Oscars 2015: The shawl-collar tuxedo rules the red carpet

Another noticeable men’s trend on the 87^th Academy Awards red carpet is the unusually deep bench of tuxedo jackets with a shawl-collar lapel. Considered the most formal of the three styles (the other two being notch lapel and peak lapel), it’s also the one we’ve seen the least during the last several awards show seasons. Among those going shawl in this evening are nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (in a white number), Adam Levine (in Giorgio Armani), nominee and presenter John Legend (in a Gucci made-to-order one-button tux with a velvet shawl lapel), presenters Channing Tatum and David Oyelowo in versions by Dolce & Gabbana and presenter Chris Pratt in a Tom Ford tuxedo with a black grosgrain shawl collar.

The style proved particularly popular with the Prada posse, the Italian luxury label clad a quartet of attendees including nominee Ethan Hawke in a chocolate brown version.

Two men deserve special mention: Jared Leto, whose tux – in a shade of pale lavender, no less -- had a healthy deep V of a shawl collar. The overall effect had social media’s armchair critics likening the look to something straight out of an ‘80s bar mitzvah, the Kentucky Derby or a high school prom. One observer, (@iSmashFizzle) cracked wise that the ensemble look[ed] like white Jesus actually showed up to Easter service in Harlem.”

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But perhaps tonight’s most enthusiastic – and high-profile – embrace of the look came from the ceremony’s host, Neil Patrick Harris, who doubled down on the style by arriving in gray flannel shawl-collar tuxedo version by Brunello Cucinelli before switching into a black shawl collar tuxedo (provenance unknown) for his opening number.

Shawl in a day’s work, we suppose.