Social Primer

The ideal of the well-dressed man is a simple one but apparently difficult to obtain. Men should be impeccably turned out and never ostentatious. The well-dressed man about town should be unremarkable yet elegant and well-groomed. His clothes should be age-appropriate, fit well and be made of appropriate fabric and color. There are few occasions which allow us to see men in their finery on a public stage and awards shows — for better or worse — present this opportunity.

The Golden Globes is generally considered the loosey goosey pre-party to the serious ceremony of the Academy Awards to follow, but this isn’t to say that the expectation of style is any less stringent. It is great to see that the trend in Hollywood — and in real life — is gaining traction with regard to classic style. Whether it is the effect of the current economy or the influence of Mad Men, traditional style in winning the day. Dodging a Donkey Kong of umbrellas and falling rain (Egads! Chaos on the sacred red carpet!), many actors managed to forsake the call of casual and costume and attended the Globes in appropriate duds. Taking into account fit and tailoring, styling (peaked lapels), accessories (cummerbund, bow tie), hair (comb it), and grooming (no scruff please) herewith the list of the men who have embraced the call of classic and done it well.

Social Primer Best Dressed Men: Golden Globes 2010

1. Joshua Jackson (in Brooks Brothers) – Pacey’s come a long way from Dawson’s Creek. The fit on this suit is impeccable. His confidence is evident. The grooming, near perfect. What pushed Mr. Jackson into the number one spot? Diane Kruger.

2. Tom Ford (in Tom Ford) - The designer turned director is perhaps the most stylish man in Hollywood. The fit on this suit is the absolute best of the bunch, and it should be; he made it. And though scruff is frowned upon in these quarters, Mr. Ford makes it look elegant. He’s one of the only one men who can pull it off without looking dirty or lazy. Hollywood, it is way past time to lose the scruff.

3. Jon Hamm (in Tom Ford) – Double-breasted, wide lapel, excellent fit. We would expect no less from the man at the helm of Mad Men (or his costumer Janie Bryant).

4. Bradley Cooper (in Tom Ford) – We should all look this good with a hangover. Cooper is chaneling Bond here. Excellent classic suit. Hair combed, clean-shaven. And a cummerbund. Perfect.

5. Alexander Skarsgard (in Tom Ford) – True Blood’s Skarsgard came out of nowhere to rank on this list. The suit, the hair, the bearing all add up to one thing: Gentleman.

6. Tracy Morgan (in Joseph Abboud) – Bravo Mister Morgan on the brave choice of a white dinner jacket. Yes, white jackets are usually worn in warmer climates and Los Angeles is usually warm. Matching pochette and umbrella — especially in purple — would usually be frowned upon, but he’s a comedian. Approved.

7. George Clooney (in Giorgio Armani)- The reigning king of Hollywood can do no wrong. Critical acclaim and box office bonanza usually don’t occur in the same sentence, much less the same theater, but Clooney chooses his projects well. The fact that he is Tinsel Town’s conscience and has a great sense of humor make him a bonafide role model.

8. Ryan Kwanten (in Hugo Boss) – What is it with the Aussies in the movies? Or TV as this case may be. Kwanten surprised with this classic suit. He could still stand to find a comb, but for overall effect, this is a winner. The skinny tie and the peaked lapel make up for his hands in his pockets. If you don’t know what to do with your hands, put them behind your back. Don’t stuff them in your pockets. This is not a Western.

9. Neil Patrick Harris (in Giorgio Armani) – Mr. Harris seems to have hit his stride. His choices are right and he continues to be appropriate and elegant. He is hall of fame bound.

10. Matthew Morrison (in Dolce & Gabbana) – From Broadway to top-rated TV show in a very short time, Mr. Morrison is making the right moves in a town waiting for missteps. Classic debut.

Honorable Mentions: Taylor Lautner (in Calvin Klein) & Cory Monteith (in Hugo Boss) – While SP abhors experimental fabrics on classic suits, young Lautner looks sharp and appropriate. The shine is forgiven as a youthful indiscretion. Monteith chose to wear a suit and he wears it well. This is the way to go. Make a choice. Either wear the correct dinner suit — soup to nuts — or opt for a business suit. Well done, Monteith.

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