What won big at the Oscars? Men's fashion

There's no hiding it: the men on the red carpet at this year's Oscars served up many surprising delights.

Best actor nominee Timothee Chalamet wore all lemon, minus his black shoes. Fellow best actor nominee Colman Domingo wore a red Valentino jacket that was belted at the waist. Actor Jeremy Strong, last seen in a mint green bucket hat and sunglasses at the Golden Globes, opted for an olive green suit with an abstract necktie.

There were also some themes such as conflicting textures and brooches, brooches and more brooches.

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"One thing I would say that hopefully the Oscars does show there is an ability to dress up, be formal, be elegant and it is a yearly reminder that it can be really fun for men and really inspiring," says Benny Castles, New Zealand fashion commentator and director and designer of the WORLD brand.

As New Zealand fashion publication noted the men were "unabashedly enjoying fashion as much as their female counterparts..."

While Castles steered away from delving into "trend" dressing, he said there was such a great variety of styles that New Zealand men could take inspiration from whoever they liked and "help push your envelope as far as you feel comfortable".

The fashion world collectively gushed about Chalamet's custom Givenchy outfit that Castles described as "sweaty moustachioed piece of sorbet".

Castles wasn't the only one using food descriptions to determine Chalamet's yellow. The New York Times suggested French butter, egg yolk, or lemon as possible colour comparisons.

"It looked just delightful," says Castles.

Actor Andrew Garfield was an example of something of a theme on the red carpet: different textures in one outfit. For Garfield, this was different textures in a rich tobacco brown.

"There was so much play of satin versus wool or satin versus matte as well as some really unique fabrications used on the textures of men's garments," says Castle.

This was also seen in actor and musician Omar Apollo, who often brings a creative surprise to the red carpet. At the Oscars, he wore a veil that was in contrast to a satin cravat. Kieran Culkin, who took home the award for best supporting actor, also played with textures.

Extravagant brooches were seen on probably dozens of male attendees at the Oscars. Variety Magazine called it the menswear accessory of choice.

Best actor winner Adrien Brody matched his silver, shiny and spikey brooch to the single earring of his girlfriend Georgina Chapman. Apollo wore a diamond-encrusted lizard to complement his veil. Joe Alwyn's brooch was a slightly smaller floral design from Bulgari.

Actor Jeff Goldblum went with what appeared to be a living brooch - a corsage, really - with a purple orchid pinned to his lapel.

"There's a lot of conversation in men's fashion that it's all in the detail, that sort of age-old phraseology," says Castles.

The translation from Oscars red carpet to men in New Zealand is that "fashion is for everyone and anyone who wants it," he says.

"When they get dressed - whether it be for a challenging day at work or a fun night out - fashion should be a positive twist."