Steal This Look: Dev Patel at the Oscars

Dev Patel walked the Oscars red carpet in a custom Valentino tuxedo that was a masterclass in modern eveningwear. The look featured a burgundy velvet dinner jacket with peak lapels, paired with high-waisted black trousers and a black silk bow tie. He wore his hair long and natural, and the whole package felt like a Bollywood leading man crossed with a 1970s rock star.

The burgundy velvet dinner jacket separates interesting dressers from safe ones. Most men reach for black at the Oscars, but Patel understood that rich color in a luxe fabric makes a stronger statement. SuitShop and ASOS both offer velvet blazers in similar tones for under two hundred dollars. Look for peak lapels and a slim but not tight fit.

The trousers were classic high-waisted evening pants with a satin stripe down the side seam. This detail is traditional for formal wear and adds subtle elegance. Suitsupply and Spier and Mackay both sell tuxedo trousers separately, which is useful if you already own a jacket you like.

Patel's bow tie was hand-tied, not pre-tied. This matters. A pre-tied bow tie has a manufactured symmetry that reads costume-ish up close. Learning to tie a bow tie takes twenty minutes of YouTube. The Tie Bar offers solid silk bow ties for about twenty-five dollars that punch well above their price point.

His grooming was as considered as the clothing. Long hair pushed back naturally, trimmed beard, minimal product. When your outfit is making a statement, your grooming should be relaxed and unfussy. Find similar accessories and formal wear at https://www.ssense.com in their eveningwear section.

Dev Patel proved that the Oscars red carpet does not require playing it safe. A burgundy velvet jacket with perfect tailoring and a hand-tied bow tie is all you need to stand out in a sea of black tuxedos. Budget to replicate: three to five hundred dollars with smart shopping.