There were several genuine “YES!” moments.
For all of the attention that women have deservedly received over the last year both politically and professionally, it was Sunday night’s Oscars that turned the tables on which gender was having a legitimate fashion moment. The male attendees of the 89th Academy Awards abandoned their rent-a-tuxes (and in some cases, their original faces) in search of more creative, colorful, and chat-worthy duds and accessories, which they found in the form of blue velvet, ruffled shirts, million-dollar timepieces and that ever-popular hashtag-worthy lapel jewel: The Man Brooch.
As usual, the Oscars’ red carpet gleamed with Hollywood’s most talented men, but this year those men shone just a little bit more brightly, and likely arrived a little closer to schedule thanks to the many Swiss timepieces gracing the wrists of those in attendance.
Best Director (and “almost-but-not-quite” Best Picture) winner Damien Chazelle showed up to the ceremony with girlfriend Olivia Hamilton on his arm and the Jaeger-LeCoultre pink gold Master Grande Ultra Thin Small Second on his wrist.
Dev Patel – who was nominated in the Supporting Actor category for his role in the movie “Lion” – opted for the 40 mm Da Vinci Automatic with white dial and black strap by IWC Schaffhausen; an elegant choice that matched the jacket of his ensemble beautifully.
In the category of “Singers Who Go By A Single Name,” we saw Sting buzzing around in the Bulgari Diagono Ceramic Chronograph while Pharrell looked happy in his RM-056 Tourbillon Sapphire by Richard Mille.
Watch geeks, watchmakers and fans of independent watch brands likely let out an enthusiastic but well-organized “Huzzah!” when “Hidden Figures” actor and one of their own, Aldis Hodge (yes, Aldis Hodge is an actual self-taught watchmaker, just in case you didn’t think he was cool enough as it is), showed up on the red carpet in a limited edition Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon Technique 300 degree Sapphire that I am proud to say I did not drop when I was in Geneva (you had to be there).
And with his character Christian Grey into things like wrist adornments and leather straps (or so I’ve heard – couldn’t make it past the second chapter), it was only fitting that actor Jamie Dornan be seen in a watch as sexy as the Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat in rose gold.
Yet it wasn’t just their watches that Oscars’ leading men showed off; they also brought out the jewels in other ways. In the cufflink category, Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner Mahershala Ali appropriately wore #HeForShe cufflinks by jewelry designer Monique Péan; a collection which helps bring awareness to gender equality.
Luxury brand Montblanc also provided watches, shirt studs, and/or cufflinks to several actors, nominees, and winners including: Best Actor winner Casey Affleck; Director Barry Jenkins, whose movie “Moonlight” (eventually) won for Best Picture to the surprise and delight of many; Best Actor nominee Denzel Washington; Best Supporting Actor nominee Lucas Hedges; actor, presenter, and occasional leotard-wearer Chris Evans; Ben Affleck (who also does a thing or two in Hollywood); Vince Vaughn; and Jon Hamm. Piaget was back in the sparkle spotlight for the second night in a row by providing cufflinks and watches to actors Terrence Howard and Matt Damon, and Mel Gibson returned to the Oscars looking brave and bold in Bulgari.
But if I had to crown a 2017 red carpet bling king, I’d probably have to go with the one-and-only Pharrell Williams, who – as mentioned above – not only kicked out a killer Richard Mille, but was also dripping in layered black and silver Chanel beaded necklaces and eye-catching diamond “man brooch.”
All in, it was a lovely and stylish red carpet with a handful of genuine “YES!” moments for the men; at least enough to keep us going until awards season starts all over again later in the year.
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