The Best and Worst Dressed Men at the 2016 Oscars
Despite all the controversy (#OscarsSoWhite) and fatigue (just give Leo a damn Oscar already!) in the lead up, last night’s Academy Awards somehow went off more or less without a hitch (Stacey Dash notwithstanding): Chris Rock got his jabs in, and DiCaprio finally took home that statue. Style-wise, though, things were a little more uneven — plenty of the men in attendance came dressed to impressed, and plenty of them, well, didn’t. Below, we’ve rounded up the night’s strongest sartorial moments alongside a smattering of looks we’d prefer to forget.
Best
Strongest Effort: Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy isn’t always willing to play the game, but when he puts in the effort, the man cleans up real nice — just take a look at this three-piece tux by Gucci as proof. We don’t often see this much emphasis on a watch at the Oscars, but Hardy pulled his big timepiece off with aplomb.
Best Revenge: Michael B. Jordan
Snubbed by the Academy, Michael B. Jordan proved that dressing to impress can be the best revenge. He chose a classic tuxedo, but added a couple of understatedly dapper twists — the double-breasted jacket was a unique choice, and the commanding lapels added to an overall impressive showing.
Best Date: Aaron Rodgers
The night wasn’t about him, but that doesn’t mean that Aaron Rodgers was a slouch on the red carpet. He rose to the occasion admirably, and his navy tuxedo stood out thanks to both its colour and the slight sheen of its fabric.
Most Mod: Eddie Redmayne
Brit Eddie Redmayne did his roots proud in this Alexander McQueen tux — the slim-cut velvet jacket, contrasting notched lapels and smoking slippers are all dandy details that fit Redmayne’s lanky frame and idiosyncratic personality to a tee.
Study in Simplicity: Chris Rock
Chris Rock had his work as host cut out for him, so he went with a simple and classic Burberry white tuxedo jacket and black trousers that let his material take centre stage — namely, his cutting comments and wry insights regarding #OscarsSoWhite, all delivered with a touch of incredulity and the honest humour he’s made his name on.
Worst
Least Effort: Leonardo DiCaprio
Leo finally took home an Oscar, but after showing how much he could hustle for an award, his choice of tuxedo was decidedly less impressive. There isn’t anything particularly wrong with what he wore per se, but for what had been built up as his moment, we can’t help but wish he wore something more memorable.
Worst Fit: Mark Rylance
Mark Rylance may have upset Sylvester Stallone for Best Supporting Actor, but if we’re talking about who won sartorially, Sly had Mark beat. The green colour of the tux is great, but it’s too big everywhere — a more tailored fit and a black hat with more structure would have gone a long way. Also, do up your damn jacket!
Too Much Kitsch: Jared Leto
Good looks can only take you so far, and while Leto’s face was as fresh as ever, his suit was not. The ’70s fit and flower pin in place of a tie are examples of Gucci’s new direction, care of Creative Director Alessandro Michele, but it came off as decidedly dated. Ditching the kitschy accessories and pairing the suit with more classic underpinnings would have made for a sleek, but still unexpected, look.
Monochromatic Mess: Christian Bale
Yes, wearing black is easy, but can also easily be boring, and that’s the trap that Christian Bale fell into. The layers created by the jacket, vest, tie and shirt create some visual interest, but not enough to turn this all-black look into a winner.
Needs Refining: Don Hertzfeldt
The elements are all there for Don Hertzfeldt, but he needed some refining before he left the house. The three-piece tuxedo is a solid choice, but the vest sits too high and the cuffs are too short. The pants need a trim, and so could his hair. And if you’re going to wear sunglasses on the red carpet, look to Tom Hardy to see how it’s done.
