A takeover of the tux: Who's to blame?

Everyone knows the equation, straight white men plus a red carpet equals? A suit. It has always been there, growing in numbers.

And that is what is so scary about it, especially during the current award season. This palette of suits risks turning our 21st-century rainbow of individuals, into black and white.

Who is the culprit?

Double standards when it comes to red carpet fashion are not news. 'Who are you wearing?' and 'How long did it take you to get ready tonight?' followed by the downward tilt of the camera are all standard features for females on the red carpet. But what about men? The lack of intrigue in what men are wearing has led to a lack of effort in what men end up wearing. The consequence? A suit.

Society's expectations are also to blame. What does it mean to be masculine, especially when it comes to clothes? By removing fashion items considered 'traditionally feminine', e.g. showing some skin, trying new colours and showing off our curves, what is left for male fashion?

The minorities' alternative

Rather than just suits, minorities have accepted that men's fashion is not black and white. By taking some risks with colours, shapes and expectations, this has created some of the most ground-breaking fashion moments on red carpets across the world.

A few months ago, Glamour released an article listing "The 41 Most Memorable Red Carpet Looks From the Past Decade", only three men were mentioned, two of which could be classified as minorities.

A quick history lesson now, to give us a better understanding of minorities such as black men and LGBTQ+ men and their relationship with formal fashion.

The immortal beast?

If there are examples of minorities doing something different, why are many red carpets still covered in suits? It is because society has made men's fashion lazy and anything different is at risk of being seen as not masculine.

And becoming used to these invisible rules, making them normal, plus the fact that society is taking its time to show that different fashion styles and options do not make anyone less of a man, has led to this 'tux takeover'.

When people start wearing clothes for themselves rather than to please society's rules, we can step away from pressures in fashion and move towards something new and inclusive. Whatever men wear on red carpets should be influenced by their own preferences and not by a wish to fulfil toxic standards.