Every Oscar season, people ask each other who was the most elegantly dressed gentleman on the red carpet. The answer usually has nothing to do with unusual colors or showy details. The men who get praised often dress very quietly: black tuxedo, white shirt, black bow tie or tie. And yet they stand out, because everything fits and sits in the right place. Below are 10 things well-dressed gentlemen always get right, which you can apply to any party.
Quick answer
A well-dressed man on the red carpet wins not with an expensive or unusual outfit but with fit: snug shoulders, sleeves of the right length, trim trousers, a smooth shirt, restrained accessories and a confident stance.
The rules the red carpet dresses by
The dress code for major awards nights is usually black tie: a tuxedo, that is, an evening suit with silk- or satin-faced lapels, worn with a white shirt, a black bow tie or tie and polished black leather shoes. A framework this rigid makes every flaw plain under the cameras. For that very reason, the red carpet is a great place to learn how to wear a suit.
10 things well-dressed gentlemen always get right
- Shoulders that fit. The shoulder seam sits exactly at the end of the shoulder, not drooping onto the arm. The shoulder is the part a tailor finds hardest to alter, so it has to be right from the start.
- The right jacket length. The jacket skirt covers most of the seat. Too short looks like someone else's jacket; too long makes the legs look shorter.
- Sleeves showing about 1 to 1.5 cm of shirt. A small flash of white at the wrist is the mark of someone who knows how to dress.
- Trim trousers, with the hem just touching the shoe. One slight break is enough, not a pile of fabric.
- Lapels that suit the face. A long face suits moderate lapels; a round face suits peak lapels, which straighten the line of sight.
- Buttoning correctly. With a single-breasted jacket, fasten the upper button when standing, undo it when seated, and never fasten the bottom button.
- A flat white shirt with a snug collar. A collar that gapes a finger's width around the bow tie ruins the whole outfit.
- A bow tie or tie that suits the occasion. A tuxedo with a bow tie is the proper standard. A slim black tie is the neater alternative.
- Polished shoes, socks matching the trousers. When you cross your legs while seated, no one wants to see bare skin at the ankle.
- A relaxed stance. Clothes that fit do not need constant adjusting. That ease is what creates presence.
Tips from Mon Amie's master tailors
Lights and close-up lenses often reveal creased fabric and poor surfaces. So for an evening suit, smooth wool with an even surface and little harsh shine is always safer than glossy fabric. Fittings should also include sitting, raising your arms and bending, not just standing straight in front of the mirror.
From the red carpet to everyday life
No one needs the Oscars to have an occasion for a tuxedo. An evening wedding, a gala night, a company awards ceremony all deserve an outfit made to your measurements. Mon Amie makes tuxedos and suits to measure at 5 showrooms in Ho Chi Minh City; you can browse the lookbook for inspiration, check the price list or choose materials in the fabric library. If you would like to learn more about formal-evening etiquette, the page on dress and etiquette consulting will help.
An invitation from Mon Amie
Pick a free evening, book an appointment to visit a showroom, try on a jacket and ask yourself: do the shoulders fit, are the sleeves the right length? The ten points above begin there.