THE JOURNAL
Before the Oscars happened this year, the producers sent out an official dress code, described as “a fusion of ‘inspirational’ and ‘aspirational’, which in actual words means formal is totally cool if you want to go there, but casual is really not”. Which, well, felt a little stuffy. In a world where terms like casual and formal have all but lost meaning, and a hoodie and sneakers is no rare sight on the red carpet, stipulating that casual was a big no-no made us wonder if the relevance of the Academy Awards as the biggest red-carpet event on the calendar was beginning to wear off. Had the gilded mask finally slipped?
No, it hadn’t. Truth be told, the formality of it all was a welcome sight, and we underestimated our stars (an honorable mention here to Questlove, who wore golden Crocs, showing us that a fancy dress code can still have a sense of fun). Perhaps it was just that our eyes, starved of any real sartorial polish and poise for – how long has it been now? 84 years? – were finally relieved to see some guys who were really going for it. This was a particularly good year for the menswear, and getting this list down to just five of our favourites was no easy task. This is who made the cut.
01.
Mr Daniel Kaluuya
Mr Daniel Kaluuya, 25 April 2021. Photograph by Mr Matt Petit/AMPAS
As Mr Daniel Kaluuya’s star has risen, so too has his wardrobe. He led the charge last night in a black double-breasted suit courtesy of Bottega Veneta – just look at those beefy lapels – and cut a fine figure. Most notable, though, was the fine jewellery. In a departure from a shirt or bow tie, under the jacket the actor wore a plain black crew-neck, blessed with a string of pearl-sized diamonds. As if to top it off, he even won Best Supporting Actor. All in all, a glistering success.
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02.
Mr Alan Kim
Mr Alan Kim, 25 April 2021. Photograph by Mr Matt Sayles/AMPAS
We think this might be the first time a child has made it onto a MR PORTER Best-Dressed list, but Minari actor Mr Alan Kim deserves his place here. Decked out in a Thom Browne suit, complete with striped socks and dinky bow tie, Kim is almost too well-dressed for a nine-year-old, but hey, he owns it.
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03.
Mr Lakeith Stanfield
Mr Lakeith Stanfield, 26 April 2021. Photograph by Mr Alberto Pezzali/AP
A rakish, unpredictable and charismatic dresser, Mr Lakeith Stanfield never fails to impress on the red carpet. Last night, the actor – styled by MR PORTER FUTURES mentor Ms Julie Ragolia, no less – claimed dominance over the whole event with a 1970s-esque SAINT LAURENT jumpsuit, belted in the middle, with a gold chain under the plunging neckline and complete with yellow-tinted shades. It was sexy, but precise, a look that perfectly captured the exciting, exuberant place that menswear is in right now.
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04.
Mr Riz Ahmed
Mr Riz Ahmed, 25 April 2021. Photograph by Mr Matt Petit/AMPAS
Mr Riz Ahmed caused a few swoons for fixing his wife and author Ms Fatima Farheen Mirza’s hair as the cameras flashed, and his outfit was just as gentlemanly. Tailored to the tens in a black Prada suit with a subtle cummerbund – also note the slightly high mock neck – everything about the Sound Of Metal actor’s outfit was just right.
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05.
Mr Peter Spears
Mr Peter Spears, 25 April 2021. Photograph by Mr Matt Petit/AMPAS
With red carpet menswear pushing the envelope more and more, it can be easy to overlook those who stick to the classics. And while Mr Peter Spears adhered to a slightly more traditional sartorial script than his contemporaries on this list, it paid off. The producer of Nomadland (winner of Best Picture no less) wore a sophisticated neutral tuxedo with brown trousers, showing us that sometimes, it’s best to stick to what you know.