The middle stanza of awards season can sometimes be overlooked. The Golden Globes whet the appetite and the Academy Awards satiate it, but the BAFTAs are where tailoring, tradition and taste take centre stage.
Not only do they offer a more predictive bit of insight into who will be taking home hardware at the Oscars, but they’re also the most high-profile awards held on the other side of the Atlantic.
And despite what one might think, that does have an impact on how people dress for a red carpet – the BAFTAs tend to feature more traditional looks, rooted in quintessential British tailoring.
That was once again true this year, with fewer looks designed to stand out than at the Golden Globes, and not quite as much glamour as we might look forward to at the Oscars.
A few standouts reminded us why the BAFTAs remain a masterclass in classic tailoring.
Timothée Chalamet
While not the most classic look we’ll see on the red carpet this season, by Chalamet’s standards during the Marty Supreme press run and through awards season, it was exemplary of the more muted, staid approach stars take in London. Chalamet opted for a black-on-black-on-black look that played with texture and finish. It felt more sober and serious than some of the Best Actor nominee’s other red carpet looks, yet still a bit mischievous.
Harry Lawtey
So classic was Lawtey’s look that it could have been reprised from the wardrobe of the investment banking world shown in Industry, the hit HBO show in which Lawtey has starred. There’s nothing ostentatious about the blue double-breasted suit, white shirt and grey tie combination, but the impeccable tailoring allows this look to shine. It’s simple, but sometimes that’s the smart move.
Adolpho Veloso
Cinematographers rarely get the attention they deserve, but at their core, they’re about aesthetics and visual storytelling, so it stands to reason that they’d probably dress well. Not to make sweeping generalizations, but, at the very least, Adolpho Veloso (who was nominated for Best Cinematography for his work on Train Dreams) does. A classic black double-breasted tuxedo was enlivened with a fun take on the bowtie, laid over a pleated formal shirt. Everything was well-cut and it struck a nice balance between opting for something cool, without looking like he was trying too hard.
Ethan Hawke
Nominated for Best Actor for his role in Blue Moon, Ethan Hawke brought a more relaxed – and decidedly less British – feel to the red carpet, opting for a jewel-adorned suit, with a metallic-tasseled bolo tie. Hawke leaned into authenticity and found a way to wear something he was comfortable in, albeit elevated enough for the red carpet. It’s fun, unexpected and, most importantly, very Ethan Hawke.
Patrick Dempsey
When they’re done well, broad-shouldered shawl lapel tuxedo jackets are among the nicest options you can choose – but they’re rarely done well. Patrick Dempsey, however, pulled it off impeccably on Sunday evening. From the shoulders down, there was a confident, consistent silhouette. Much like Lawtey, there was nothing that screamed for attention with Dempsey’s outfit, but the little details were done right and that made for a harmonious look. Sometimes you can’t beat the classics.
George Tabor-King
This Valentino shirt might already be the standout piece from this season’s red carpet. After making some appearances at the Golden Globes, it was favoured by George Tabor-King at the BAFTAs, where he paired it with an elegant, belted tuxedo jacket. The lack of neckwear makes this a touch more casual than some of the other looks, while the tasseled belt brings a touch of early-20th century flair.
In a season increasingly driven by spectacle, the BAFTAs remain a reminder that restraint still resonates. Here, craft matters. Fit matters. And when tailoring is done right, it doesn’t need to shout.
FEATURE IMAGE CREDITS
REGE JEAN-PAGE: PHOTO BY IAN WEST/PA IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES, COURTESY OF TAG HEUER.
AARON PIERRE: PHOTO BY NEIL MOCKFORD/FILMMAGIC, COURTESY OF OMEGA.
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET: PHOTO BY SCOTT GARFITT/BAFTA VIA GETTY IMAGES.
