The 2026 Oscars had a plethora of fashion statements made known at its red carpet. Among the many dazzling dresses and colors, some of the male attendees managed to capture the eyes of viewers across the world with their suit designs.
Suits, among other modern male western formalwear, are often mistakenly viewed as being rather limited in creativity. Compared to women’s formal clothing, Western male formalwear design is seen to have little variety. That said, it’s events like the Oscars that are able to give the public a glimpse at how designers can transform menswear into something more.
Celebrities like Colman Domingo and Michael B. Jordan showcased suits that are perfectly tailored to them. Jordan was dressed in all black, with an eye-catching gold chain. Domingo had a grey suit with metallic pinstripes and a decorative brooch.
These examples showcase the many ways formal suits can look unique while remaining classy. Unfortunately, there is a reason why unique suits aren’t as popular amongst the public. Tailored clothing is expensive, and only those who have that type of income can afford it. The Ready-to-wear industry, despite making massive strides in making more types of clothing as accessible as possible, has degraded the importance of personal style.
People aren’t as knowledgeable about tailoring skills as they were twenty years ago, amongst the public. This has also led to people not caring to learn what type of style goes well with their body. Additionally, gendered clothing conventions have made it difficult for many men to be comfortable in stylizing their formalwear.
