Ncuti Gatwa schooled every man on how to do Oscars night
Ncuti Gatwa attended his first Oscars in a big fit from Givenchy, before switching things up in Cameron Hancock breast plate
Words: Zak Maoui
Ncuti Gatwa is no newbie on the red carpet. The Barbie, Sex Education and 14th Doctor Who actor has done the BAFTAs, the Oliviers and the Brits, and he's attended multiple premieres, usually for his own gigs. He always gets people talking, thanks to his left-field sense of style, and way of making a red carpet outfit bang. What he hadn't done, until last night, was attend the Oscars.
Scottish-Rwandan actor Gatwa flew overseas to attend his first ever Academy Awards. A guest and sort of nominee due to his role in Barbie as one of the Kens, Gatwa held his own down at the Dolby Theatre. And that came down to, not just über confidence, but some more clever styling.
Working with his long-term stylist Felicity Kay, Gatwa owned the red carpet in two big looks. First up he attended the actual Oscars in a classic tuxedo, that had all the trimmings that made it a Gatwa special. "I wanted Ncuti to look and feel elegant, especially given this is his first Oscar," Kay told us from Los Angeles. Gatwa was dressed in a full Givenchy look, comprising a black wool jacket with shawl satin lapel, matching trousers, a wool waistcoat belt, and a white cotton poplin shirt with officer collar. He, like so many others on the red carpet that night including Cillian Murphy, embellished his lapel with a Tiffany & Co Four Leaves brooch that glistened a deep sapphire in the light. A stacked patent heel gave it the Gatwa touch, while going sans tie kept it contemporary. "I just loved the proportions of this jacket," Kay explained. "The shawl collar felt classic, but we kept the sleeves and cuffs extra long to give it a more contemporary feel."
Following that testing of the waters, he rocked up to the Vanity Fair Oscars party, which makes as much noise as the main event itself, in a turbo-charged, out-of-this-world outfit. He wore a metal breastplate from rising designer Cameron Hancock (see Ellie Goulding's breastplate for The 2023 BRIT Awards), which was paired with a pair of tailored black trousers and black boots. "For the Vanity Fair after party we went more playful and adventurous, with an emerging brand," Kay said. "Ncuti loves to support upcoming names."
Gatwa has certainly made his name on the red carpet in recent years, wowing in sci-fi looks from emerging African designers and big names alike, but at the Oscars he proved that he can do it all. "It’s fun to see these looks either side and see how they play off each other," Kay said post event. Gatwa proved that while there's a place to be serious with your clothes - in this instance the ceremony - at the Oscars after party anything goes.
Want more Oscars content? Check out the best-dressed men from the 96th Academy Awards
Become a Gentleman’s Journal member. Find out more here.
Become a Gentleman’s Journal Member?
Like the Gentleman’s Journal? Why not join the Clubhouse, a special kind of private club where members receive offers and experiences from hand-picked, premium brands. You will also receive invites to exclusive events, the quarterly print magazine delivered directly to your door and your own membership card.
