When you think of award shows, you associate fashion which evokes glamour, prestige or unconventionality. This type of attire is seen being worn by the majority of attendees to these events. In the past, and seen today, there is an expectation that women should dress appropriately, and stereotypically take greater pleasure in dressing up than men. Notably, there are fewer outfit choices for men, although recently there’s some men’s fashion which subverts our expectations at award shows.
...in Kanye’s surprise red carpet appearance, he was pictured wearing a black t-shirt and trousers. It might be expensive, but is it actually fashion representative of the prestigious event?
In 2015 at the VMAs, Kanye West attended the event wearing an extremely casual outfit - a long knitted grey jumper, grey trousers rolled up around his shins, and trainers - while his partner at the time, Kim Kardashian, wore a green camo dress. At the more recent 2025 Grammy Awards, in Kanye’s surprise red carpet appearance, he was pictured wearing a black t-shirt and trousers. It might be expensive, but is it actually fashion representative of the prestigious event?
Similarly, an online storm of comments responded to Timothée Chalamet’s outfit choice at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival. He wore a pink tracksuit, tank top and jumper by Chrome Hearts; again, a very casual choice for an award ceremony. When he sat next to his partner Kylie Jenner, the stark contrast of their outfit choices reflected the idea of "she’s gorgeous and he’s just there". Although, this particular outfit choice is an anomaly among Chalamet’s respectable fashion choices in a long line of award shows.
So, why does some men’s fashion disappoint today? It could be reflective of changing societal beliefs and expectations, in which individuality is a positive way to stand out from others. Recently, there has been a pattern of younger attendees of awards shows, such as Jaden Smith, completely subverting fashion stereotypes and expectations. In comparison to the majority of men wearing traditional suits, it largely stands out to attract media attention. Although, it might not be a negative thing but actually a way for attendees to express themselves in unique ways.