51 Times Men Said No To Traditional Suits On The Red Carpet
Here's a roundup of some of my favorite red carpet looks where men said not today to the traditional suit and tie!
1.LaKeith Stanfield
I like the way LaKeith has played with shapes and heights here — a short boxy jacket, high-neck sweater, and high-waisted trousers with hip detail. The splashes of color also accent it nicely!
2.Harry Styles
Harry is known for his quirky style, and this look from the Grammys is no exception. Plaid is pretty traditional, but in bright neon yellow and coupled with a lilac boa? Not so much!
3.Timothée Chalamet
We're spoiled for choice with Timothée, as I'm not sure he's ever said "yes" to a traditional suit in his life. He's known for playing with color, pattern, texture, and shape, creating new takes on traditional tuxes. A great example is this all-white tux featuring a short double-breasted blazer with loose trousers instead of the traditional fitted leg, paired with white high-top Converse to give a streetwear spin on a formal look.
4.Neil Patrick Harris
This Neil Patrick Harris suit looks like a party in an oil spill! I love the color gradient, bold shades, and his pairing with a sleek high-necked top instead of a traditional shirt.
5.Leslie Odom Jr.
Incidentally, Leslie has also been spotted in Neil Patrick Harris's suit! He's no stranger to quirkier takes on formal outfits on the red carpet, with a prime example being this all-gold ensemble.
6.BTS
Known for their trendsetting style, the boys of BTS are fond of taking a traditional suit and upcycling it into something new. A great example is their outfits at the 2018 MAMA Awards — at first glance, they may look like traditional suits due to their fits, but a closer look shows an array of textures from lace to sequins and stars, splashes of bright color, T-shirts over standard button-up shirts, and leather in place of cotton for trousers.
7.Jon Batiste
Jon is no stranger to a funky suit, but I wanted to highlight this outfit he wore to the Grammys. The cape is said to be 15-feet long! I love the silhouette the cape gave him side-on, and I adore the sparkly embellishments and the way they catch the light.
8.Dan Levy
Dan's look here plays with a traditional suit by experimenting with different lengths and layers, swapping buttons for tie fastenings, and substituting the standard pointy toed Oxford or Derby shoes for chunky round toed boots. I love the bright blue shade instead of the traditional deep navy too.
9.Simu Liu
Simu must have seen the brigade of blue and black suits on the red carpet and said, "Not me!" He gives his own spin on a suit by taking a traditional fit and breathing new life into it through eye-catching red with gold accents. Paired with shiny patent shoes and no socks, Simu's look is a perfect harmony between suave traditional and modern fresh.
10.Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X serves looks everywhere he goes, but I particularly enjoyed this look that mashes masculine and feminine together. The traditionally masculine three-piece suit is given a new spin via a light, painted pastel pattern instead of the standard black or navy, a waistcoat that curves in a way that's almost like a corset, and super-wide skirts instead of trousers. I love a hybrid look like this!
11.Jason Momoa
Jason's dusky pink suit is a fave of mine for a few reasons. First, the color — elegant, yet probably not in the standard book of men's suit colors (for no good reason, may I add). Then there's the fact it's made from velvet, a traditionally opulent material, but accented by sporty athleisure-esque stripes down the legs. A perfect mashup of two very different styles!
Also, can we please talk about his accessories? Is that a matching clutch bag? And does he have a custom-made matching scrunchie round his wrist?! I would like both, please and thank you!
12.Kodi Smit-McPhee
Another suit that on paper seems pretty traditional on the surface is given new life with pastel hues, chunky shoes, and glitzy silver jewelry.
13.Riz Ahmed
On paper, Riz's outfit is a traditional three-piece suit — blazer, trousers, and waistcoat. However, through inventive use of color and a low-fit on his waistcoat, Riz has created a whole new take on the look.
14.Wesley Snipes
Sure, there's a bow tie involved, but that deep plum, those shorts, and those patent sneakers give Wesley Snipes a whole different look!
15.Daniel Kaluuya
I love this look! It's simple and a pretty traditional fit with a vintage flavor, but then that pop of bright turquoise just gives it that extra little something.
