I didn’t tune in to the Screen Actors Guild Awards last night because this year’s virtual ceremony — a pre-recorded, hour-long Zoom — wasn’t particularly appealing, but I’m glad I checked out the fashion after the fact. Leslie Odom Jr.’s suit and matching turtleneck by Berluti deserve my prestigious Best Dressed/Wear What You Want combo award for being both elegant and eye-catching.
Berluti creative director Kris Van Assche has more shots of Odom on his Instagram; those shoes are worth seeing from another angle. Overall, the menswear was where the most fashion-forward looks were at, continuing a trend that, for me, goes back to Pharrell Williams and Leto at the Oscars in 2014. Other standouts last night included, but were not limited to, Colman Domingo in a peach suit by Gray Scale; Michael K. Williams in another Berluti suit; Jared Leto in lavender Gucci; Kelvin Harrison Jr. in robin’s-egg-blue, pinstriped Gucci; Daveed Diggs in Versace; and Riz Ahmed in a pumpkin-spicy Louis Vuitton. Could it be that the days of the interchangeable black-and-white tuxedo are truly over … at least for honorees? I’m in favor, because the bolder, peacock-y styles are a pleasure to look at. As a bonus, I’m amused to imagine the guys having to put as much thought into their lewks as women do: “Who else is wearing my color?! Is McQueen exclusive to me?”
My official runner-up to Odom is Maria Bakalova — who has been working with Dior — in her custom, harlequin-patterned gown accented with 400 hand-sewn organza roses.
There were a number of other strong looks among the women — especially Viola Davis’s neon green Louis Vuitton column dress — but this was the one gown stopped me in my tracks, and not just because it’s close to being an ass-flower dress. The sheer panels lighten the feeling of the gown’s high neck, long sleeves, and full skirt. Bakalova is totally covered, but not. I always appreciate a fashion contradiction.