14 Photos of Men Wearing Velvet to the Oscars

There’s a reason why the conversation around best-dressed people at awards shows tends to revolve around women: because the options for men are historically very limited. More often than not, men show up wearing black suits. If they’re feeling daring, they wear navy. But at the 2019 Oscars, many dudes decided to mix things up by opting for plush velvet suits.

Billy Porter kicked off the night in a custom black velvet Christian Siriano tuxedo gown, which featured a convertible skirt. Samuel L. Jackson opted for a subtle touch with a velvet lapel, while Jason Momoa went all-in with a blush-pink Fendi suit (and scrunchie to match!). Richard E. Grant, Stephan James, and Chris Evans all chose brightly colored suits, while Michael B. Jordan’s navy jacket may or may not have served as inspiration for the song “Blue Velvet.” (This is not true, but it is true in my heart.)

Whatever the level of velvet commitment, however, the men were each appropriately dressed for a Los Angeles winter, where the weather reached a high of 63 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a sumptuous choice, and one that would personally make me want to snuggle up in my own tailoring if I had worn a velvet suit. But I did not, and so I will happily gaze upon these men who made supremely cozy choices. If you are at the Oscars this year, please do not invade their personal spaces in order to touch their suits. But if they welcome you in for a hug, well, please tell me how they feel.