16.Billy Porter
Well, it was hard picking just one of Billy's looks, because his wardrobe is something else! In the end I settled for this outfit, because I just love that it features two elements of wholly traditional attire for red carpet events; a black and white fitted suit and a ballgown, but it entwines them beautifully to create something entirely new and non-traditional!
17.Regé-Jean Page
A slick suit sometimes only needs a few tweaks to give it a bit more personality in a sea of traditional tuxes. I like the way Regé-Jean Page has injected some identity with an ombré-patterned blazer and a grandad collar shirt.
18.Colman Domingo
I can't get enough of a suit that straddles the line between traditional and really NOT traditional! Colman wears a traditional three-piece suit here, but then it's bright pink and embellished with a waterfall of beads! A modern hybrid I love.
19.Tan France
Tan is literally a fashion professional, so it's unsurprising that he said, "Traditional suit? Not for me, thanks." I really like the embroidery on his blazer, and the way it continues down just the side of the trousers to give a joined-up yet streamlined look without it being too much pattern. Paired with a cream turtleneck, the look is both slick and simple but wholly Tan.
20.Michael B. Jordan
Michael looks pretty smart on the red carpet here, but I love the loose shape and length of his jacket — it gives his look a whole different vibe than it would were he wearing a traditional fitted blazer.
21.Henry Golding
Golding is an appropriate surname for Henry here. Am I right?! A pop of color never hurt anybody!
22.John Krasinski
I hope John wears this for a photo with Henry in his gold suit! Metallics are a simple but great way to elevate traditional shapes and styles.
23.Stephan James
Stephan's suit is actually pretty traditional — he's even paired it with a V-neck sweater over his shirt like an English gentleman! But that pop of bright color gives it a whole new dimension.
24.Donald Glover
I am obsessed with this look. The floral. The pink and lilac. The pussycat-bow blouse. The high-waisted trousers. I just love everything about it!
25.Joe Jonas
A bit of funky pattern honestly changes a suit from one you'd wear to work in a corporate office to something in a whole other realm!
26.Pharrell
It's a traditional suit on top, then a summer party in the middle, and then a traditional suit again at the bottom. It reminds me of those fashion flip plates where you change the top, mid-section, and bottom to make a funky new look. (Am I showing my age? Here are the flip plates if you have no idea what I'm talking about. The '90s were wild, man!)
27.Shawn Mendes
It's funny how the fit of a suit can change its look so much. A high-waisted loose trouser paired with a long blazer and vest instead of a traditional shirt gives this all-white ensemble a floaty new spin on the historic suit.
28.Troye Sivan
Hey, if women can wear crop tops, why can't men? I love how Troye's look pairs material and tailoring of a traditional suit, but the crop changes the look entirely.
29.Lucky Blue Smith
A simple cinched-in waist with a ribbon-like belt really ties this look together. (Ha, unintentional pun that I'm totally rolling with!) The bright red coupled with a T-shirt instead of a crisp shirt gives Lucky's suit a unique twist.
30.Lil Huddy
Just like Yungblud, Lil Huddy uses animal print and chunky jewelry to stand out. His oversized denim jacket sits atop a traditional black sweater and white shirt, and his traditional-fit trousers show his style through a leather-look finish.
31.Adonis Bosso
It has the cut of a military jacket, but it's paired with pink, blue, and green abstract patterns and made of a silky material. It's a lesson in harmony between opposite ends of the scale!
32.Chadwick Boseman
The late Chadwick had many amazing outfits, but this is one of my personal faves. It's simple, yet gives a spin on every part of a traditional three-piece suit — a longer jacket with beautiful silver shoulder embellishments instead of a plain waist-length blazer; a grandad collar shirt with no tie instead of a standard shirt and tie, and bold zips on his shoes instead of typical laces.
33.Gaten Matarazzo
The Stranger Things star pairs a bow tie and neat shirt with a mustard velvet blazer, patterned trousers, and black Converse for a quirky youthful twist on a classic red carpet look.
