Oscar red carpet fashion: Men avoid missteps, opt for old-school style

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You know the men at the Academy Awards were playing it sartorially safe when the biggest departure from the norm was Robert Downey Jr.’s choice of a turquoise bow tie to accessorize his midnight-blue tuxedo (both by Lanvin).

The bolo ties, questionable facial hair choices and strange outfits that punctuated last year’s red carpet were gone, and the traditional tuxedo reigned supreme. Early on, it looked like the narrow four-in-hand necktie might be the evening’s overarching trend, but the generously butterflied bow tie managed to flap its way front and center by the time the awards ceremony began.

And maybe it’s the ‘Mad Men’ affect, but we can’t recall a time we’ve seen so many crisply folded white pocket squares on the red carpet.

-- Adam Tschorn

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