eastern France, before returning to Rambouillet four years ago.
Some of Pedro’s most impressive works have been collected from around the world.
For example, his vintage Soviet watch was purchased at an antiques store in Calcutta and repaired with parts he and his father sourced from Bulgaria.
His first tailored suit was commissioned during a year he spent in Bangladesh when he was 12 years old.
When asked what he wanted to do in the future, Pedro said he was interested in pursuing diplomacy, like his father and paternal grandfather, or joining the military.
The young man admitted that the uniform may have something to do with the issue.
But despite his carefully trained exterior, Pedro remains an enthusiastic young man of his generation.
When I asked if his friends at school appreciated his style, he was quick to respond. “Well, I think he has a great aura.”
