At most any red carpet event, shirts and ties are de rigeur. But at tonight’s ’90s-Hollywood-coded GQ Men of the Year party, the many interpretations of the combo we saw on the red carpet felt especially on theme—laidback, pattern-happy pairings that called to mind guys like Matthew Perry and Paul Thomas Anderson rolling up to premieres in the pre-stylist era.
As one of the evening’s co-hosts, the ever-delightful Seth Rogen set the tone in a look from Prada: crisp dark wash jeans, navy double-breasted blazer, and glossy leather loafers, all pulled together by a thin-striped tie and pale blue striped shirt. The cool tones were a nice deviation from the beiges and browns Rogen rocked almost exclusively both on The Studio and IRL during the show’s record-setting awards run.
A perhaps more corporate take on the power-clash of yesteryear came via Walton Goggins in Saint Laurent. The intense bright white of his striped shirt felt all the more powerful paired with a slick striped black tie, which was ever-so-slightly tucked into the waistband of his trousers. With an inky leather trench thrown on top, this look could’ve easily been spotted on a mercilessly cool stock trader in 1988’s Wall Street or a cocksure higher-up in 2000’s American Psycho. (Goggins’ slightly parted lips and blank expression only furthered the effect.)
Carolina Cucinelli, daughter of menswear god Brunello, also arrived in a killer striped tie, complimented by an optic white shirt, striped velvet blazer, and a clean Princeton cut.
Some stepped outside of the stripes: Designer Ugo Mozie donned a red paisley tie with a patterned denim suit, while KPop Demon Hunters star Kevin Woo knotted up a surreal printed tie with his black-on-black ensemble.
But arguably the night’s sharpest shirt-and-tie combo came on Rogen’s fellow MOTY co-host, late-night legend Stephen Colbert. The comedy genius offered up a potential glimpse into his post-Late Show future: the polka-dot tie and striped dress shirt still looked professional and dapper; the leather bomber and oversized aviators felt audacious and daring. Whatever comes next for Colbert, he looks locked in and ready for it.