34.Jake Gyllenhaal
The color and that thick silk waistband give Jake's suit a totally new feel. Paired with his unbuttoned collar and lack of tie, it's a perfect combo of casual and smart.
35.Cody Fern
I love a gender-norm smashing look. Cody's shirt has a delicate mesh insert across the shoulders, and coupled with a cinched-in waist via high-waisted trousers, his look has a gorgeous feminine outline with nods to the traditional suit via its dark color and smart black shoes.
36.D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai
I love the high-up fasten on this look of D'Pharoah's! It really sets off the jewelry he's paired his look with. The sneaker/smart suit combo is always gonna be a fave of mine.
37.JuJu Smith-Schuster
Look at THIS! A tartan suit is already great, but then the short sleeves and shorts combo? Such a look.
38.Post Malone
It's pink. It's leather. It's SO SPARKLY. Now, where can I get that jacket?
39.Adam Rippon
Look, who says you need to put your arms in your sleeves?! Joking aside, the way Adam wears his embellished jacket almost like a cape looks great with the deep V-neck shirt and button-waist military style trousers. Another great example of simple changes making a big difference, he shows the power of pattern and color.
40.Manuel Turizo
After a bit of blue sky thinking, Manuel decided that the sky was in fact not the limit, and he rocked up to the Latin American Music Awards in this cool cloudy suit. Do you think it had a silver lining?? (Sorry, I couldn't resist the puns!)
41.David Oyelowo
David was just not gonna show up in a boring suit! I don't think the suit needs much explanation, but I love the bumblebee embroidered loafers!
42.Eddie Redmayne
Two smart elements paired with two casual ones give Eddie a cool hybrid look. Set off by the bright color, it's a great outfit for him.
43.Elliot Page
It's all about the fit. Elliot's outfit is the opposite of a slick tailored suit; it's super baggy, yet the double-breasted buttons and shirt give a nod to the formal tux. Coupled with, erm...monster Crocs??, this suit is far from traditional.
44.Darren Criss
The material of Darren's suit gives it a whole new aura! I also like the way he plays with movement via the silk scarf that flows from inside the suit, around his back, and over his arm. The color combined with the material really pops too.
45.Keiynan Lonsdale
Love this combo of traditional masculine and funky feminine. I also love Keiynan's response to a troll who tried to dissuade him from wearing skirts:
"Dude, you gotta stop tweeting me about it and just go try one on yourself. It’s only a piece of clothing and it’s fun, also allows the balls to breathe and therefore will chill ya out.”
46.Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi has a whole bunch of great looks, but I love this one as it combines so many aspects. You've got the traditional blazer and trouser fit with a twist via that sequined pattern, then a longer layer that gives it a more feminine silhouette, flowing down to bright Air Maxes, which really stand out against the slick black of the rest of the outfit.
47.Lee Jung-jae
Another lesson in the impact of color, Lee Jung-jae's pretty traditional fitted suit pops due to the bright white color. Plus, his addition of a silk scarf tied at the neck and V-neck tee instead of a shirt gives it a bit of personality.
48.Johnny Sibilly
Now, I will admit I am not the biggest fan of the olive/sand color choice, but I love the split-shade style. I also really enjoy the bonkers hybrid trousers — they look like the love child of an eccentric posh man's suit and a '90s grunge kid's combats!
49.RJ Mitte
This look is great because it has the shape and fit of a suit, but its shiny leather look and bright rose embellishments give it a whole new identity. It's got the makings of a smart suit with a rocky air!
50.Steven Canals
The sleeves. The SLEEVES! It's a standard suit in some ways, but then the glitter and that gorgeous cape-like sleeve detail are so eye-catching and different. Plus, I bet it'd be so fun to swoosh around!
51.Kumail Nanjiani
Kumail's snakeskin pattern jacket coupled with the plum shade and matching velvet shoes take what could have been a pretty boring outfit in a whole new direction. He looks sleek, but his unique style shines through.
Which outfit is your favorite? And who did I miss from this list? Let me know in the comments!
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