Annual best-dressed lists often make little sense. That's because a whole lot of backroom politicking and planning go into them. So Esquire is once again asking you, dear reader, to decide upon our Best-Dressed Man of the Year. Last week, this year's wildcard, Barack Obama, lost out to Jake Gyllenhaal. So it's onto round six: Jeff Goldblum vs. Tom Hiddleston.
Note: voting is now closed
The tropes of showbiz are well-trodden. Names in lights. Mouthy directors that routinely contravene the Health Act's smoking ban of 2006. That sort of thing. But where we so often have a clear image of the 'showman', the reality is a muddier collage. Different actors behave in different ways. What's more, their style reflects their strain of 'showman', and nowhere is that more apparent than in the wardrobes of this week's contenders: Jeff Goldblum and Tom Hiddleston.
If showmen exist on a spectrum, these two actors embody its poles. Goldblum, still riding the wave of his never-ending renaissance, has gone bigger on menswear as his name accrued star power once more. In the Nineties, he was partial to a lot of of black and open-shirted coquetry. Now, it's bold, fluoro-tinged moves that touch upon upon a slew of trends: half-and-half shirts (worn out and about with his fair lady), a stab at the big anime thing, even a divisive pork pie hat.
Late last year, we asked the question of our times: how much Goldblum is too much Goldblum? Not enough, apparently, as 2019 saw the 67-year-old get wilder than ever in glittering suits for the notorious Vanity Fair Oscars after-party, and clash prints a-plenty. Helps that he's on good terms with Prada.
But where Goldblum is all tap dancing, speed-jazz piano man, Tom Hiddleston does the opposite. He's British, in that reserved, quintessential way. He no doubt holds doors open, and understands the proper way to conduct afternoon tea. And he's got the wardrobe to match: sharp, foolproof tailoring, sometimes with a quirk, but always reliable.
Take for instance, the blue-on-blue-on-blue gold medal on the streets of New York. This time, by Ralph Lauren's Purple Label. Then there were stripes on stripes. Again by Ralph Lauren's Purple Label. And lest we forget the windowpane lapels on steroids. Yes, by Ralph Lauren's Purple Label. Spot a pattern? Because you really should've by this point.
So, who wins? The showman with a Vegas residency, or the showman at home on the Broadway press tour? Vote now.
