Omar Apollo made a striking entrance at the 2025 Oscars in Los Angeles, donning a custom suit by Alessandro Michele for Valentino. Instead of a traditional tie, he opted for a scarf tied around his neck, while a short black netted veil added a touch of flamboyance. This contrasted with the rugged masculinity of his braided hair and goatee. The musician, attending after his breakthrough role in Queer last year, stood out as one of the best-dressed stars of the night.
And he wasn’t alone. Timothée Chalamet delivered a fashion double feature, previewing two major upcoming collections in Paris. At the ceremony, he sported a butter-yellow leather suit by Givenchy, designed by newly appointed creative director Sarah Burton, whose debut collection for the French house is set to be unveiled later this week. For the Vanity Fair Oscar party, Chalamet switched to a Tom Ford suit designed by Haider Ackermann, who is also preparing to debut his vision for the American brand in Paris.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Strong made an understated yet stylish statement in a bespoke Loro Piana suit, complete with a quirky flattened, untied bow tie. Andrew Garfield turned up the charm in a sleek, silky Gucci ensemble, while Colman Domingo impressed in a custom Valentino suit featuring a scarlet red double-breasted jacket cinched at the waist with an elongated fabric belt. Sebastian Stan offered a fresh take on the traditional tuxedo with a pale yellow Prada shirt, while Jeff Goldblum embraced color with a jacquard button-down, also by Prada, under a classic white tuxedo jacket.
Are men having the most fun with fashion right now? It’s worth noting that men often have an easier path to making best-dressed lists. Standing out can be as simple as wearing an unconventional look—anything that breaks the standard black tuxedo mold is enough to grab attention. Plus, expectations for men on the red carpet are relatively low; as long as a suit is well-tailored, it’s hard to go wrong. While Apollo, Domingo, and Chalamet made extra effort with their standout ensembles, cultural biases already set the stage for a well-dressed man to be admired.
Women, on the other hand, face a different reality. They are expected to strike a balance between proving themselves as “serious actors” and demonstrating that they “care” about fashion. The pressure includes corsets, stilettos, elaborate couture gowns, and navigating between Old Hollywood glamour and avant-garde styles. They must remain fashionable yet Oscar-worthy, whatever that means in today’s landscape. Even after meeting all these demands, a spot on the best-dressed list is never guaranteed.
So why are men having the most fun with fashion? Because they can—and because the world lets them.
Related Topics
- This New Line of Recovery Clothing Is Designed to Boost Muscle Healing After Workouts
- Top Leather Shoes for Men in Australia in 2025
- Ace Harper Debuts Dreamy Ballet Punk Collection at Fashion Week El Paseo
