Important Question: Men Wearing Velvet Suits – Yes Or No?

Things men never have to worry about when they’re getting spruced up to go out: heels. Control pants. ‘Legs or boobs?’ (why choose? Sexy is back with a vengeance). Bra straps. The health and safety precautions of chandelier earrings. To don tights or not to don tights?

But the payoff for women is that we do – despite the requisite risk assessment – generally get to have more fun with fashion. We get the razzmatazz and the drama, the opulence and the splendour. We get options. Tuxes? Haha, we can have those too, guys.

It seems, however, that men are having their own fun. Velvet suits and blazers have, it seems, become something of a signature style for our gentlemen friends of late.

Consider the evidence: Ryan Reynolds at the Met Gala in Ralph Lauren; Ed Sheeran at the Brit Awards 2022 in electric blue Etro; Jared Leto in Gucci's blue velvet suit at the _House of Gucci_premiere in London last year. Youstar Penn Badgley – AKA Cardi B’s new best friend – in mulled-wine velvet (courtesy of Giorgio Armani) on The Jimmy Kimmel Show. Daniel Craig at the No Time To Diepremiere in double-breasted, plush plum Anderson & Sheppard.

And the man who looked like he was possibly auditioning for the role as the next James Bond,Prince William, in bottle-green blazer at the inaugural Earthshot Prize Awards (extra points to the Prince and Penn for their power polos).

Also for your viewing pleasure, see: Harry Styles in an electric blue peak-lapel suit (also Gucci) at the 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction, Donald Glover in a deliciously retro chocolate suit at the 2017 Golden Globes and Justin Theroux in Saint Laurent at last year’s ceremony.

This breakthrough trend on the comeback red carpets chime with the more experimental mood sweeping menswear and championed by the likes of Styles, Timothée Chalamet, Nabhaan Rizwan and LaKeith Stanfield.

But could you, would you, actually fancy a man in a velvet suit? Isn’t it too theatrical, veering too far into Austin Powers-meets-Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen territory (probably a theme for one of his rooms, TBH)? The answer is: so what if it is? The sexiest thing a man can do now is to inhabit his style and persona with a confidence that doesn’t require kowtowing to the rigid and traditional ‘rules’ of masculinity. Allow us to rest our case with Jason Momoa at the 2019 Oscars. Wearing a blush Fendi tux complete with a matching scrunchie and clutch bag he proved that real men wear pink. And know how to accessorise.