It’s a wrap! Dressing Judy director Rupert Goold for the Oscars and Baftas (plus our editor for London Fashion Week)
Savile Row and Bishop's Stortford tailor and designer Alexandra Wood writes for the Stortford Indie...
It’s been a hectic season for the superstars adorning the red carpet. While most speculate what the women will be wearing, the same doesn’t always apply to men, with the name of the designer being left blank on most articles you see in the likes of Vogue and other publications (something I’m working on, don’t worry).
The reason for this might be that because women's wear is notoriously much more colourful and distinctive, it can then be difficult to depict one black tie from another on the men.
However, this year the likes of Graham Norton pulled it out of the bag with his stunning bright red, oriental-inspired jacket at the Baftas. We salute you, G!
There were also off-white dinner jackets and even a bright blue wool jacket with a one-sided satin lapel as worn by actor Joe Alwyn.
Among the sea of stars, we were delighted to have dressed director Rupert Goold for both the Baftas and the following Sunday's Oscars in my ready-to-wear designs. Rupert directed the film Judy, for which Renee Zellweger deservedly won the Oscar and Bafta for Best Actress.
I first designed a burnt orange suit for Rupert for the New York Film Festival last year. I was encouraged that he was embracing wearing such a bold colour.
For years I’ve been promoting that men should be incorporating more colour into their wardrobes. By the way, this doesn’t have to mean wild fluorescents, in fact I’d rather it didn’t!
So, the question is: Why don’t men experiment more on the red carpet?
“I believe men on the red carpet would love to play more. This industry masquerades itself as inclusive, but actors are afraid to play, because if they show up as something outside of the status quo, they might be received as feminine and, as a result, they won’t get that masculine job, that superhero job. And that’s the truth. I’ve been confronted with that,” says Billy Porter.
I’m all for encouraging personal style and if it means that adding a sprinkle of colour to your wardrobe causes fear of not getting the masculine roles in 2020 that’s a little sad.
How do you feel about embracing more colour? Maybe today’s the day you go for wearing that bright pink scarf or that teal jacket.
Next month I will be discussing the psychology of colour and how you can get through the dreary winter with cheery colour. See you there! Alexandra x
* Alexandra Wood, who has been featured in The Guardian, Evening Standard, GQ and Esquire, has a menswear shop at 10 High Street (formerly Tissimans) in Bishop's Stortford (call 01279 899616). She also has premises in Savile Row which are by appointment only (call 0203 369 8969). Visit www.alexandrawoodbespoke.co.uk.
