Who was best dressed at the BAFTAS?
Velvet dinner jackets, three piece suits and white tuxedos. But who takes the award for best dressed?
Words: Jonathan Wells
The BAFTAs are always a star-studded affair. Even those who aren’t nominated, without fail, dress to the nines as if the spotlight is always on them. And, in recent years, the envelope – and not the one announcing the winners – has been well and truly pushed when it comes the suiting and tuxedos that grace the red carpet.
This year was no exception and, with many alternative styles and tailoring being paraded around the Royal Albert Hall, there is one award still in contention: who was the best dressed at the BAFTAs?
From Brotherhood’s Noel Clarke to the irrepressibly charming Eddie Redmayne, many men this year went for the white tuxedo – a symbol of clean and sophisticated style that has pushed back to the fore of formal fashion in recent years.
The only nominee to sport such a look was Andrew Garfield who, although not winning for his acclaimed turn in Hacksaw Ridge, definitely wins the white tuxedo sweepstakes with his shawl-collar ivory offering.
Stephen Fry may have called the celt a ‘Welsh Leek’ as he came out to present one of the night’s many awards, but Luke Evans looked every part the gentleman in his 3-piece black tuxedo. With a low-cut waistcoat, wide lapels and just enough cuff, this is a look to kill for the man rumoured to be the next actor tackling 007.
An alternative material never goes amiss with a dinner jacket – and can often draw more focus than a weird and wonderful colour choice. Tom Ford, the reliably well-dressed designer-cum-director, dazzled in his subtly burgundy velvet dinner jacket on the red carpet, despite sadly not taking home any gongs for Nocturnal Animals.
Riz Ahmed, former Gentleman’s Journal cover star, embraced textures too – eschewing silk or cotton for a grey twill tuxedo. With black lapels and the requisite black tie, Ahmed looked every inch the Gentleman during his presenting duties alongside Rogue One co-star Felicity Jones.
George Mackay, the young British actor, delivered an acclaimed performance in this year’s Captain Fantastic, playing the hippyish son of a father who ignores all of society. It seems that this approach has spread to his style, as Mackay’s choice of wingtip collar and peculiar gold-lined bow tie is a daring – but striking – fresh new look on the BAFTA red carpet this year. What do you think?
Like Mackay, La La Land director Damien Chazelle – whose musical masterpiece triumphed – also went for an alternative shirt. His navy number under a classic tux mixed up the formula, and gave the edgy filmmaker even more edge.
The quirks and gimmicks can sometimes hit a home run, but can you ever beat a classic? From Tom Holland, the recipient of the coveted BAFTA Rising Star award, to British institution Hugh Grant, the traditional black tuxedo was also out in force – and looking as good as ever.
But who wins out? The white tuxedo is clearly an emerging style, and the mix in textures and colours added considerably interest in a sea of black suits – as did the 3-piece options and alternative neckwear – but can the classic look ever been beaten?
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