Oscars: Monochrome men make a solid style statement

As it is with most trips down the red carpet, most of the fashion statements on the way into the 83rd annual Academy Awards were being made by the women, but a few of the fellows managed to stand out from their tuxedo-clad brethren and stay within the formalwear rules.

For most men that meant subtle and simple details -- like Justin Timberlake in a Tom Ford tuxedo with generous peak lapels, and Jeremy Renner in an Yves Saint Laurent navy shawl-collar tux (for my money, we don't see enough of the shawl collar -- which is considered less formal than the peak-lapel version).

But presenter Russell Brand and nominee Christian Bale went to the dark side. Bale wore a black, one-button, shawl-collar Gucci tuxedo, paired with a black dress shirt, black silk tie and black leather lace-up shoes (also all by Gucci).

At first glance, Brand looked like he'd followed suit -- but on closer examination it turns out he'd gone with a dark navy jacket with a black satin notch lapel, a black necktie and a black-and-navy horizontal-striped dress shirt. (And Robert Downey Jr. split the difference -- going with a white-on-white shirt-and-tie ensemble and a black tuxedo jacket.)

To co-present the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay, Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem split the difference -- top to bottom -- by donning cream-colored, one-button, made-to-order tuxedo evening jackets (Bardem's was a shawl collar, Brolin's was a peak lapel) white dress shirts, cream-colored bowties and black tuxedo trousers -- all by Gucci.

-- Adam Tschorn

Photos: Among the men making a solid style statement at the 83rd annual Academy Awards were, from left, Russell Brand (with mother Barbara; credit: Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times), Robert Downey Jr. (with Susan Downey; credit: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) and Christian and Sibi Bale (credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times).