Sure, we know the gals of Hollywood like to play dress up for glamorous galas like the Oscars, but the guys get in on the act, too. Not all tuxes are created equal, as Hollywood.com explains with our men’s fashion Hits and Misses.
Best Dressed: Will Smith
Smith may not have taken home a glittery Oscar, but he definitely lived up to the gold standard fashion-wise in a sleek black Ozwald Boateng suit complemented by a shiny gold tie and a well-matched monochromatic beige shirt. Those of us who got an up-close look at his suit could also see the microthin gold pinstripe that set it apart from a sea of tuxes. Not only did Will perfectly match the ensemble chosen by his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, he departed from his usual habit and actually picked out the suit without any help from the Mrs. (although Jada confided that his publicist helped). Best of all, Will actually paid for his suit, refusing a celebrity freebie! As a style icon at this year’s Oscars, the Ali star was undeniably The Greatest.
[PAGEBREAK]
Hit: Denzel Washington
Washington looked decidedly award-worthy in a midnight navy, polished wool, one-button Giorgio Armani tuxedo with satin peak lapels, accentuated by a pearl satin evening shirt with wing collars and patent leather evening shoes. Classic, comfortable and refined, the total picture was so fashionable we even overlooked the one visible flaw: that we could see the metal hooks on his navy satin bow tie. Somehow, the one awkward aspect made for a perfectly masculine complete picture. No day of fashion Training necessary for Denzel–he’s already a style pro.
[PAGEBREAK]
Miss: Russell Crowe
Sorry, Russell–you may have A Beautiful Mind, but it’s covered by that unkempt mop and that sorry, unshaven beard. We know that bad-boy chic is the actor’s stock in trade, but this look is aging faster than Crowe did as John Nash in the film. After appearing identically coiffed at every other awards show, wouldn’t it have been pleasant to see him change it up with a shave and a trim for the Oscars? The bedraggled look is exacerbated by his taste for knee-length tuxedo jackets, although otherwise it’s hard to find fault with Giorgio Armani’s black wool crepe suit with notched satin lapels and white wing-collared shirt. But does Russell care what we think? After all, he still gets all the girls.
[PAGEBREAK]
Hit: Ryan Phillippe
The mere fact that anyone even noticed Phillippe on the red carpet as he sidled up next to his irresistable and amazingly coutured wife, Reese Witherspoon, already earns him mondo style props. The fact that he and his immaculately tailored, basic black, single-breasted, one-button Gucci tuxedo with white shirt and long black tie stood out from the crowd without any gimmicks is a testament to both the designer and the actor who wore it so well. Phillippe’s been seen embarrassingly dressed down at a few Hollywood events, but his Gucci loafers are definitely stepping in the right direction–possibly following his better half’s lead.
[PAGEBREAK]
Miss: Paul McCartney
Help! We’ll excuse Sir Paul for his Gap-y selection of black tee and suit this time: He’s more used to the anything-goes ambiance of the Grammys, where laid-back is second only to look-at-me. But how cool would it have been to see the music legend really spiffed up for the Oscars–we think a classic Brit-style white tie, vest and a jacket with tails would’ve sent fashion fans into new heights of Beatlemania. Then again, that would’ve seriously clashed with the gawdawful Britney-esque belly-bearer his fiancé Heather Mills wore. Next time, let’s hope the couple consults McCartney’s darling designer daughter, Stella, who knows a thing or two about fashion.
[PAGEBREAK]
Hit: Samuel L. Jackson
As Hollywood’s reigning king of cool, no one tweaks formal wear traditions quite as successfully as Sam, and nobody dresses Sam as well as Giorgio Armani. For the Oscars the designer draped Jackson in a custom-made black brocade evening jacket and matched it with a classic tuxedo pant. No mind tricks necessary–when it comes to formal fashion with funky flair, Jackson’s the Jedi Master.
[PAGEBREAK]
Hit: Hugh Jackman
While Russell Crowe was looking more like X-Men‘s woolly Wolverine, Jackman was proof that you can be a wonder from Down Under and still know how to dress. His choice of Gucci’s classic black, single-breasted, one-button, peak-lapel tuxedo and white shirt was sophisticated and manly. It’s hard for any guy to look bad in formal wear this simple and classic, but not just any guy can look this good. James Bond producers take note: when Pierce Brosnan retires, Jackman would be a great choice to fill 007’s Brioni tux.
[PAGEBREAK]
Miss: Peter Owen
Owen, who won an Oscar for best makeup for Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring wore a black fringe-covered Moschino tuxedo jacket that looked as if it were made from the leftover material used to dress flappers in the 1920s. “In America it looks cowboyish and in Europe it looks like a lampshade,” he said backstage. Face it, Peter–anywhere on the globe, it looks tacky.
????: S.K. Thoth
Even Bjork would have balked at this fashion statement, despite the use of feathers. Thoth, the loinclothed San Francisco street musician who was the main attraction of an Oscar-winning documentary, was a lively presence on the red carpet, but our first thought was when we saw the performer in this get-up of, apparently, his own design was “Did Marlon Brando send another Native American to reject an award?” You know you’re in trouble when the performers from Cirque de Soleil look over and say “What the hell is he wearing?”
